Henley Business School’s MBA programme for the recruitment industry “is a credible and relevant qualification that the recruitment profession needs and deserves”, according to Ann Swain, chief executive of the Association of Professional staffing Companies (APSCo).

Swain was speaking at the launch of the MBA programme, developed in association with APSCo, and supported by Barclays Corporate.

The MBA programme is designed for executives in the recruitment industry, with the first three-year programme starting in September. There are 30 places available.

Applicants who already hold a degree must have a minimum of three years’ management experience in recruitment. Those without a degree must have five years’ experience.

The three-year flexible learning programme includes a number of bespoke workshops designed specifically for the recruitment industry. These include managing people and performance, marketing, strategic/international business, and business process strategy.

Tara Ricks, managing director of an integrated group of Randstad professional services companies, and chair of APSCo, told Recruiter that the programme was “a huge step forward” for the recruitment industry.

“It will provide a whole new outlook, as it cover aspects such as finance, marketing and legal that are usually not developed in a sales focused career.”

Ricks added: “I am sure we [Randstad] will put people forward.”