Turnover up at Grafton Recruitment

Business at Grafton Recruitment is up sharply on last year, according to figures provided by the company.

Turnover at the group's Irish operations rose 29 per cent to £27.4 million sterling (€39.25 million) in the six months to the end of September, the group said yesterday.

In the Republic, revenue was up 59 per cent, helping the company trim interim losses in that business by 44 per cent on the same period in 2003.

The company's parent group, Grafton Recruitment International, saw turnover rise 41 per cent in the first half to £35.4 million with pre-tax profits climbing 165 per cent to £1.5 million.

Company chairman Mr James Kilbane welcomed the "tremendous progress". He said the company had "delivered impressive growth in our home market, while the success of our overseas business and the Spengler Fox network has surpassed all our expectations".

Ms Áine Maria Mizzoni, managing director for the group's Irish operations, said the group had secured "significant new business" in Ireland as well as generating more business from existing clients.

"We are pleased with the six-month figures and believe they represent a major endorsement of the company's ambitious growth strategy throughout 2004," Ms Mizzoni said.

Grafton, which has headquarters in Belfast, has 51 offices in 14 countries, including five of the states that have recently joined the European Union. It employs 445 people worldwide.