Terms of Business

Recruitment fees

Contingent Recruitment (File Search)

Our standard recruitment service includes searching our candidate database, commercial CV databases and, where appropriate, advertising campaigns to identify suitable candidates.

Fees are calculated as a percentage of the candidate's first-year guaranteed remuneration, including any guaranteed bonus, commission, car allowance or contractual salary increase. A company car is valued at £6,000 per annum for fee calculation purposes.

Fee Structure

Multi-Agency Search

• 24% of first-year guaranteed remuneration.

Exclusive Search

• 20% of first-year guaranteed remuneration.

Retained Search

• 18% of first-year guaranteed remuneration, less any retainer paid.
• A minimum retainer of £500 is payable at the commencement of the assignment.

Multiple Vacancies

Discounted fee structures may be available for multiple appointments, depending on the level of exclusivity agreed. Please contact us for a tailored proposal.

Executive Search Assignments

For specialist, senior-level or confidential appointments, we offer retained executive search services. Fees generally range between 24% and 33% of first-year remuneration and are typically payable in staged instalments throughout the assignment.

Fixed-Term Contracts

Initial Contract

Fees are calculated at 24% of the anticipated gross basic remuneration for the duration of the contract. The fee becomes payable upon the candidate's written acceptance of an offer. Fixed-term contract appointments do not qualify for a rebate.

Contract Extensions

Where a fixed-term contract is extended or renewed, a further fee of 24% of the remuneration applicable to the extension period will be charged. The total aggregate fee will not exceed the equivalent of one year's guaranteed remuneration.

Consultancy Arrangements

For consultancy assignments where remuneration is commission-based or otherwise undefined at the outset, fees will be agreed in writing before commencement.

Where no prior written agreement exists, a minimum fee of £5,000 will apply.

For zero-hours contracts, remuneration will be calculated using the stated hourly rate based upon a 40-hour working week unless otherwise agreed in advance. A minimum fee of £5,000 applies.

Definition of Remuneration

For fee calculation purposes, remuneration includes:

• Basic salary
• Guaranteed bonuses
• Guaranteed commission payments
• Contractual salary increases within the first year
• Car allowances
• Company car benefit (valued at £6,000 per annum)

Payment Terms

• Fees become payable when a candidate accepts an offer of employment in writing.
• Invoices must be settled within seven days of the invoice date or seven days after the candidate commences employment, whichever is later.
• All fees are subject to VAT at the prevailing rate.
• Late payments may incur an administration charge of 3% of the invoice value, plus further monthly charges of 3% on overdue balances.

Employment of RHR Employees

Should a client employ a current RHR employee, a fee of £15,000 will apply. No rebate is available on such appointments.

Rebate Policy

Provided all invoices are paid within our standard payment terms, the following rebate structure applies should employment be terminated due to poor performance or disciplinary reasons (excluding redundancy):

Rebates are provided as a credit against future recruitment services and are not issued as cash refunds.

To qualify for a rebate:

• Notification of termination must be received within five working days.
• Fees must have been paid within agreed terms.
• The rebate applies only to permanent employment placements.

No rebate applies where discounted fee arrangements have been agreed, unless confirmed in writing.

Candidate Introductions

All candidate submissions are made in good faith and with the candidate's consent.

An introduction remains valid unless the client notifies RHR within 48 hours that:

• The candidate has already been introduced by another agency; or
• The candidate is already actively engaged in discussions with the client for the same opportunity.

A candidate's presence within a client's database does not invalidate an introduction unless active discussions are already taking place.

If a candidate is employed by the client within 12 months of introduction, regardless of whether they were initially rejected or declined an offer, the applicable fee remains payable.

Offers Withdrawn After Acceptance

Where a client withdraws an offer after it has been accepted by the candidate, and the withdrawal is not due to any fault of the candidate, the full recruitment fee remains payable.

Confidentiality

All information supplied by RHR is confidential and must not be disclosed to any third party without prior written consent.

Data Protection (GDPR)

RHR obtains candidate consent before sharing personal information with clients. Client organisations are responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable GDPR and data protection regulations and must delete candidate data at the end of the valid introduction period unless further consent has been obtained.

Right to Work Checks

Responsibility for verifying a candidate's right to work lies with the client. RHR will make reasonable efforts to identify any issues and will notify the client of any concerns known to us.

References and Candidate Information

References are only obtained where specifically requested and with the candidate's permission. The ultimate responsibility for assessing candidate suitability rests with the client.

Advertising

Clients authorise RHR to advertise vacancies through appropriate online and offline channels, subject to any confidentiality requirements agreed at the outset of the assignment.

Client branding may be used in advertising unless otherwise instructed. Any print advertising featuring client branding will be submitted for approval before publication.

Liability

RHR accepts no liability for indirect, special or consequential loss arising from any introduction made, except where liability cannot legally be excluded.

Governing Law

These Terms of Business are governed by the laws of England and Wales and are subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.