Code of Professional & Ethical Conduct
Introduction
The British Institute of Recruiters (BIOR) is a professional body for UK recruitment, for recruitment agencies, recruiters and in-house recruiters. This Code is the standard every member commits to, and the certification assessment tests each member's processes against it and against current UK recruitment law.
All members are encouraged to be advocates of promoting best practice within the profession and must comply with the standards set out in the Code of Professional & Ethical Conduct. The Code forms part of the Certification & Membership Terms and Conditions and is binding on all certified members.
The Code is framed around seven fundamental principles.
1. Professional Behaviour
2. Uphold the Rule of Law
3. Integrity and Honesty
4. Objectivity
5. Equality, Inclusivity, Respect, and Fairness
6. Professional Competence and Due Care
7. Privacy, Confidentiality and Trust
Download the full Code of Professional & Ethical Conduct (PDF), Version 4.0, 22 June 2026. The PDF is the definitive version of the Code.
Where the Institute receives a complaint which shows that a member has breached any of the standards set out in the Code, that complaint will be investigated under the Complaints Procedure and may result in the matter being referred to the disciplinary body.
The BIOR certification assessment is written against the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 and the Agency Workers Regulations 2010, with gov.uk and legislation.gov.uk as its sources, and it is kept current as the law changes. Those regulations are enforced by the Fair Work Agency, the single enforcement body launched in April 2026.
For Agencies
Agency Membership includes the certification assessment for the business and every recruiter. See Agency Membership
For Individuals (Agency or In-House)
Personal Membership and STAR include the certification assessment. See Personal Membership or STAR
About the British Institute of Recruiters
The British Institute of Recruiters (BIOR) is a professional body for UK recruitment, founded in 2011 and registered in England and Wales as a company limited by guarantee, company number 07575583. Membership includes the certification assessment; pass it and you are certified for five years. Every member is listed in the public directory and has a verification page anyone can check. Member agencies also trade roles with each other on the Split-Fee Network under this Code. More at Who we are.
Is the recruiter you are dealing with bound by this Code? Check whether a business or recruiter is a current BIOR member at ior.org/verify, or browse the directory of BIOR members and certified members.
Questions people ask
What is the BIOR Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct?
The standard every member of The British Institute of Recruiters commits to. It is framed around seven principles, professional behaviour, upholding the rule of law, integrity and honesty, objectivity, equality, inclusivity, respect and fairness, professional competence and due care, and privacy, confidentiality and trust. Version 4.0 of 22 June 2026 is the definitive text, as a PDF on this page.
Who is bound by the Code?
Every BIOR member, agencies and individuals, as part of the Certification and Membership Terms and Conditions. The certification assessment tests a member's processes against the Code and against current UK recruitment law.
How do I complain about a BIOR member?
Under the published Complaints Procedure. A complaint that shows a breach of the Code is investigated and may be referred to the disciplinary body. Check first whether the business or recruiter is a current member at ior.org/verify.
Does the Code have legal force?
The Code binds members through their membership terms. It sits alongside the law, not in place of it. UK recruitment law, including the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct Regulations 2003, applies to every agency and is enforced by the Fair Work Agency, whether or not the agency belongs to a professional body.
Written by The BIOR Membership Team. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.