Jark takes major stake in National Recruitment company

Jark Recruitment, one of the UKís largest independent recruitment companies has taken a majority stake in the Aptus Group to create a recruitment firm placed in the top 40 out of 13,500 in the UK, with a turnover of 105 million this financial year end March 31st 2008.

The groupís chairman, John Buckman said: ìWith Aptus joining the Group this moves Jark into a new league, enhancing our capability in dealing with larger and national contracts as well as remaining local through our branch network which now has a broader base covering the UK and into Europe.

ìJark is already a major player in the industrial, construction and healthcare sectors. Aptus will add strength to these, but the acquisition also brings Jark critical mass in other sectors, including public sector and driving as well as inroads into other sectors in catering, retail and small specialists fields where we currently have no representation.

Aptus can trace its trading back to 1963 and prides itself in managing larger national accounts with blue chip top 100 FT index companies. The combined operation is well placed to further build on their reputation.

ìThis acquisition means our current 5 year plan of achieving 100 million turnover has been out performed two years ahead of schedule. Jark itself had grown its turnover organically to 63 million March 31st 2008 but this acquisition has accelerated our plans. Together, the two companies can immediately begin to operate at a level which neither would have been able to separately.

ìThe new Jark Group offers staff and clients terrific opportunities and we are well-positioned to continue growing organically and through further acquisitions. A new 5 year plan will be presented at the Jark Annual Conference in May which will be in line with our ambition of being a Top 10 player in the UK recruitment market.î

Under the terms of the deal, Jark Group has acquired a majority shareholding in Aptus, which is currently owned by its three directors, Phill McTaggart, managing director, Steve Gray, IT director and Gary Wiley, finance director. All three will remain with the company.

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