Recruitment firm eyes sector growth after contract wins

23rd May 2012

A Greater Manchester recruitment agency is looking to target new industries and achieve a significant increase in turnover in 2012, after securing a six-figure finance package from Yorkshire Bank.

Rochdale-based Northern Employment Services Limited is expanding its portfolio of divisions to include specialist engineering, cleaning, catering, transport and logistics.

The expansion comes on the back of winning several new contracts, including a major project within the public sector. The contracts are expected to open up a significant number of new employment opportunities for Greater Manchester job seekers in the next 12 months.

Yorkshire Bank in Bolton has provided significant loan funding to grow the firm’s working capital and allow it to target these new sectors by taking on new staff – increasing the number of employees to 14.

Joan Pooley, joint owner and managing director of Northern Employment Services, said: “The business is 20 years old next year and our continued success has been down to spotting upcoming trends and maximising opportunities.

“We have had a very strong first quarter of trading and have pinpointed new industries that will take us to that next step. The finance we have secured from Yorkshire Bank gives us the flexibility to make quick decisions and make the most of these new growth opportunities.”

Amanda Davenport, business partner at Yorkshire Bank’s Bolton Financial Solutions Centre, said: “The business has a very clear business plan and knows exactly what it needs to do to achieve continued success. The owners, Joan and Stephanie, have over 50 years’ of recruitment experience between them and have built a comprehensive contacts list throughout the North West, giving them that competitive edge.”

The business was founded in 1993 by Joan Pooley and Stephanie Duckworth, after considerable time in senior management positions of national recruitment agencies.

Northern Employment Services specialises in both temporary contacts and permanent recruitment throughout the UK across a number of sectors. In 2011 it placed over 10,000 people into jobs and has already doubled the amount of permanent employees placed in the first quarter of 2012 against the same period last year.

The new divisions will complement the firm’s established specialisms which include office personnel, industrial, warehouse, textiles, supply chain and professional services.