Agency Members, certified and member.
Not here? If a recruiter or an agency tells you they are a BIOR member or certified and you cannot find them on this page, ask for their membership number and check it at ior.org/verify. Members who have chosen not to be listed can still be checked by number.
Your questions, answered.
What do Certified and Member mean on this page?
Certified means the business or recruiter has committed to the BIOR Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct and has passed the BIOR certification assessment. The date shown is the date they were last certified, and certification lasts five years from it. Member means a current membership whose certification assessment is still to be taken or renewed. Both can be checked on the verification page the name opens.
For employers, why choose a listed agency?
Choosing a certified or member business is the simplest check you can make before you sign terms. From 30 October 2026 the agency, as well as you, is liable for harassment of the agency workers on your sites by third parties unless it took all reasonable steps to prevent it, so who you work with matters more than it did.
For candidates, what does a listing mean for me?
A listed business or recruiter has agreed to a published code that covers how you are treated, what you are told and how you are paid. If something goes wrong, there is a complaints procedure you can use.
For recruiters, how do I get listed?
BIOR membership includes the certification assessment. Agency Membership is explained at ior.org/agency-membership, Personal Membership at ior.org/personal-certification and STAR for in-house recruiters at ior.org/star. Individual members choose from their dashboard whether to be listed by name. Every member can be checked by number at ior.org/verify.
How do I find a BIOR certified recruitment agency?
Type the agency's name, town or sector in the search box above, or open the Certified only tab. Agencies that have passed the certification assessment carry the Certified mark and the date. Open the entry to see the verification page, published by BIOR from the live record.
What does Certified mean on this directory?
That the business or the recruiter has passed The British Institute of Recruiters' certification assessment against UK recruitment and employment law, which is taken on joining and again every five years, and that the membership is active today. A lapsed membership shows as Lapsed on the verification page.
How do I check whether a recruitment agency is accredited or certified in the UK?
Search this page by name, town, sector or specialism, or enter a membership number or a name at ior.org/verify. The verification page shows whether the BIOR membership is Active or Lapsed, the credential and the dates, and certified entries show the certified mark. Membership of a professional body is voluntary. The Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct Regulations 2003 apply to every agency in Great Britain regardless, and the Fair Work Agency enforces them. Northern Ireland has its own equivalent rules, enforced by its Employment Agency Inspectorate.
Check a membership numberWhich membership is for you?
Every entry links to a verification page published by BIOR from the live record. Questions? Email support@ior.org.
Written by The BIOR Membership Team. Last reviewed 23 October 2026.