Compliance: a non-negotiable for UK recruiters
One missed check. That’s all it takes to land your temporary recruitment agency with a £20,000 fine per illegal worker, but the real damage lies in lost client trust, delayed placements and a reputation that’s hard to rebuild.
If you’re staffing high-stakes sectors like healthcare, construction, driving, or education, the margin for error doesn’t exist. You need a process that’s not just compliant, it’s watertight. Fast, secure, scalable and built to handle pressure.
The documentation every compliant placement needs
Before you even think about booking a candidate, make sure these are captured, verified, and securely stored:
- Right to Work (RTW): Use the Home Office online check or approved digital ID verification. Log the timestamped result for every candidate.
- Proof of Identity: Typically a passport or full UK driving licence, valid, legible, and up to date.
- National Insurance Number: Needed for payroll and a red flag if a candidate can’t provide it.
- Signed Work Agreement: Essential for IR35 classification, umbrella workers, and contractor protections.
- GDPR/Data Consent: Get explicit, documented consent to store and process sensitive data like DBS results or health checks.
Industry-specific compliance: what you must know
Every industry brings its own compliance layer. If your recruiters are placing across sectors, they need to know exactly what’s required and your systems should enforce it.
| Sector | Required Checks |
|---|---|
| Construction / Industrial | CSCS, CPCS, NPORS, Asbestos Awareness, Manual Handling |
| Health & Social Care | Enhanced DBS, Immunisations, Safeguarding, Moving & Handling |
| Education / Childcare | Enhanced DBS (barred lists), Prevent, RTW |
| Driving / Logistics | DVLA licence check, CPC card, digital tacho, category entitlement |
| Security | SIA licence, First Aid cert, criminal record check |
Missing even one of these can invalidate a booking—and expose your agency to serious risk.
Why expiry tracking isn't optional
Compliance doesn’t end when you tick a box. Many essential documents expire, sometimes faster than you think:
- DBS: Often requires annual refresh
- SIA: Renew every 3 years
- CPC: Expires in 5 years but must include 35 hours of periodic training
- CSCS: 5 years with regular refreshers
If you’re tracking these manually or in spreadsheets, you’re at constant risk. Best-in-class agencies use expiry alerts, automatic chasers, and system-enforced blocks to stay in control, without relying on memory or manual checks.
What a gold-standard compliance process looks like
Top-performing agencies use a tech-powered compliance workflow to:
- Centralise document collection
- Tailor onboarding by sector or client
- Automate reminders for expiring checks
- Block placements unless fully compliant
- Maintain time-stamped audit trails for every action
Why? Because these steps protect revenue. They improve client trust. They reduce legal exposure. And they make your agency run like a business that’s built to last.
Avoid the most common compliance mistakes
Here’s what holds agencies back and how to fix it:
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Placing temps before Right to Work is verified | Enforce RTW check before any booking via system workflows |
| Relying on expired DBS or licences | Use automated expiry alerts and block placements if invalid |
| Tracking compliance in spreadsheets | Switch to a centralised, version-controlled system |
| Recruiters using inconsistent processes | Standardise workflows and embed checks into your ATS or CRM |
| Scrambling before audits | Stay audit-ready with real-time dashboards and digital audit trails |
How Access Screening helps agencies stay ahead
Access Screening was built specifically for UK temp agencies facing these challenges. It replaces patchy systems and compliance fire drills with one smart, automated platform.
Here’s what you get:
- Secure, centralised document storage
- Role-based workflows tailored by sector or client
- Auto-reminders for expiring checks
- Placement blocks to prevent non-compliant bookings
- Built-in audit logs with every check, update, and renewal
- Seamless integration with Access Recruitment CRM and ATS
It’s not just about ticking boxes. It’s about building trust, moving faster, and eliminating risk at scale.
See Access Screening in Action
Book a free demo and see how Access Screening helps:
- Build workflows that flex by sector, job, or client
- Automate renewals and prevent missed checks
- Keep every candidate audit-ready, 24/7
- Empower recruiters to work faster without compromising on compliance
Let FY26 be the year your compliance process stops holding you back and starts powering you forward.
