The Association for Consultancy (ACE) and Engineering has launched a taskforce to investigate unethical behaviour among recruitment consultants.

It will also try to establish a strategy to address the profession’s skills shortage.

ACE has suspended its affiliation with recruitment consultants Hays and Matchtech while the inquiry is being conducted. The two are not suspected of any wrongdoing, but the ACE wants the investigation to be independent.

Nelson Ogunshakin, ACE’s chief executive, said: “Firms consistently say skills shortages, compounded by the unethical behaviour of some consultancies, are at the top of their list of challenges. We aim to develop effective and sustainable strategies.”

Elsewhere, Gardiner & Theobald and Paul Davis of architect Paul Davis & Partners are working on a report into the skills shortage and the problem of retaining migrant workers. They hope the findings will encourage more joined-up thinking.