News: Acquisition part of Rotherham group's growth strategy

Nicholas Associates Group has completed the acquisition of Smart Temporary Solutions Limited, an established recruitment agency based in Hull.

Nicholas Associates Group is headquartered in Rotherham and the strategic move strengthens its presence in the blue-collar temporary recruitment sector and enhances its ability to deliver innovative workforce solutions to clients across the UK.

Smart Temporary Solutions has built a strong reputation for providing high-quality temporary and temporary-to-permanent staffing solutions within the blue-collar sector. Recognised for their forward-thinking approach, innovative technology, and expertise in placing skilled workers efficiently, their integration into Nicholas Associates Group will further enhance the services offered to clients.

The acquisition marks another significant milestone in a growth strategy and vision to be the UK’s market leading partner of choice for talent management solutions, from Apprentice to Boardroom, and reinforces a commitment to providing high-quality talent solutions across multiple sectors.

With a turnover exceeding £86m, brands include Apprentice Employment Agency, Graduate Career Solutions, Stafforce, Nicholas Associates, Ashley Kate HR & Finance, Main-Board, and Olano.

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Paul Smith, CEO of Nicholas Associates Group, said: “Smart Temporary Solutions has established an outstanding reputation in the blue-collar recruitment market. Their innovative approach and expertise complement our existing services, making this acquisition a natural fit. We are excited to welcome the Smart team into the Nicholas Associates Group brand family and look forward to working together to drive further success.”

David Kitney, Owner of Smart Temporary Solutions Limited, added: “After nearly five successful years building and leading Smart Temporary Solutions, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved. It was important to me to ensure the business, our clients, and our employees would be in safe hands. Joining Nicholas Associates Group guarantees continued success under the leadership of a well-respected, national organisation. I look forward to seeing the business thrive as part of the NA Group.”

Stafforce is a key part of the group and last year opened seven new hubs across the UK.

On the move, Smith added: "This ambitious growth plan is a clear signal of our confidence in our potential to lead the market.

“With the full backing of our executive team, we are committed to driving this expansion forward, ensuring that we continue to deliver outstanding results for our clients while creating new opportunities for our employees and the communities we serve.”

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News: Rotherham recruitment firm part of new £125m recruitment and staffing solutions business

The Nicholas Associates Group, which has its headquarters in Rotherham, has joined a new partnership which is aiming to join the London Stock Exchange.

Nick Cragg, Craig Buckingham, and Roger Frost recently announced the formation of an entirely new specialist recruitment and staffing solutions company called Aristotle Partnerships.

The new enlarged group will now comprise Nicholas Associates Group [NAG], Red Rock Partnership [RRP] and Syntax Consultancy (Syntax) albeit all brands will continue to operate under their trading names and maintain their existing brand identity.

All founding entrepreneurs have a long-standing reputation in recruitment and the creation of the new company "Aristotle Partnerships" is part of a strategy to expand market share and further strengthen the offering in the temporary labour market, ports and logistics, manufacturing and IT, with the ultimate goal to seek a floatation on AIM in late 2023.

Collectively Aristotle Partnerships brands will now be able to offer apprentice and graduate placement and recruitment, blue and white collar flexible, temporary and permanent recruitment, engineering, IT, finance & HR, executive search, IT consultancy, digital learning and development consultancy, and HR management software solutions.

Nick Cragg founded Nicholas Associates Group in 1977 initially supplying site engineers to the construction industry. Through diversification, organic growth and acquisitions NAG now offers apprentice to boardroom talent management solutions for SMEs through to international corporates.

Craig Buckingham is Chairman and founder of RRP which he established in 2007, and also a member of The Leaders Council of Great Britain & Northern Ireland.

Roger Frost is managing director of Syntax and has over 35 years of success in creating great partnerships with clients in the IT sector. In 2005 he enacted an MBI to buy out the previous management team of Syntax.

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Commenting, Nick Cragg said, “The name Aristotle Partnerships was chosen as Aristotle is reputed to be the first leader to mention the phrase “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”. Being part of a larger like-minded group of companies provides greater opportunities and security for our clients, our people and our candidates. Together we are in a unique position to create stronger indispensable partnerships. By creating a single trading company we are now ideally placed to embark on our next phase of growth.

Craig Buckingham, added, “Our businesses have been built on excellence in customer service and the formation of strong strategic partnerships. The formation of Aristotle Partnerships is an extension of this philosophy. The benefits of working closely and in partnership with like-minded business leaders and their companies’ strengthens our offering to the marketplace. It will also further enhance our service to our customers, through the creation of back up supply streams, of which we are all already seeing the benefit, and the ability to cross sell into different sectors.”

Roger Frost added “At a time when recruitment and talent retention have never been more important, we believe that being a part of a larger group that share the same values and aspirations will strengthen our business. Firstly it will create closer ties with clients as we will be able to deliver a wider range of services. Secondly it will create a more secure future in terms of growth and career prospects for our talented and hardworking colleagues.”

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The integration of Syntax and Red Rock with NAG’s existing brands that include, Apprentice Employment Agency, Stafforce, Nicholas Associates, Ashley Kate HR & Finance, Olano and NA Software, makes the consolidated trading company, Aristotle Partnerships, a £125m+ turnover organisation and means the company now operates from a network of over 33 offices and branches in all key commercial locations across the UK.

The professional advisors to the deal included Sunaxis Corporate Finance who provided advice on group structuring, business planning and organisational grooming to facilitate a successful IPO.

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News: Rotherham recruiter tops £100m turnover

Nicholas Associates Group has implemented a restructuring of its Board of Directors following the recent departure of the CEO.

The move sees Lisa Gainsford, who joined the Rotherham-based company five years ago as Chief Executive Officer transfer into a new role as Strategic Development Director to further support growth plans.

In a strategic realignment of the Board, the leading talent selection company will now be led by Bruce Allen, FD who has been with the business 22 years, Tony Boorman, Managing Director of Stafforce with 20 years’ service and Paul Brammer Managing Director of Nicholas Associates who joined the business back in 2010.

Following the latest filed accounts, which report Nicholas Associates Group breaking through £100m turnover, the restructure is part of an on-going expansion plan which has seen the business set significant growth targets in terms of geographical coverage, headcount and revenue.

Nick Cragg, founder and owner said the restructure puts the company in a position to realise its expansion plans.

Mr Cragg said: “We have some ambitious plans for our Group of companies and I am a firm believer that those will not be achieved unless we have the right people in the right places.”

Tony Boorman started his career with 8 years in the Fresh Produce industry; his last role being sales and account management for major high street retailers, wholesalers, and caterers. In 1997 Tony moved into the Recruitment Sector and in 2001 joined Nicholas Associates Group. He said “I was asked to join the board in 2008 and in 2013 became the leader of the Stafforce brand. When I started working for Nicholas Associates Group, we turned over £7 million and now we turnover in excess of £100 million. I am so proud of our work family and how dedicated they are to candidates and clients, truly believing that what we do changes peoples’ lives”.

Managing Director Paul Brammer stated, “The business has been on an exciting journey over the last few years and I am privileged to be part of the next period of achieving our growth objectives, working alongside such talent right across the Group.”

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The Group is also strengthening the structure of its Stafforce brand, following the promotion of Alison Cook to Operations Director.

Headquartered in Rotherham, Stafforce has a network of branches in Grimsby, Hull, Lincoln, Liverpool, Sheffield, and Woolwich as well as onsite operations within clients that are located from the north of Scotland to the south of England.

Currently Head of the Stafforce Managed Services brand, Alison will now take much wider operational responsibilities with the long term goal of aligning the internal processes, client delivery and the candidate experiences of the Stafforce Branch Network and Managed Services brands.

Typically, a managed services client will have a high volume requirement for temporary and permanent employees, particularly during peaks in seasonal demand. In order to plan strategically, workforce planning is contracted out entirely to a Stafforce Managed Services Account Team who work in-house and deal with everything from forecasting, payroll, HR and recruitment requirements.

Alison is well placed to understand both brands having started her career at Stafforce in 2005 in the Hull branch. Over the last 16 years she has steadily progressed from being a branch manager, growing the team from 4 to 10, before her appointment as senior branch manager in 2009 responsible for multiple branches across Humberside increasing the branch overall performance by 600%. She became head of Stafforce Managed Services in 2018 as a result of her knowledge, passion for customer service and ability to increase the client base.

It is this combined experience of branch and onsite services, her performance successes and her understanding of the trends in the future labour market that have led to her promotion.

Commenting Alison said, “The UK is currently experiencing some major challenges in the labour pool. Brexit has impacted the number of migrant workers in the UK and there are likely to be redundancies in the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors. It is vital that we re-position the industries we represent so that opportunities in food, manufacturing and engineering are seen as an attractive long term career choice and attract this highly skilled talent pool. Our aim is to position our clients as employers of choice and help people to retrain or transfer skills so that our vacancies are filled with the right people.”

Alison will continue to report to Managing Director of Stafforce Tony Boorman, who also leads the Stafforce business at Board level on a day to day basis.

Commenting Tony Boorman said, “Alison has the insight and past experience to help Stafforce and Stafforce Managed Services deliver our service in a way which meets both the recruitment needs of our clients and also ensures all candidates feel valued in the workplace. Each recruitment need requires a different approach depending on the industry scenario and location. Our goal is to ensure these needs are met by having the right systems and processes in place to assess candidates quickly and easily so that employers have access to the best quality workers.”

Many household names such as Young’s Seafood, Aunt Bessies, and Quorn trust Stafforce to provide a rigorous and fully-managed recruitment process, including screening, interviewing, skills training, induction and payroll. Key sectors include food and drink, manufacturing, industrial, warehousing, logistics, contact centres, retail, and sea ports.

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News: Stafforce helps Rotherham’s foster children experience Proms in the Park

Foster children from across Rotherham got the chance to experience a live orchestra at the town's first ever Proms in the Park, courtesy of industrial and commercial recruiter, Stafforce.

Part of the ambitious Nicholas Associates Group, Stafforce has a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and a UK-wide network of sites, offering a range of services to national clients.

Chairman Nick Cragg, and Rotherham businesswoman Julie Kenny, donated 100 tickets to Rotherham's looked after children to the classical orchestra debut at the Rotherham Show on September 10.

Nick said: "We wanted to give children in Rotherham the opportunity to experience something they might not usually have the chance to do and hear classical music in a live environment. Proms in the Park with the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra was the perfect place to do this."

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The Proms in the Park event, the first of its kind in the town, was a huge success and saw almost 400 guests enjoy wonderful classical music in the beautiful surroundings of Clifton Park. After such positive support from local people, the event has already been secured for a repeat performance next year.

The event was strongly supported by Stafforce as a key sponsor, as part of its commitment to local charity initiatives including Gallery Town and the Titans Foundation. The company is passionate about giving back to its local community in its aim to enable people to be their best.

Established in 1977 by local entrepreneur, Nick Cragg, an ambitious five-year growth strategy is in motion at the Nicholas Associates Group where the aim is to achieve a £200m turnover within five years. The group's vision is to become the market-leading partner of choice for talent management solutions "from apprentice through to boardroom level"

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News: Stafforce's national partnership to support jobseekers back into work

Rotherham industrial and commercial recruiter Stafforce Recruitment has launched a partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to support a joint ambition to provide jobseekers with the help they need to successfully and sustainably return to the workplace.

Part of the ambitious Nicholas Associates Group, Stafforce has a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and a UK-wide network of sites, offering a range of services to national clients.

The National Framework Agreement allows Stafforce branches to partner with local Jobcentres to offer work experience opportunities to jobseeker claimants, with the aim to help them learn essential workplace skills, and to transition from benefits into work successfully.

Tony Boorman, director at Stafforce, said: "We are committed to working with the DWP to build a win-win partnership. The national agreement demonstrates our commitment to working fourfold with the DWP, JCP, Jobseekers and our portfolio of clients, with the ultimate aim of providing sustainable employment opportunities that will benefit all."

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A pilot scheme in Doncaster has already demonstrated the benefits of the initiative and tells the story of Christine, who was helped to gain a permanent administrator role following a two-week Work Experience placement with the branch. The scheme is being rolled out to all Stafforce branches across the UK, leading the way in supporting the unemployed improve their skills through work experience.

Having secured a role at Rejus Ltd, Christine said: "Taking part in the Work Experience opportunity and then moving into employment has reduced the burden of being unemployed. This is not altogether related to finances; it is great to have a good reason to get up in the morning and makes everything feel worthwhile.

"The future is really bright for me now I have plans to do further courses. This would not have happened had it not been for Jobcentre Plus and Stafforce and their endeavours to get me into the right job."

Nick Jenkins, head of continuous improvement at Stafforce, added: "The partnership with Jobcentre Plus is really working for us, an early view on Work Experience is that it has provided us with the opportunity to support Jobseekers to gain more knowledge and skills about the workplace and we have already supported other people like Christine to make the transition from benefits into work via the support of Government initiatives."

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News: Nicholas Associates Group marks launch with latest acquisition

The Rotherham-based industrial and commercial recruiter which launches this month as Nicholas Associates Group has made another acquisition as it continues to push ahead with ambitious expansion plans.

The group's vision is to become the market-leading partner of choice for talent management solutions "from apprentice through to boardroom level" and brings together Stafforce Recruitment, Nicholas Associates and Apprentice Employment Agency brands, complemented by a number of other specialist offerings.

The latest addition comes with the acquisition of Ashley Kate HR, a specialist HR recruitment company, for an undisclosed seven figure sum. The deal is supported by RBS and RBSIF, and is part of an eight figure refinancing that will underpin the continued expansion and diversification of the group.

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Ashley Kate HR is regarded as one of the pre-eminent HR brands across Yorkshire and the Midlands and has delivered in excess of 35% growth in revenue and profits in the last three years, expanding the consultancy team to over 30. The group said that the acquisition is a strategic diversification of existing brands.

Lisa Gainsford, CEO at Nicholas Associates Group, said: "The acquisition of Ashley Kate HR is an essential step in diversifying our group into specialist HR recruitment. The company has an exceptionally strong brand and online social media presence, robust financial performance and a niche specialism that complements our other professional arms of Engineering, Finance and Executive recruitment. We are delighted the Vendors have given our Group the opportunity to take their business to the next level."

The Vendors of Ashley Kate HR, added: "Since its inception in 2001, Ashley Kate HR has been a recruiter of choice for HR professionals. After 15 years of running the business as an independent recruitment consultancy we made the decision to find a new home for the company that would offer growth whilst maintaining quality of service; the personal, professional and honest service that the HR professionals we have worked with have come to expect.

"We are delighted that Ashley Kate HR has now become part of the Nicholas Associates Group, a company whose values, ethos and reputation are firmly aligned with those of Ashley Kate HR's. We are confident that the investment, not just financial, from the new owners will ensure the company continues to go from strength to strength."

Paul Mann and Mae Salem from Squire Patton Boggs in Leeds advised Nicholas Associates. Advising the Vendors were Springboard Corporate Finance. DSW TS Leeds provided due diligence for the Group and RBS.

Stuart Watson, director of the corporate transactions team at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: "We are confident this acquisition will be a profitable decision and is fundamental to Nicholas Associates strategy of diversifying into higher margin sectors."

Headquartered in Rotherham town centre, the company now has 16 branches and 24 onsite operations stretching from the north of Scotland to the south coast of England. In 2014 the company recorded sales of £66m and is forecasting to grow that to £81m in 2015, with similar growth rates predicted for subsequent years. The aim is to achieve a £200m turnover within five years.

As part of the ambitious five-year growth strategy, a far-reaching restructure of its senior management team was carried out earlier this year. Established in 1977 by local entrepreneur, Nick Cragg, the growth strategy also includes preparations for longer term succession.

A deal was concluded at the end of 2015 for XL Graduate Placement, a Newcastle based company providing temporary and permanent graduate recruitment services for an undisclosed sum.

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News: Stafforce to launch as Nicholas Associates Group

Rotherham industrial and commercial recruiter Stafforce Recruitment has appointed Lisa Gainsford as CEO as it heads towards a £200m turnover within five years.

Since joining the business in April 2015 in an interim role, Gainsford has worked with the executive team to formulate a strategic growth plan. This will see the launch of The Nicholas Associates Group in January 2016. The new strategy is set to reveal a vision for the firm which "breaks away from the traditional recruitment mould and offers talent management solutions from apprentice through to boardroom level."

The Nicholas Associates Group's vision is to become the market-leading partner of choice for talent management solutions. The group will bring together Stafforce Recruitment, Nicholas Associates and Apprentice Employment Agency brands, complemented by a number of other specialist offerings including graduate placement, consultancy and software. It will offer candidates an experienced partner for their entire career journey and clients, a holistic solution for candidate attraction, development and retention across every area of their business.

On taking her new role, Gainsford (pictured) said: "I was bowled over by the ethics of the company and the people in it, who are talented, committed and passionate. The opportunity to join the Group as CEO and lead the Company on this journey will be challenging but immensely rewarding."

Nick Cragg, founder and group executive chairman of Nicholas Associates Group, added: "It became clear very early on that Lisa was the right person to lead the change. She has an excellent pedigree and reputation in the industry. Under her stewardship, along with the rest of the executive team, I'm confident we are in safe but very dynamic hands."

The group has recently acquired XL Graduate Placement, a Newcastle based company providing temporary and permanent graduate recruitment services for an undisclosed sum.

XL Graduate Placement has delivered incredible growth achieving a seven-figure revenue stream since its inception in 2011 and boasts a growing number of SME and FTSE clients across the UK. The vendors will remain as consultants and believe that becoming part of the Nicholas Associates Group will "turbo charge XL's growth plans."

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On the deal, which was brokered by Squire Patton Boggs and Benchmark Corporate, Gainsford said: "We are very excited about XL joining our Group and it demonstrates our commitment to empowering young people and supporting their career journey from the start. It fits perfectly with our Apprentice Employment Agency and our software business, which, through its All Together platform enables almost 50% of the UK's 16-18 year olds to access work experience placements as well as supporting a number universities in managing student work placements."

Headquartered in Rotherham town centre, the company now has 17 branches and 24 onsite operations stretching from the north of Scotland to the south coast of England. In 2014 the company recorded sales of £66m and is forecasting to grow that to £81m in 2015, with similar growth rates predicted for subsequent years. The aim is to achieve a £200m turnover within five years.

As part of the ambitious five-year growth strategy, a far-reaching restructure of its senior management team was carried out earlier this year. Established in 1977 by local entrepreneur, Nick Cragg, the growth strategy also includes preparations for longer term succession.

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News: New director at Rotherham Hospice

Rotherham Hospice has appointed Perter Bradley as director of marketing and fundraising, a job which comes with the task of doubling the charity's fundraising income over the next three years.

The only adult hospice in Rotherham for the people of Rotherham, Rotherham Hospice is an independent charity and must raise significant sums of money each year in order to pay for the quality care provided free of charge to patients, their families and carers.

The hospice was looking to strengthen its leadership team and approached Sheffield-based Nicholas Associates, as one of the region's leading recruiters with a dedicated CSR offering, to find the right solution for this newly created position. The pro-bono collaboration resulted in the appointment of Peter Bradley, who brings more than a decade of experience and innovative fundraising success to Rotherham Hospice.

Peter Bradley, director of marketing and fundraising at Rotherham Hospice (pictured, centre), said: "I'm delighted to be joining the passionate team at Rotherham Hospice. There are 162,000 registered charities in the UK. Each and every one of them is a good cause, so it's very competitive out there. I'm looking forward to using my experience to support future plans to grow and extend the services that the Hospice provides."

Attracting the right talent to help the Hospice achieve its fundraising goals is key. The Hospice is now looking to recruit a community fundraiser to help raise its profile in the local community, as well as a corporate fundraiser to build its profile with local businesses and extend its corporate network.

Chris Duff, CEO at Rotherham Hospice (pictured, left), said: "Nicholas Associates opened up different avenues for Rotherham Hospice and the team worked extremely hard to reach out to suitable people. Nicholas Associates has brought strong professional involvement and we have also benefited because the recruitment activity has helped put the Hospice on people’s radars."

Paul Brammer, director of Nicholas Associates (pictured, right), added: "There is a growing realisation that businesses are not divorced from the communities they operate in. As a "people" business Nicholas Associates supports the local communities in which it operates and we're delighted to have been able to help Rotherham Hospice in developing its leadership capabilities to support its future fundraising success."

Nicholas Associates is part of the the successful Rotherham business, Stafforce Recruitment, the industrial and commercial recruiter that is heading towards a £200m turnover within the next five years.

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News: Stafforce's helping hand for Nepal

Rotherham industrial and commercial recruiter Stafforce Recruitment is creating a large canvas artwork to raise money to help people in Nepal badly affected by earthquakes earlier this year.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and a UK-wide network of sites, Stafforce offers a range of services to national clients and aims to achieve a £200m turnover within five years.

Stafforce employees will raise the funds by selling space on the canvas for people to leave a handprint throughout the month of August, for a £50 donation. It is part of a company-wide initiative to raise £15,000 to fund the health post for a year with relief organisation PHASE Worldwide.

Once completed, the canvas will either be auctioned off to raise more money, or will be exhibited at Rotherham's Gallery Town.

The company will also be working with local schools who will be creating their own canvas artwork, selling spaces for a £1 donation.

Louise Chambers, recruitment consultant at Stafforce (pictured), said: "We wanted to do something different to raise money and we thought creating a piece of art was a fantastic idea. We loved the theme of helping hands so that naturally led to selling space on the canvas for people to leave a handprint and donate to the cause.

"The earthquakes in Nepal were an absolute disaster for the country and have left thousands of people in a desperate situation. One of the biggest difficulties people face in the aftermath of such events is access to healthcare just at a time when they need it most.

"That is why we have decided to do this. The money we raise will help rebuild the health posts decimated in the earthquake, cover the costs of drugs and other medical supplies for a year, and two full time members of staff and a third nurse who will cover other health posts in the region.

"Anyone interesting in supporting our efforts can sponsor us on the company's Virgin Money Giving page."

The charity initiative comes after Stafforce Recruitment donated £15,000 of its own money to PHASE Worldwide to establish an initial health post in Kashigaun, in the Gorkha District of the country.

Stafforce founder Nick Cragg, travelled to a remote area of Nepal in 1997 to advise on a construction related project for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. The trip left Nick with a desire to help the proud and resourceful remote communities in Nepal; he became a co-founder of PHASE in 2006 and has made regular visits to Nepal since.

Sarah Galvin, director of PHASE Worldwide, said: "Stafforce's Rotherham branch has come up with a really novel and lovely way to raise money for Nepal. Having functioning health posts is the best way of ensuring local people get the help they need and are able to start rebuilding their lives."

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News: New offices for growing Stafforce brands

Rotherham industrial and commercial recruiter Stafforce Recruitment has opened new offices as it heads towards a £200m turnover within five years.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and a UK-wide network of sites, Stafforce offers a range of services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

With two new branches – Carlisle and Ipswich - Stafforce has now opened six branches in 2015 alone, bringing its national network to 30 on-site operations and locations.

Stafforce first came to East Anglia in 2010 to handle the demand for workers there from a long-standing national client. In 2013, the firm secured a £1.4m contract to recruit 60 people a day with Europe's biggest sushi manufacturer, ichiban UK LTD of Stowmarket. With a dedicated office at the site, consultants supplied up to 120 temporary food production operatives a day and managed all aspects of the personnel function for the smooth running of a shift pattern that covers a 24/7 operation.

The company has recently recruited Richard Hayes as an operations manager for the south of England and with support from Stafforce's new branch, the manufacturer is again boosting its payroll of 370 full time and temporary local staff to meet summer demand.

Tony Boorman, director at Stafforce, said: "The branches in Carlisle and Ipswich bring our national network to 30, which is a milestone in itself and there are others in the pipeline that will see the Stafforce brand grow in strength and number across the UK."

The company supplies temporary and permanent staff, from first time job seekers to semi-skilled workers, to manufacturing and production companies and the commercial and industrial sectors. From head offices on the Sheffield Business Park, executive recruiter Nicholas Associates sources senior management and director-level candidates.

Nicholas Associates has recently opened a new office in the North East, in Redcar, Cleveland. John Burluraux has been recruited as a managing consultant to join the leadership team and head up this new operation.

As part of an ambitious five-year growth strategy, a far-reaching restructure of its senior management team was carried out earlier this year. In addition, Victoria Gribben has been appointed in a newly-created senior position of corporate development director.

With a background in corporate finance, Gribben will be identifying and executing merger and acquisition opportunities on behalf of Stafforce. In 2014 the company recorded sales of £66m and is forecasting to grow that to £81m in 2015, with similar growth rates predicted for subsequent years. The aim is to achieve a £200m turnover within five years.

Nicholas Associates Limited is also seeking acquisitions that are non-core to the Stafforce brand but complement the specialist niche services that the Nicholas Associates brand has to offer. Opportunities across a number of sectors including specialist financial services, manufacturing and distribution are being actively investigated.

Victoria Gribben, corporate development director at Stafforce (pictured), said: "I'm thrilled to be joining Nicholas Associates Limited at such an exciting time and to be working alongside Nick Cragg and the group's directors to support the company in achieving its growth aspirations.

"The role is the perfect opportunity for me to be actively involved in acquiring, integrating and shaping businesses into the group and put into practice the experience and knowledge I have gained in my advisory capacity to help shape the business for continued future success."

Established in 1977 by local entrepreneur, now chairman, Nick Cragg, the growth strategy also includes preparations for longer term succession.

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News: Rotherham firms in Yorkshire's top 250

Leading Rotherham companies are amongst the mid-market firms that are driving growth in the region, according to the Yorkshire Report 2015, published today by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP.

The top 250 firms in Yorkshire have increased revenues by £6bn to £102bn, and now have cash in the bank in excess of £3.2bn – an almost £1bn leap from the previous reporting period. However, further analysis which splits the top 50 firms (£300m+ turnover) and the mid-market 200 reveals it is the region’s medium-sized businesses that are driving growth and prosperity for Yorkshire.

Mid-sized firms are rapidly outperforming their larger peers in all key performance indicators. Turnover, overseas sales and employee numbers are growing faster in the mid-market than they are among Yorkshire's biggest businesses.

Turnover has grown by 13.2% for mid-sized firms (compared to 5.2% for the largest 50 companies); employment levels are up 11.6% (compared to 2.8%) and overseas sales have rocketed by 19.3% (compared to just 3.6% in large firms).

Rotherham firms making onto the list include manufacturers, AESSEAL, AMG Superalloys UK Limited (formerly LSM), Exol Lubricants, ABS Industrial Resources Ltd, Jeld-Wen UK Ltd, New York Bakery Company Ltd, Schaeffler Automotive Aftermarket (UK) Ltd and Esco Emea Holdings (UK) Limited (the UK branch of Esco that purchased Hydra Mining Tools). Also in the top 250 are nursing home operator, Falcon Capital Investments Limited; the construction group, Horbury; electronics retailer, Maplin; growing national recruiter, Nicholas Associates; and SVM Europe, a leader in the gift card industry.

Terry Jones, partner and head of BDO LLP in Yorkshire, said: "Yorkshire firms have recovered well and are growing strongly, with cash in the bank, employment and overseas sales all on the up. But what's really clear is how important the mid-market is to our regional economy and future prosperity.

"Medium-sized businesses – our newly named "Brittelstand" - are the real drivers of growth in our region. With continued investment, ambitious growth strategies and the right government support, they will fast become the big businesses of tomorrow."

The backbone of Yorkshire's economy remains strong, with manufacturers accounting for 72 of the top 250 companies. The region's manufacturers saw profits before tax jump 38% to more than £1bn in the reporting period. The sector also accounts for more than half (£4.9bn) of the total overseas sales made by the 250 companies.

The retail sector continues to be the largest contributor to revenues (£44.3bn), however profits have plummeted following another tough year for food retailers Asda and Morrisons which account for more than 90% of the sector's revenues. Manufacturing was the second biggest contributor with revenues at £12.4bn, followed by the food and drink sector which recorded a 22% jump to £11.3bn.

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News: Stafforce agency increases apprentices in manufacturing sector

The Apprentice Employment Agency at fast growing national specialist recruiter, Stafforce, is teaming up with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to boost the manufacturing sector by offering alternative apprentice employment solutions to help address skill gaps and support future growth.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and over 150 staff and a UK-wide network of 28 sites, Stafforce offers a range of services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

The academy was first launched in September 2012 to make it easier for businesses to benefit from having apprentices working as part of their team.

The AMRC Training Centre is a £20.5m centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham where the focus will be on 250 students aged from 16 upwards, taken on paid apprenticeships with opportunities to progress on to postgraduate courses. Part of the The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing, the centre has exceeded recruitment targets with the final group for 2014/15 arriving in mid-March, bringing the total for the preceding 12 months to 250 and raising the number of apprentices in full or part time training to 410.

For the past two years the agency has been working closely with the AMRC Training Centre to delivery apprentice employment support services for manufacturing businesses that are keen to take on an apprentice, but are unable to employ one directly for the duration of the apprenticeship programme.

Apprenticeship Training Academy (ATA) status means that Stafforce directly employs apprentices on behalf of clients, reducing businesses' risks and making the whole process of recruiting, developing and supporting an apprentice much more straightforward.

Alison Bettac, training director at The AMRC, said: "We have been working with the Apprentice Employment Agency to find alternative apprentice employment solutions for local companies that face skill gaps, but can't commit to recruiting an apprentice. The team have never disappointed us when it comes to delivering support tailored to each company's position and we have had great feedback from employers and apprentices alike."

Tata Steel has already benefited from the support. Wanting to bring apprentices into a new division they were starting up, but unable to increase its headcount, it approached the AMRC looking for a solution. The Apprentice Employment Agency has since employed and placed apprentices with TATA and feedback has been positive.

Jacqueline Lovewell, head of Apprentice Employment Agency, said: "Apprenticeships are great for businesses across all industry sectors in the UK. They help boost employment levels and local economies. We know, however, that not all employers are ready to take the risk and employ an apprentice. We are making it easier for employers to benefit from having apprentices working as part of their team.

"Having close linkages with the advanced manufacturing sector through our partnership with the AMRC, enables us to help place apprentices in an arena that is shouting out for qualified employees. We are already seeing businesses reap the benefits to be gained from being a host employer for apprentices."

In 2014 the agency employed over 350 apprentices across the UK and placed them with employers in different industries, including engineering, manufacturing, chemical processing and commercial. This year the figure is set to hit 500.

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News: Stafforce Recruitment sets up for growth

Rotherham industrial and commercial recruiter Stafforce Recruitment has implemented a far-reaching restructure of its senior management team as part of an ambitious, five-year growth strategy.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and a UK-wide network of 28 sites, Stafforce offers a range of services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

Annamarie McHugh, who joined the Rotherham-based company two years ago as operations manager for the south, promoted to Head of Operations.

Richard Hayes joins Stafforce Recruitment as Operations Manager for Yorkshire and the Midlands, and Denise McGuire has been appointed to Operations Manager for the North and Scotland.

Adrian Tams, who has been with the company for more than 10 years, has been promoted to Talent Manager – a role dedicated to attracting the best people in the market to Stafforce.

The restructure is part of an on-going expansion plan which has seen the business set significant growth targets in terms of geographical coverage, head count and revenue.

The company supplies temporary and permanent staff, from first time job seekers to semi-skilled workers, to manufacturing and production companies and the commercial and industrial sectors. Executive recruiter Nicholas Associates sources senior management and director-level candidates.

In January, the national recruiter launched new operations in Sheffield, Doncaster, Wolverhampton and Docklands in London, with others in the pipeline to follow shortly.

The move also includes the creation of a new Leadership Team within the senior management structure comprising of Director Tony Boorman; Head of Business Development, Lucy Kuc; Annamarie McHugh; and, Head of Shared Services, Chris Myers.

Business development manager Amy Ewens and area business managers Leah Midgley, Julie Bates, Alison Cook and Christian Rudd have also been brought into the senior management team.

Nick Cragg, founder and owner of Stafforce Recruitment, said: "We have some ambitious expansion plans at Stafforce Recruitment and I am a firm believer that those will not be achieved unless we have the right people in the right places.

"We have spent a lot of time planning this move and identifying who is best suited to which roles and I am confident that we have got that right and are in a good position to achieve the targets we have set. All the people we have appointed or promoted to the senior management team have the talent and ambition to drive Stafforce Recruitment's five year plan of creating a larger, more dynamic and competitive company."

In 2014 the company recorded sales of £66m and is forecasting to grow that to £81m in 2015, with similar growth rates predicted for subsequent years.

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News: Stafforce launches four new offices

Fast growing national specialist recruiter, Stafforce, is expanding its national branch network by four new offices, including two in South Yorkshire.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and a UK-wide network of 28 sites, Stafforce offers a range of services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

The company supplies temporary and permanent staff, from first time job seekers to semi-skilled workers, to manufacturing and production companies and the commercial and industrial sectors. Executive recruiter Nicholas Associates sources senior management and director-level candidates.

New operations in Sheffield, Doncaster, Wolverhampton and Docklands in London, extends Stafforce Recruitment's presence into the West Midlands for the first time, doubles its operations in the capital and significantly strengthens the company's position in the Yorkshire region.

Established in 1977 by local entrepreneur, now chairman, Nick Cragg, Stafforce enjoyed a turnover of £60m in 2013. Having seen demand for workers growing across all regions of the UK, the company believes it is the right time to put the company's expansion plans into action.

Nick Cragg, founder and owner of Stafforce (pictured), said: "Growing the Stafforce Recruitment brand on a national basis has been on the agenda for some time but with economic uncertainly blighting the UK and Europe over recent years, we needed to pick the right time to do it.

"We have seen demand for staff increase across the majority of sectors we service and that seems as if it is set to continue, so we believe that now is the time.

"We have some really fantastic people heading up our new offices with many years of recruitment experience between them. I'm extremely excited by the expansion, which is the first of a number we have planned over medium term."

Stafforce Recruitment previously had offices in Doncaster and Sheffield but consolidated its South Yorkshire operations during the recession as the region was hit by heavy job losses.

Nick, who also owns Nicholas Associates and is chairman of rugby club Rotherham Titans, added that re-establishing offices in Doncaster and Sheffield was the best way to serve the region's businesses as it enabled Stafforce Recruitment to become part of the commercial landscape of areas they were based.

He said: "There are a lot of exciting investment projects in South Yorkshire at the moment and our ambition is to be involved in those and to play our part in ensuring the economic potential of the region is realised.

"To do that without a strong local presence would be difficult, we need to be part of South Yorkshire's respective business communities so that is why it is important for us to launch these new offices now.

"But the same goes for London and Wolverhampton. We want to capitalise on the upturn in these areas also so need to be truly integrated into the community to enable that to happen."

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News: Stafforce to roll out apprenticeship agency nationwide

Fast growing national specialist recruiter, Stafforce, has announced plans to extend its Apprenticeship Training Agency (ATA) nationwide, aiming for 550 new placements with employers across the UK this year.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and over 150 staff and has a UK-wide network of 27 sites, Stafforce offers a range of services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

The academy was first launched in September 2012 to make it easier for businesses to benefit from having apprentices working as part of their team.

Apprenticeship Training Academy status means that Stafforce directly employs apprentices on behalf of clients, reducing businesses' risks and making the whole process of recruiting, developing and supporting an apprentice much more straightforward.

It led to the creation of the South Yorkshire hub, based in Rotherham, helping employers, apprentices and other candidates to find a suitable match. Staff from the Wakefield branch of Stafforce Recruitment transferred to Rotherham, which acts as a strategic hub co-ordinating all business activities across South Yorkshire.

The ATA's recruitment and management service is delivered both onsite and in classroom sessions with training providers, who are selected to suit the needs of host companies from a choice of the best on the market. To date, 142 apprentices have been successfully placed with Yorkshire and Humberside host companies.

Jacqueline Lovewell, head of the ATA at Satfforce, said: "Employers can gain all the competitive advantage to be had when embracing Apprenticeships, while minimising their risk. Apprentices are a very potent means to cultivate the talent of the future, lift a company's skill base and create a committed, able, highly competitive workforce.

"At the same time employment levels, local economies and personal outcomes are all boosted, as young people earn while they learn real life skills and gain relevant, industry-recognised qualifications."

Total Lindsey Oil Refinery in Hull is one example where the ATA is working for the business. Operations training co-ordinator, Kevin Smith, explained: "Working with the ATA boosted our Apprenticeship programme in the local area and developed skills for our industry. The service allows us to sponsor apprentices through the academy and get help in the recruitment phase, with Stafforce's team undertaking payroll, contracts and employment, as well as providing overall support for the youngsters.

"The ATA model has worked really well for us and we directly employed eight of the apprentices that went through our programme in 2012/13."

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News: Stafforce reports strong growth in Bradford

The Bradford branch of Rotherham recruitment specialist, Stafforce has reported significant growth in 2013.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and over 150 staff in a UK-wide network of 27 sites, Stafforce offers a range of services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

Stafforce Recruitment continued its strategic development programme with the acquisition of Relay Recruitment, an award winning Bradford agency in 2011. The high street office won 28 new clients - nearly double its complement at the end of 2013 - and is forecast to be 20 per cent above budget for the year. It peaked at 203 staff.

Julie Bates, business manager at Stafforce (pictured), said: "The company's drive to be more than a recruiter, but a strategic partner that helps clients increase profitability, efficiency and sustainability is increasingly popular with Bradford employers.

"An example of this is how we have helped many SMEs unlock EU, regional and local grants that can see as much as £16,000 awarded for each new appointment. We have also conducted a very high profile marketing campaign, which has seen us visit the offices of existing and potential clients with impactful marketing material and leave-behinds."

Whilst Stafforce provides temporary and permanent recruitment, its sister company, Nicholas Associates, which has offices in Sheffield, offers recruitment, learning and talent development, robotics and automation, software development and Lean business services to its clients.

The town centre branch has recently taken on new staff and the South Bradford Hub has won ten clients since it was launched last August, providing them with 360 staff each day. The majority of its client base is made up of larger employers that require more focused, onsite support.

The Bradford team secured the opportunity to supply Jack Pennington Ltd, a distributor to mechanical and electrical contractors, with staff for one of their biggest projects to date; one which required 1,800 hours of labour.

Established in 1977, Stafforce has grown to a £60m business and is on track to becoming a £100m operation.

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News: Local recruiters merge to enhance national presence

Growing national recruiter, Nicholas Associates, has announced a strategic merger with specialist agency, Trinity Recruitment Group.

Last year Rotherham's Stafforce, consolidated its brands and refocused its strategy to enable the company to offer businesses a clear route to greater productivity, efficiency and success.

In response to market demands, Stafforce now offers an extended range of added-value services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

Established in 1977 by local entrepreneur, now chairman, Nick Cragg, Stafforce employs 155 staff nationwide. In 2010, a partial management buyout, led by Ian Anderson, chief executive, and Bruce Allen, finance director at Stafforce, saw the senior management team take ownership of 15% of the share holding of the business. Since then, the group has grown through a number of acquisitions. TEK Personnel and Action 4 Business have been integrated within Nicholas Associates and Relay Recruitment, based in Bradford and Leeds, has become Stafforce Recruitment.

The company believes that with the addition of financial and creative recruitment services that Trinity brings to its portfolio, it can now satisfy virtually every recruitment requirement to all sectors.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and over 150 staff, Stafforce Recruitment, provides temporary and permanent recruitment. Sister company, Nicholas Associates, which has offices in Sheffield, offers recruitment, learning and talent development, robotics and automation, software development and Lean business services to its clients.

Paul Brammer, director at Nicholas Associates (pictured, left), said: "The deal is very much a meeting of minds. Trinity is a superb boutique firm whose management team has longstanding client relationships based on delivery, trust and integrity - which fits perfectly with our company culture and ethos. With the knowledge and specialisms the team at Trinity will bring to Nicholas Associates, we can bring clients a greater breadth and depth to the existing offer.

"The more capability we have, the greater our ability to partner employers on the whole company life cycle, from inception through growth and development to succession management or buyout – as well as working with their partner companies along the chain that brings the product or service to market."

Sheffield and Doncaster agency, Trinity, and its subsidiary, Hash Creative, a niche regional and national recruiter for the creative sector, will be integrated into the Nicholas Associates brand and bolster its national presence.

The opportunity for managing director, Peter Bone (pictured, right), who co-founded Trinity with his wife, Natalie, is for his team to grow and develop by bringing its specialisms and skills to markets nationwide.

He said: "The merger has come at a great time for Trinity. Natalie and I and the other members of Trinity and Hash Creative are very excited about the future.

"Our clients will benefit from not only a wider range of services but they will also be able to able to draw from a bigger talent pool, while candidates will have an amplified range of career enhancing opportunities on a larger scale."

Stafforce is a £60m business and on track to becoming a £100m operation.

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News: Stafforce Apprenticeship Academy celebrates first year of success

Rotherham's fast growing national specialist recruiter, Stafforce, recently celebrated the first anniversary of the opening of its Stafforce Apprenticeship Academy.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and over 150 staff and has a UK-wide network of 27 sites, Stafforce offers a range of services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

The academy was first launched in September 2012 to make it easier for businesses across the UK to benefit from having apprentices working as part of their team.

Apprenticeship Training Academy status means that Stafforce directly employs apprentices on behalf of clients, reducing businesses' risks and making the whole process of recruiting, developing and supporting an apprentice much more straightforward.

In the past year the academy has employed 142 apprentices to place with 22 host employers and is working with 17 training providers across the UK. The ATA also had 100% apprentice to employment exit strategy on completion of Apprenticeship agreements.

During this year, the Stafforce Apprenticeship Academy also successfully joined forces with the Brinsworth Academy of Engineering to help them hire apprentices in the engineering business.

Jacqueline Lovewell, head of the Stafforce Apprenticeship Academy, said: "It has been a challenging but enjoyable year for us. We have developed great relationships along the way and hope to keep on building new ones this coming year."

Established in 1977 by local entrepreneur, now chairman, Nick Cragg, Stafforce is a £60m business and on track to becoming a £100m operation.

Vicki Nee has recently joined the Nicholas Associates team to help develop and drive forward successful business opportunities with new and existing clients across the UK. Vicki worked on the Stafforce business four years ago, working closely with chief executive Ian Anderson as he began to shape his vision for Stafforce, offering added value services to clients that were over and beyond those of the traditional recruiter.

The range of added-value services it offers to clients now includes offering temporary and permanent recruitment, executive search and selection, business improvement and organisational development, learning and talent development, robotics and automation, software development and access to Apprenticeships.

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News: Stafforce's seafood success

Rotherham's fast growing national specialist recruiter, Stafforce, has been chosen as the recruitment agency partner for Jonas Seafood for its new crab processing plant in Cromer, Norfolk.

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and over 150 staff, Stafforce has a UK-wide network of 27 sites. Its Hub in Norwich has assisted Jonas Seafood in the appointment of ten full time and five part time staff within the company already and will be recruiting more production workers as the business grows and in the run-up to Christmas.

Jonas Seafood has invested around £500,000 into the new crab production plant to create a state-of-the-art facility which will enable the company to offer its crab and lobster products to a much wider range of customers.

Kevin Jonas, managing director of Jonas Seafood, said: "It was a major blow to the town when crab processing ceased in Cromer and since then I've been working hard to bring it back to its rightful place. I am pleased to be working with Stafforce to create some great career opportunities in Cromer and to put the town back on the map for high quality crab processing!"

Tony Boorman, director of Stafforce Recruitment, said: "We are delighted to be the recruitment agency working with Jonas Seafood to create new jobs in the Cromer area. We have a lot of experience in recruiting for the fish and seafood industries and it is fantastic to be involved with such a great success story."

Stafforce work across a wide range of sectors, from construction, to retail, to manufacturing and the food industry. Last year the Grimsby-based Stafforce team placed over 800 new starters between April and August to support the migration of production from Young's Seafood's various sites to Grimsby.

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News: Stafforce sets sights on £100m mark after seeing success in Leeds

Rotherham's fast growing national specialist recruiter, Stafforce, is benefiting from a business buzz as Yorkshire employers bounce back and take on more staff.

Since the start of July Stafforce's Leeds city centre branch has experienced a significant increase in the number of temporary workers it is supplying to local employers across the Leeds and York area. The Stafforce management team puts the recent wave of growth down to the new appointment of Christian Rudd as business manager for the Leeds and York area, a strong team of recruiters, the growth and development of the wider Stafforce business and a recovering local economy.

Christian Rudd, business manager at Stafforce (pictured above, second left, with the Leeds team), said: "This summer we're witnessing some great business growth across the Leeds and York area. Clients are recruiting more staff and more employers are deciding to work with Stafforce. Our business pipeline is strong and we're looking forward to further growth as 2013 unfolds.

The recruitment experts work across a wide range of sectors, from construction, to retail, to manufacturing and the food industry.

Tony Boorman, director of Stafforce Recruitment, added: "From our perspective the local economy definitely appears to be picking up; there's a buzz in the air and employers are recruiting more workers. Christian is without doubt a great asset for our local team and his industry expertise and direction with clients will most certainly be having a positive impact on the recent uplift.

"The Stafforce business has seen growth across the UK over the past three years; partly through acquisition and partly through organic growth. We are now able to offer clients more added value services and our clients can also 100% rely on us to comply with all legislation and protect their business from risk. We're a safe pair of hands and expert in what we do; this attracts confidence and new clients."

With a head office on Percy Street in Rotherham town centre and over 150 staff and has a UK-wide network of 27 sites, Stafforce offers an extended range of added-value services to clients through its Stafforce Recruitment and Nicholas Associates brands.

It recently expanded its range of added-value services it offers to clients, including offering temporary and permanent recruitment, executive search and selection, business improvement and organisational development, learning and talent development, robotics and automation, software development and access to Apprenticeships.

Established in 1977 by local entrepreneur, now chairman, Nick Cragg, Stafforce is a £60m business and on track to becoming a £100m operation.

Stafforce website

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