Staffline trading in line despite tight labour market

Recruitment company Staffline traded in line with board and market expectations in the first four months of 2018, it said on Thursday, as investors gathered for its annual general meeting.

The AIM-traded firm said that, despite a tight labour market, its recruitment division continued to perform “strongly”.

Chief executive Chris Pullen explained that Staffline’s size and scale allowed it to meet growing customer demand, and the three acquisitions so far this year had improved its coverage in specific geographic areas.

“During the first four months of the year, the customer experience strategy has been rolled out giving unrivalled levels of insight into workers experiences on a site by site basis,” he said.

“This data will allow us to benefit both employee and customer retention through previously unseen feedback.

“We are confident that this will accelerate our consolidation of the market in which we already have a strong leadership position.”

In the PeoplePlus services division, Pullen said the transition away from the work programme contracts remained on track.

He explained that the company was benefiting from its investment in the apprenticeship levy space, and had made a “good start” to delivering Fair Start Scotland, which launched last month.

“We continue to develop a strong pipeline across a number of areas, including devolved government and prison education.

“As a result, we are pleased to confirm that we are trading in line with market expectations and the board remains confident of the group's growth prospects.”

Staffline said it would issue its interim pre-close trading update on 4 July.