What the 2026 supply staff mandate means for academy trusts
Managing a school budget while ensuring pupils have access to high-quality educators is a significant responsibility. We know that adapting...
Compliance
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At Engage, we work hard to make sure we exceed all compliance requirements for education recruitment agencies.
Our Compliance
As a REC education audited agency and a named supplier on the GCA framework, our compliance measures meets the highest standards for safeguarding and candidate vetting.
We know that strong relationships are built on trust, and we’re proud of the comprehensive compliance measures we’ve built our agency on, which ensure our practices are safe, fair, and efficient.
Our vetting process goes beyond the minimum legal requirements by including enhanced background screening, qualification and reference checks, and additional safeguarding measures to help ensure the right people are placed in your school.
Through our school staffing platform, EngageNow, schools can view all fully vetted candidates, submit ratings and feedback, and access candidate profile photos within a centralised, secure system.
REC Audited, Gold Standard
REC ensures basic statutory compliance and higher ethical standards in education recruitment. To join REC, agencies must pass a compliance test on entry and then pass again every two years to retain membership. This is in addition to complying with the REC Code of Professional Practice.
Safer Recruitment in Education
We ensure that all background, vetting, and DBS checks are completed for every candidate who works with us. In addition to this, we verify right to work and identity documents before making candidates available to schools for hire. All candidates are required to read and adhere to the Keeping Children Safe in Education DfE guidelines.
GCA named supplier
Crown Commercial Service (CCS) became the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) on 1 April 2026. The new framework agreement RM6376 went live on 30 April 2026 and runs to 29 April 2029. From September 2026, all single and multi-academy trusts must procure supply staff through a framework agreement, in line with the 2026 Academy Trusts Handbook. Engage Education is a named supplier on RM6376 – Find out more about the GCA framework here.
FCSA Recruitment Partner
We’re certified as an FCSA Recruiter, which means we’re committed to safeguarding the supply chain and minimise risk, complying with all relevant legislation, providing a high level of service to our workers, treating our workers with fairness and transparency, providing clear terms of business and maintain confidentiality where appropriate. Our certificate can be sent upon request.
CYBER ESSENTIALS CERTIFIED
Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed and industry-supported scheme that helps businesses protect themselves against the growing threat of cyber attacks, and provides a clear statement of the basic controls organisations should have in place to protect them. We are proud to be Cyber Essentials Certified. View our Certificate here.
SAFERJOBS PARTNER
We’re featured on SAFERjobs as a partner who provides safe job searches. To stay safe in your job search we recommend that you visit SAFERjobs, a non-profit, joint industry and law enforcement organisation working to combat job scams. Visit the SAFERjobs website for information on common scams and to get free, expert advice for a safer job search.
Continuing Compliance
Our safeguarding and compliance efforts don’t stop once we’ve placed an applicant in a role. All applicants are provided with free unlimited CPD via our online platform, this covers enhanced safeguarding, SEND Code of practice, Crisis Prevention and subject knowledge.
For working candidates, we complete regular vetting checks via our in-house compliance team. This includes DBS, Online, Prohibition and RTW checks yearly and as required.
In-House Compliance
In addition to our compliance auditing by REC, we have a friendly in-house Compliance Team right here at Engage. The team ensures we work to the most up-to-date best practices and continue to comply with regulations, and regularly carry out in-house audits and arrange outsourced audits.
They work tirelessly to ensure all teachers and non-teaching staff are compliant with Safer Recruitment in Education and REC guidelines and confirm that the schools working with us only have applicants who meet the highest standards of compliance and pupil safety.
Compliance at a glance
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