Crossmatch Achieves "Pass" Following Rigorous REC Inspection
26 September 2008

As is evident from other parts of this website, Crossmatch Recruitment is a member of the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation).  Earlier this year, we were selected for an Inspection to ensure that we were abiding by all of the relevant legislation and the REC Code of Practice.  We are pleased to say that we achieved Pass Status, following a rigorous examination of our processes and procedures.

A far as Inspections are concerned, members have no say in being chosen.  It is a new initiative, started in 2007, whereby 10% of members are selected each year, completely at random.  You get a few weeks’ notice, but that’s it. 

Membership of the REC is not compulsory.  However, with 8,000 corporate members and 5,000 individual members, it is the leading professional body for recruitment in the UK.  Despite this, there are still many agencies who are not members.

The Inspection itself took the best part of a day to complete.  Our Assessor complimented us on being an excellent agency, indicating that we were among only a small percentage she had been able to pass first time.

So what did the Assessor look at?  Much of the legislation governing agencies is contained in the Employment Agencies Act Conduct Regulations 2003, so a lot of attention was given over to this.  It covers a wide range of obligations to clients, candidates and temps, such as terms of business and obtaining permission from candidates before submitting their CV to a client.

There were many other areas too, for example Equality & Diversity, Health & Safety, Eligibility to Work, Identity, and Data Protection.  Although we passed, it would be surprising if there were no points of guidance for us whatsoever and, sure enough, there were a few helpful suggestions, which we are already implementing.

We have been a member of the REC (and its predecessor organisation, the IEC) ever since we began.  The REC does a lot more than just Inspections, of course, and we find it very useful as a resource for training, legislation, professional standards and other services. 

We hope that our membership of the REC - and willingness to submit to Inspections such as this - provides clients with a certain degree of reassurance.  It should indicate an agency’s commitment to good practice and, if you aren’t happy, it gives you someone to whom you can complain.

Visit the REC at www.rec.uk.com

National Temporary Workers Week (NTWW) 2008
2-6 June 2008

National Temporary Workers Week (NTWW) is an annual campaign organised by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) to promote the contribution made to the economy by the UK's temporary workforce.  Turnover in temporary recruitment was £21.6 billion last year and each week 1.2 million temps go out on assignment. 

To mark the occasion, we have issued all of our temps who are working this week a Starbucks card to go and have a latte (or whatever) on us.  On behalf of Crossmatch Recruitment, we would like to thank all of our temps for the work that they do, throughout the year, and for representing us to our clients.

If you would like to find out more about NTWW and the temping industry, there are more details on the REC website at www.rec.uk.com.

Crossmatch Gains Gold Award
15/11/2007

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the Keep Edinburgh Clean Gold Award.  Run by The City of Edinburgh Council, this is an environmental initiative with which we have been involved for the past 3 years.  In fact, in 2005, we were the first organisation in Edinburgh to achieve the Silver Award (see 'Keeping it Clean' below).  Everyone in our team is enthusiastic about our efforts in the business to seek the most environmentally-friendly option where possible.  The range of aspects it covers is a wide one.  We re-cycle just about everything we can, such as paper, cardboard, toner cartridges, plastic bottles, even Ken's jokes.  We purchase Fairtrade where possible, sponsor some reindeer and last year fixed a bird-hide and a dry-stane dyke in the Pentlands.

Annabelle Completes Twilight Walk
26/5/2007

Following her successful Moonwalk in Edinburgh last year, director Annabelle McCunn has put her walking boots on again, this time to take part in the Twilight Walk, in aid of Breast Foot Forward, the Scottish breast cancer charity.  This involved walking the perimeter of the island of Cumbrae, a distance of 10.25 miles.  Thanks to the sponsorship and many donations from friends, clients and colleagues, she managed to raise a total of £275.  She would like to pass on her thanks to everyone for their support in helping to achieve this total.  For more information on the charity, go to http://breast.etellect.co.uk/walk.htm.

Investors in People Success - for the 4th Time
17/01/2007

We are proud to announce that we have been awarded the Investors in People (IIP) Standard for the 4th time.  We first became an Investor in People in 1998.  In order to retain the award, an organisation has to be re-assessed every 3 years, which we have been in 2001, 2004 and now 2007.  For more background on the Standard and why we continue to go for it, see our Investors in People page in the Code of Practice section.  You can also click on the logo at the top of this page, which will take you to the IIP website.

Pentland Hills Volunteer Days - 8th/9th Nov 2006
16/11/06

We handed over a donation of £100 to the Pentland Hills Ranger Service as part of a fantastic day of volunteering in the Pentlands, undertaken by the entire Crossmatch team.  We split ourselves into two groups in fact, one on Wednesday 8th and the other on Thursday 9th November, so as not to leave our office completely unattended!

We completed a variety of tasks, including repairing the boardwalk at a bird-hide, repairing a dry-stane dyke and filling in pot-holes in the car-park at Harlaw.  The sense of achievement we felt from completing these tasks has surprised us all.  And it still left time for an unofficial guided tour of the fungi in the area and the rescue of a dog that had got lost.

We would like to thank Susan Falconer and Victor Partridge from the Ranger Service for making our volunteer days so enjoyable.  The tasks they had prepared for us were meaningful and challenging, and their support and encouragement on the day made it fun and educational too.

It was a very different experience from our usual day-to-day business as a city-centre office staff agency.  We have always had a keen interest in the environment - last year we were the first organisation to be awarded the Keep Edinburgh Clean Silver Award - but this has given us the opportunity to get involved in a community project beyond our “comfort zone”.  We would highly recommend it!

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping it Clean
01/03/2006

In 2005, we were delighted to be informed by the City of Edinburgh Council that we would be the first company in Edinburgh to gain 'Silver' in the 'Keep Edinburgh Clean' award.

full story

Temp Survey
01/03/2006

A new Recruitment and Employment Confederation survey has taken place on temporary workers.

full story