Check a recruitment agency or recruiter is BIOR certified.
Enter the membership number from their certificate, or the business or person's name. You get Active or Lapsed, the credential and the dates, published by BIOR from the live record. Nothing to sign up for.
Active means the membership is current to the date shown. Lapsed means it has run out and has not been renewed; the letters and the certified mark stop with it.
The credential, and whether it is certified
Member or Fellow, Certified Recruiter, Certified Recruitment Business or STAR. Certified entries show the mark and the date the assessment was last passed; it runs five years.
What the record proves
The page is published by BIOR, not by the member, from the live record, and it says in plain words what the member chose to be assessed against and how often the page has been checked.
Who you can check
Recruitment agencies
Agency Members, temporary and permanent, from a sole trader to a national agency, and every recruiter on their staff. Agency Membership.
Recruiters
Members (MBIOR) and Fellows (FBIOR) in their own name, by number, or by name where they have chosen to be listed. Personal Membership.
In-house recruiters
STAR members, recruiters who hire for their own employer, with the STAR letters and the in-house assessment. STAR.
A logo is a claim. This page is the proof. A BIOR logo on a website or in an email signature should link to a page on ior.org. If it does not, check here by name. If you were shown a BIOR logo or membership number by someone whose page says Lapsed, tell us.
Questions people ask
Your questions, answered.
How do I check whether a recruitment agency is accredited or certified in the UK?
Enter the agency's name or its BIOR membership number above. The page shows whether its BIOR membership is Active or Lapsed, the credential it holds and the dates. Certified entries show the certified mark and the date they were last certified. Membership of a professional body is voluntary; the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and the Conduct Regulations 2003 apply to every UK agency regardless, and the Fair Work Agency enforces them.
What does BIOR certified mean?
The agency or recruiter is a member of The British Institute of Recruiters and has passed the certification assessment, which tests their processes against current UK recruitment law and the BIOR Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct. A pass is certified for five years, then taken again.
What is the difference between Active and Lapsed?
Active means the membership is current to the date shown. Lapsed means it has run out and has not been renewed; the letters and the certified mark stop with it until it is renewed, and the member's live badge turns grey the same day.
Is a BIOR logo on a website proof of membership?
No. The logo is a claim; the verification page is the proof. A current member's badge is drawn live from the record and links to their page on ior.org. If a logo does not link anywhere, or the page it reaches says Lapsed, check here by name and tell us through the complaints procedure if the logo is being shown after the membership ended.
Why can I not find someone?
Individuals who have not chosen to be listed can be checked by membership number only. If you have a number, enter it above. If not, message us and we will check for you.
Is there a register of recruitment agencies in the UK?
There is no statutory register or licence for recruitment agencies in Great Britain (the Gangmasters licence covers specific sectors). The Fair Work Agency enforces the agency rules for everyone. The BIOR directory at ior.org/certified lists the agencies and recruiters that have chosen to be members and to be assessed, and this page checks any one of them in a minute.
