The AWR: Legislation and Recruitment Together at The House of Commons

Following on from a successful client event that Bond recently held on the subject of AWR compliance, AWR software provider Bond International Software sponsored the reception. As an affiliate member of APSCo, and the only software provider to sponsor the event, Bond International Software demonstrated its commitment to helping its clients become and remain AWR compliant.
The APSCo Reception is an annual, high profile event that attracts senior recruitment sector executives to listen to relevant parliamentary guest speakers. This year, with the introduction of the AWR, the 180 recruitment sector executive attendees took the opportunity to quiz Peter Stephens and Jim Dowd MP about the implications that the regulations may have on their recruitment businesses.
Attendees were also invited to participate in a review of a further 200 pieces of employment law, which BIS will be working on over the next few months.
One point of contention raised was why BIS had not decided to introduce a blanket exemption for personal service company contractors, or temporary workers earning more than certain level of pay, and as such could not be considered ‘vulnerable.’ Stephens and Dowd however, alleviated concerns by stressing that whilst a rumoured last minute review of the regulations was unlikely, the Government will be assessing how the AWR is working in practice and make any changes it deems necessary in a few months’ time.
Tim Richards, Managing Director of recruitment agency software specialist Bond International Software, comments, “Recruitment consultants across the UK have been hugely concerned about the implications that the AWR may have on day-to-day tasks, and this isn’t without warrant. The regulations have permanently altered the temporary recruitment landscape and recruiters are therefore desperate for clear guidance as to how to avoid the penalties associated with breaching the regulations, as well as advice on purchasing a suitable AWR software package to assist in the transition.
Events such as the APSCo House of Commons Reception are invaluable to the recruitment industry, as visitors can be offered demonstrations of AWR software, and front line practitioners and legislators can be brought together to discuss the implications of the regulations in fine detail. As well as sponsoring the APSCo House of Commons Reception, Bond shares APSCo’s commitment to educating the industry about how to respond to the regulations. As a recruitment agency software specialist, we have committed to developing AWR software solutions that enable recruiters to become and remain compliant.”