The Federation of African Professional Staffing Organisations (APSO) and The Recruitment Network (TRN) have today announced a new alliance that gives the members of both organisations increased benefits. The enhanced offering will further raise professional standards, strengthen business performance, and create a more resilient recruitment industry across South Africa.
APSO is South Africa’s leading governing body for the recruitment and staffing industry. Since its inception in 1977, APSO has worked towards the professionalisation and regulation of the labour recruitment sector, enforcing a comprehensive code of ethics and professional practice. With a membership base comprising of more than 1100, companies and individuals, APSO sets and maintains the standards that give the industry its credibility and its clients their confidence.
TRN brings a complementary strength as a leading community and advisory network for recruitment business leaders. Its focus on strategy, business growth, operational excellence, leadership development and peer collaboration enables recruitment businesses to perform at their best and respond confidently to changing market dynamics.
Together, the two organisations aim to give recruitment leaders in South Africa the knowledge, tools, governance and insight they need to build better businesses that deliver exceptional results for clients, candidates and the wider economy.
Members of both organisations will benefit from an enhanced joint offering built around each organisation’s specialist expertise. APSO members will gain access to TRN’s performance-focused digital resources, frameworks and tools - including the TRN World platform - alongside practical business support, AI-enabled workflow tools, benchmarking data and peer-led insight. TRN members operating in South Africa will gain access to APSO’s industry thought leadership, regulatory guidance, compliance resources, events and training initiatives.
Advisory support, strategic guidance and peer-to-peer collaboration will continue to sit within each organisation’s direct membership experience. Both organisations remain fully independent, and existing memberships, benefits and advisory support are unaffected.
James Osborne, Co-Founder of The Recruitment Network, said:
“Recruitment businesses across South Africa are operating in a period of significant transformation. Technology, client expectations, and workforce models are all evolving rapidly. Our partnership with APSO ensures that agencies are supported not just in maintaining high professional standards, but in actively improving performance and productivity. By combining APSO’s authority in governance with TRN’s practical frameworks and tools, we can help recruitment businesses across South Africa scale with confidence and clarity.”
Gordon Stoddart, Co-Founder of The Recruitment Network, said:
“Recruitment leaders today need more than theory, they need access to practical tools, real-world insight, and a strong professional community. APSO has been instrumental in setting and maintaining standards across the South African market, and this partnership extends that impact. Together, we are creating an environment where agencies can grow sustainably, operate more efficiently, and deliver greater value to both clients and candidates.”
Jacqui Ford, CEO of APSO, said:
At APSO, our purpose is to strengthen and professionalise the recruitment industry. Partnering with The Recruitment Network (TRN), a globally recognised advisory network for recruitment businesses, allows us to build on that foundation by giving our members access to world-class expertise, practical tools, innovative thinking and a global community of recruitment professionals. We are incredibly excited about this partnership and the opportunities it creates for our members. Together we will help recruitment businesses grow stronger, more resilient and future-ready, while continuing to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and ethical practice.
[Quote to be confirmed by Jacqui Ford]
A partnership built for South African recruitment
South Africa’s recruitment industry plays a vital role in connecting talent with opportunity across a rapidly evolving economy. This partnership signals a shared commitment to the long-term professionalism and performance of the sector.
By aligning their strengths, APSO and TRN will together champion higher standards of professionalism while equipping agencies with the practical tools and frameworks to improve productivity, performance and profitability. The partnership will also enable joint events, shared insight, and deeper collaboration on training and development to ensure South Africa’s recruitment profession continues to grow in strength and credibility.
Editors’ Notes
About the Federation of African Professional Staffing Organisations (APSO)
The Federation of African Professional Staffing Organisations (APSO) is South Africa’s leading governing body for the recruitment and staffing industry. Since its inception in 1977, APSO has worked towards the professionalisation and regulation of the labour recruitment sector. With a membership base comprising of more than 1100, companies and individuals, APSO enforces a comprehensive code of ethics and professional practice across permanent placements, executive search, temporary employment services and outsourcing. As a member of the World Employment Confederation (WEC), holding the Africa and Near East seat on the WEC council, APSO ensures that globally recognised best practice standards are achieved within the South African context.
Find out more about APSO at www.apso.org.za.
For press and media enquiries, please contact:
Jacqui Ford, CEO
Email: jacquiford@apso.org.za
Telephone: 010 006 3970
About The Recruitment Network (TRN)
The Recruitment Network (TRN) is the leading community and advisory network for recruitment business leaders. We provide the tools, training, data and peer collaboration to help recruitment businesses maximise performance, productivity and profitability.
Find out more about The Recruitment Network at www.therecruitmentnetwork.com.
For press and media enquiries, please contact:
Caelin Roodt, Head of Marketing
Call: +44 (0)844 272 8990
Email: caelin@therecruitmentnetwork.com
