European recruitment boosts profits at Hays despite 'challenging' London trading
Continental Europe delivered strong results for recruitment firm Hays, boss Alistair Cox said (Hays/PA)
Profits at recruitment firm Hays are set to come in ahead of market expectations, despite the company grappling with a slowdown in its UK and Ireland business as London trading remains "challenging".
The firm hailed a record net fee performance for the quarter to June 30, helped by its European operation.
Total like-for-like sales grew 7% in the period, with continental European and Hays' global arm seeing an 11% rise, but the UK and Ireland fell 5%.
The firm flagged earlier this year that the UK business had suffered a Brexit hit, as British companies applied the brakes to their hiring plans following the EU referendum vote.
But the drag was not enough to dampen the outlook for full-year operating profit, which is expected to be "marginally ahead" of consensus market expectations of £209.5 million.
Chief executive Alistair Cox said: "We have ended our financial year with a record quarterly net fee performance.
"Europe delivered strong results, led by an excellent performance in Germany, where we have increased consultant headcount by over 20% during the year."
He added that the underlying trends in the UK remain "sequentially stable", with modest improvements in the private sector offset by a tough public sector market.
In the UK and Ireland, which make up 25% of the group, fees in London tumbled 9% and Hays' accountancy and finance division was down 4%.
Overall net fees rose 15% and continental Europe and global grew 24%.
Most Read
- Tributes paid to west Belfast footballer Molly White after sudden death
- ‘It was love at first sight’: Partner of Co Tyrone carpenter who died in Carlow water tragedy pays emotional tribute
- Sinn Fein hits back at Liz Truss claims party ‘driving a wedge’ between Northern Ireland and Great Britain
- Irish language rappers Kneecap unveil mural of burning PSNI Land Rover in west Belfast
- Met Office issues updated warning with thunderstorms set to hit Northern Ireland sooner