Thorn Baker Group: Why Compliance is Our Badge

In the wake of recent events reported across the construction press, where a leading contractor made the decision to end a long-standing relationship with a labour supply partner over compliance concerns, the industry has been reminded that cutting corners simply isn’t an option anymore.

The investigation behind that decision highlighted issues that have become all too familiar:

Unexplained or poorly justified costs
A lack of transparency in billing
Concerns around whether ethical and legal obligations were being met

These stories serve as a stark reminder that compliance failures don’t just impact the companies involved, they can damage trust across the entire supply chain. Clients are understandably re-examining their labour providers to ensure the highest standards are genuinely upheld, not just claimed.

At times like this, we feel it’s important to set out clearly where Thorn Baker Group stand.

Compliance is not a tick-box exercise for us. It’s fundamental to who we are.

Over the past decade, we’ve invested significant time, resources, and energy into building what many in our sector - clients, auditors, and even competitors - recognise as one of the most rigorous compliance frameworks in the market.

From the way we vet and manage our supply chain to how we onboard our candidates, transparency and accountability are embedded at every stage.

We’ll be honest: this approach doesn’t always make life simpler. Our staff and partners regularly tell us our thoroughness can create extra work and occasional headaches, but we’re completely unapologetic about it, because it’s this very diligence that keeps workers safe, ensures fair treatment, and protects our clients’ reputations.

We’ve also made a conscious choice to subject ourselves to external scrutiny and regulation by respected industry bodies, including:

REC (Recruitment & Employment Confederation)
Constructing Excellence
Veriforce CHAS
APSCO
Sedex
Association of Labour Providers (ALP)

…and many others.

In addition, we have been a proud member of the GLAA (Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority) since 2019, further strengthening our commitment to ethical labour practices.

Daily Audits and Continuous Improvement

Our internal Audit & Compliance Manager, Clair, undertakes a daily review of all documentation within the recruitment process to ensure ongoing compliance and reports directly to Thorn Baker Directors.

This rigorous approach doesn’t just safeguard clients against non-compliance, it forms part of our continuous improvement and quality development programmes. Every stage is reviewed for accuracy and adherence to legislation, from rights to work checks, IR35 compliance and certification expiry dates, to scanned passport images.

We also align our processes with employment law, Home Office guidance, and HMRC regulations. All our staff are trained to identify and report any risks of modern slavery, reinforcing our zero-tolerance approach and protecting the welfare of everyone we engage.

Our promise to clients and candidates is simple:

You will never have to question whether corners are being cut behind the scenes. Our standards are consistently high, and we ensure they stay that way, no matter what market pressures arise.

At a time when headlines are dominated by examples of poor practice, we’re proud to say that compliance isn’t something we see as an obstacle - it’s our badge of honour.

Maddy, our Head of Finance, sums it up perfectly:

“It is satisfying to know that here at Thorn Baker we operate a full program of due diligence with all of our outsourced payroll partners. Mistreatment of worker pay, or payroll tax evasion, is regrettably not rare, with many unscrupulous operators within the recruitment industry. Our program of compliance checks serves to reassure us, our workers, and our clients that our people are paid correctly, with all statutory obligations to HMRC being met, correctly.”

If you’d like to learn more about how we approach compliance and safeguarding, we’re always here to share our insights and help raise standards across the industry.

High standards are what set us apart. They always will.

If you’d like to discuss how we can support your business with compliant, transparent and ethical recruitment solutions, get in touch with our team today: