REC Code of Professional Practice
Show REC membership only while it is current.
What your website and marketing must show to stay compliant in recruitment
The rules that apply to a UK recruitment business, turned into what your site, ads and social posts must show, or must not say. Each point links to the regulator or the legislation it comes from.
General guidance, not legal advice. Rules change and depend on your circumstances; check the linked source or take advice from a qualified adviser before relying on any point.
Recruitment rules
Conduct Regulations 2003
Adverts must name the agency, say whether the role is permanent or temporary, and state pay accurately.
AWR Agency Workers Regulations 2010
Describe temporary-worker pay and terms accurately in adverts.
Source: Agency Workers Regulations 2010
IR35 Off Payroll Working
Do not promise an "outside IR35" outcome in marketing; status depends on the facts of each engagement.
Source: Off-payroll working (IR35)
ERA Employment Rights Act 2025
Do not advertise roles or terms (zero-hours, notice, probation) in a way that contradicts the Act's worker rights; check commencement dates before stating what applies today.
Source: Employment Rights Act 2025
GDPR candidate data
Publish a privacy notice that names who you are, what you collect on every form, why, how long you keep it and how people use their rights; link it from every form.
CSCS construction cards
State card requirements in construction adverts accurately.
Source: CSCS cards
DBS Disclosure Barring
Say "DBS checked" only for the level of check actually held and kept current.
Source: Disclosure and Barring Service
DCPC Driver CPC
State Driver CPC requirements in driving adverts accurately.
Source: Driver CPC
NMC GMC GPhC healthcare registration
When you advertise placed clinicians, check and state that they are on the right register.
Right to Work verification
Tell all applicants you will check right to work; do not single anyone out in adverts.
Source: Right to work checks
Every UK business site
Whatever the sector, these apply to almost every business website.
Company and trading details
A limited company's site must show its registered name, company number, place of registration and registered office address.
Source: Company and trading details
Privacy notice
Say who you are, what each form collects, why, how long you keep it and how people use their rights.
Source: Privacy notice
Cookie consent
Non-essential cookies and analytics wait for consent, and refusing is as easy as accepting.
Source: Cookie consent
Honest claims
Every claim, review and comparison is true, evidenced and not misleading (CAP Code).
Source: Honest claims
Genuine reviews
No fake, bought or selectively hidden reviews (DMCC Act 2024).
Source: Genuine reviews
See how your site measures up
The free grader checks your site against the visible signals buyers, search engines and AI assistants look for, including several of the points above.
Grade my website Recruitment websites