APSCo 25: The story so far...celebrating the first 25 years

The story so far...

Celebrating the first 25 years

congratulates APSCo and its members on their remarkable 25th anniversary. Visit our website: www.bullhorn.com/uk

Ann Swain Global CEO, APSCo

It’s difficult to believe that atsco was launched in the UK 25 years ago when IR35 was first mooted and the technology sector needed a united voice to speak out against the legislation. Fast-forward to today and atsco has evolved into the Association of Professional Staffing Companies, serving the needs of the professional recruitment sector. Our mission, though, remains very similar; namely to professionalise staffing while driving standards in legislation and recruitment practices that matches the nuances of today’s market.

The separation of the professional staffing sector and the ‘blue collar’ recruitment industry is now both well-recognised and established. Governments both in the UK and in many countries around the world, understand that sweeping legislation aimed at protecting vulnerable workers often causes collateral damage to the professional market.

Both end user clients and candidates have a different expectation of service and we are attracting high calibre entrants to our profession, who choose a career in recruitment rather than an accidental stumble in our direction. At the amazing launch of APSCo from atsco in 2009 at the headquarters of the magic circle, we likened our mission to the 1745 separation of the Guild of Barber Surgeons to focus on the needs of hairdressers and a newer profession, surgery. Of course it now seems astounding that the two could have ever been seen as one and the same!

(How many barbers still have the ‘bandages and blood’ sign outside their premises?)

Together APSCo, its members and Trusted Partners have certainly made strides on standing the professional staffing sector out from the crowd. We have expanded across the globe, with entities in Germany, Singapore and Australia. We’ve also brought the outsourcing remit into the fold, with the launch of APSCo OutSource and more recently, OutSource Europe. But we at APSCo continue to have the energy, focus on quality and, indeed, the desire to make a real impact for our profession to achieve so much more.

I hope you all have a fantastic afternoon celebrating the last quarter century for APSCo. From myself and the team, it has truly been a pleasure serving you, our recruitment members, Trusted Partners and Trusted Advisors. There are people here today who have really worked hard to get us here and I’d like to thank you all for your on-going contribution – staff and members alike!

Ann Swain Global CEO, APSCo

Expected IR35 legislation prompts the launch of atsco and Ann Swain is approached to head up atsco with 14 founder members. Ann lobbies in UK for concessions to IR35.

Meanwhile the rest of the world is getting ready for the Millennium Bug!

The hugely successful annual Charity Ball begins.

atsco hits 100 members.

IR35 became law in the UK.

The James Bond Charity Ball is the start of a long-term relationship with NSPCC Childline.

years.

HM Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Golden Jubilee – 50

Go against the grain

In today’s world of increasing complexity, it’s important to stand out.

Congratulations to APSCo on 25 years helping differentiate the professional recruitment market.

Recruiter 2006 Awards

The first annual Awards for Excellence is held.

Daniel Craig stars as the latest James Bond in Casino Royale.

First Trade Delegation to Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

APSCo lobbied to win important concessions on the UK Agency Workers Regulations for the professional recruitment sector. First time the Awards ceremony is held separately to the Charity Ball.

After starting in Ann’s front room, then moving to other shared offices, the team got its first selfcontained central London premises in Sycamore Court, Royal Oak Yard, Bermondsey.

Merger with FPR – Following merger atsco expanded its membership from technology recruiters to other professional sectors, prompting the rebrand to APSCo.

APSCo becomes a founder member of HMRC’s IR35 Forum. After many public attacks on HMRC’s administration of IR35, which had yielded very little of the revenue promised a decade before, the Government set up this forum to engage with the main commercial third parties representing the supply chain.

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Employees are satisfied – our employee benefits help make their money go further and care for their families, helping retain your top talent.

Contractors are in safe hands – we’re one of only a handful of providers accredited by both FCSA and Professional Passport.

BENEFITS INCLUDE:

24/7 GP appointments for contractors and their families, by phone and webcam

Employee assistance programme including counselling & support

Discounts and cashback on thousands of products and services

Gym discounts, nutrition advice and free to stream exercise videos

Specialist support for carers

APSCo merges with ASWEB (Association of Social Work Employment Businesses) to form APSCo’s Social Work sector group.

APSCo’s rapid growth means a move to bigger offices in Tower Bridge Road, London. This was rapidly followed by new branding which has evolved to this day.

2012 also saw the launch of our APSCode – to help lobby for fairer terms for recruiters in complex supply chains.

APSCo launches its in-house professional development and training services to members – now known as Talent Development.

In the UK APSCo gives evidence at the House of Lords Select Committee on Personal Service Companies.

APSCo Asia established to support the growth aspirations of our international members and further strengthen the voice of the professional recruitment sector in the APAC and South East Asia markets.

Annual APSCo Charity Balls continue their success of raising money for Childline with the Out of Africa Ball.

A year of lobbying on onshore and offshore proposals and reporting requirements.

Compliance+ Education launches in the House of Commons. Followed later in the year by Compliance+ in Social Work.

Launched APSCo Deutschland with 22 founder members.

That year we also launched our Women in Recruitment initiative.

APSCo moves into its current London HQ right next to London Bridge.

Our 15th Charity Ball saw us break the £1M barrier in money raised for NSPCC Childline through the generosity of members.

APSCo redefined strategic planning for business growth and success with the launch of its ground-breaking residential course – Defining the Future.

We also set up APSCo’s global company structure, with a global parent company and in-country businesses in UK, Germany, Australia, & Singapore.

Ann Swain is judge on Top Recruiter series 5 of the TV show. The next year Ann leads the European team versus USA. You can guess who won!

APSCo is first recruitment body to give evidence to the Matthew Taylor Government Review on modern working practices.

Opened our first office outside of London in the North West.

APSCo celebrates its 20th anniversary - with a celebratory lunch.

We also moved to a larger office in Frodsham in Cheshire as our Northern operation grew.

In a testament to the support we provided, in the following two years after COVID we retained more than 90% of our members in each year.

APSCo is appointed as the very first joint chair, along with HMRC, of the Government’s IR35 Forum.

APSCo meets with Prime Minister’s Office for Talent on bringing the brightest and best to Britain post Brexit. Creates global services and global strategic partnership programme.

APSCo did a huge amount during this year to support its members, including more virtual meetings and a Bulletin five times a week. We also lobby Government for more help for our sector.

Cranfield Masterships

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We launched our new Clinical and Healthcare sector group.

Also that year we launched a new membership type for NEDs and senior advisors to the sector through AdvisorLink membership. This provided an important source of senior advisors to our membership.

APSCo gives evidence to BEIS Select Committee on the Labour Market on AI and automation in recruitment.

At the beginning of 2021

APSCo took the decision to launch a brand new trade body to support RPO & MSP organisations – APSCo OutSource was born!

In June 2022 we passed 1000 members.

APSCo continues to lead the way as an innovator in the professional recruitment sector, with the launch of the APSCo Disrupt series of events and reports.

APSCo Global now has a team of over 50 worldwide across 4 offices, and is supporting the growth of almost 1500 member companies worldwide.

Virtual oneday global AI conference, APSCo AI Decoded, is held.

APSCo celebrates its first 25 years.

OutSource Europe launched.

APSCo’s Manifesto 2024 is launched in the House of Commons.

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