Optionis, home to employment services provider Parasol and contractor accountant ClearSky, has promoted Jeff Blakemore to the role of sales director (workforce management).
Blakemore joined the Optionis group in August 2011 as group head of sales, and since then has secured a series of new business wins.
The 38-year-old Lancashire resident has also overseen a re-organisation of the group’s business development operation.
Earlier this month Parasol, which provides outsourced employment solutions to more than 2,500 UK recruitment firms, secured its highest number of weekly contractor employee registrations since April 2010.
ClearSky Accounting has undergone rapid growth to become the UK’s 87th largest accountancy provider – recording the second highest revenue growth of any firm to feature in a recent ‘top 100’ list.
The group’s ‘best advice’ team offers guidance to contractors and freelancers on whether to join Parasol as a contractor employee or set up a limited company through ClearSky.
Derek Kelly, managing director at Optionis, said: “Jeff has been instrumental in our success since joining us two years ago, and he fully deserves this promotion.
“His new role will allow Jeff to focus on building and maintaining relationships with Britain’s biggest staffing firms and employers, and growing our presence in key growth sectors.”
Blakemore added: “I’m naturally thrilled to be promoted, and am looking forward to getting stuck into my new role.
“This change is testament to the hard work, creativity and commitment of our entire sales and business development team over the past two years.
“There is a tangible sense of optimism throughout the entire contractor recruitment supply chain at the moment, so it’s an exciting time for us.
“Demand for skilled, professional contractors is growing as the UK’s economic prospects finally improve. There are plenty of opportunities out there, and we’re determined to capitalise on them.”