UK: Recruitment Watch (November 2007)

Welcome to the November edition of Mishcon de Reya's Recruitment Watch, prepared by the Firm's Recruitment Services Group. Its aim is to provide those involved in the recruitment sector with a snapshot of what has been happening in the world of recruitment in the last month.

The government has announced an employment bill in the Queen's Speech that will introduce tougher penalties against employment agencies that exploit temporary staff.
The Guardian, 7 November 2007

The Department for Business and Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked business groups for their views on the impact of potential new legislation that would give agency workers the same rights as permanent workers, amid signs that the government will look to improve rights without waiting for legislation from Europe.
The Times, 29 October 2007

A survey of 400 recruitment agencies by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG has shown that the number of people being placed in permanent positions is increasing at the slowest rate for more than a year.
Financial Times, 7 November 2007

The international recruitment consultancy Imprint has recommended a bid from OPD Group but rival Hydrogen, which is interested in making a higher offer, has urged shareholders to take no action.
Financial Times, 8 November 2007

Directorbank, a recruitment company for senior executives, has created a novel approach by agreeing to take half of its fee in cash with the remainder being given in shares in the client company.
Financial Times, 20 October 2007

Matchtech, the technical recruitment company, has posted a 27% increase in pre-tax profits to £9. m, mainly due to the continuing demand for engineers.
Financial Times, 17 October 2007

Wood v National Grid Electricity Transmission plc
The Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that where the employee was employed through a recruitment agency but the parties' conduct did not reflect the terms of the express agreement then a contract of employment between the employee and respondent company could be properly implied.
EAT, 24 October 2007

The Group have now finished their 2007 programme of legal workshops, which were held in association with REC and Recruiter Magazine. The 2008 legal workshop programme will commence in January 2008, further details to follow.

If there is any particular issue or topic that you would like to be included in the programme next year please contact Amber Meyer at amber.meyer@mishcon.com.

Mishcon de Reya

Mishcon de Reya's Recruitment Watch is published by the Recruitment Services Group of Mishcon de Reya Solicitors who were established to meet the demands of their clients within the recruitment sector. The Group is made up of cross departmental specialist lawyers who are able to meet the diverse legal needs of the recruitment industry, with wide and varied experience within the sector and who have a proven track record in being able to meet the growing demand for a one-stop service amongst their recruitment clients.