Big expansion by online firm

Kentís top online recruitment portal has announced major expansion plans that will see it move into Sussex, Berkshire and Birmingham.

JobsInkent.com has bought three internet job sites as part of an expansion strategy that also reflects organic growth and the creation of a number of strategic partnerships.

The new sites - jobsinsussex.com, jobsinberkshire.com and jobsinbirmingham.com - will strengthen the companyís domination of the internet jobs market in the south east as well as giving it a vital foothold in the UKís second largest city.

Paul Andrews, Managing Director of Maidstone-based JIK Software Ltd, said the acquisitions, from County Jobs Ltd of Worthing, would dovetail with the companyís existing sites covering Kent, Essex and Surrey.

ìWe are delighted to have this opportunity to expand our coverage and take our unique offering to more employers and more job-seekers,î he said.

The new sites will be redeveloped, upgraded and re-launched under the same branding as the existing ones.

ìAlthough the jobs market has been severely hit by the recession, we believe that it will pick up next year and we want to be ready to take advantage of that upturn,î said Paul, named Entrepreneur of the Year by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.

JobsInKent.com was established in 1999 and now receives around 18 million hits a month from 350,000 unique visitors. Paul pointed out that as well as expanding into new areas, his online jobs portals were taking a bigger share of the recruitment market.

ìBy the time jobs appear in more traditional media such as newspapers they are usually filled,î he explained. ìI am very pleased with the way the business has grown and I am looking forward to expanding into these new areas.î

Other expansion plans for the new year include a new web site – currently under wraps – that would advertise recruitment opportunities related to a specific industry sector.