Leaders on the move

The leaders of UK Recruitment Agencies companies are changing- last year a staggering 1510 new directors were appointed to the UKís leading 1500 companies, a record number. This new breed are facing many challenges, yet they are also staying in the job a shorter time, moving on, on average after just one year, amongst the quickest in the UK.

A survey by industry analysts Plimsoll publishing has looked at the profile of business leader operating in the UK recruitment agencies market. On average a director in the UK recruitment agencies market is called John, is 49 years old and earns 103,717 per year, up from 98,002 last year. The youngest director on the board of a recruitment agencies company is aged just 20, whilst the oldest is clocking in at an impressive 86.

David Pattison of Plimsoll senior analyst on the project ìIf you are dealing with these companies it goes unnoticed that new management has been put in charge. People are quick to credit check or search to keep and eye on their customers, suppliers or competitors, yet donít even notice when key management is replaced.

Pattison continues ìWhat we are seeing is a core band of owner-directors, who are diminishing year on year as they sell up or retire. They are being replaced by a new wave of management who are free to move when the mood takes them. There is a strong argument that business behaviour is heavily influenced by this style of management, as the emphasis switches from security, financial prudence and long term vision, to quick fix solutions. I donít think itís any co-incidence that a third of Recruitment Agencies companies are losing money at the minute as the cavalier management chase the kudos of sales.î

For these businesses, this is a blatantly unsustainable position, potentially putting the business under severe financial pressure, at a time when no recruitment agencies company can afford any slip in their competitiveness. Then, before the strategy falls apart, these individuals responsible can easily slip away, their reputations in tacked, leaving others to pick up the pieces.

David Pattison is Senior Analyst with Plimsoll Publishing, leading industry analysts in the UK, France & Japan.

For more details call Clair Sherwood on 01642 626422 or e-mail c.sherwood@plimsoll.co.uk