New company fuels the future of Recruitment Industry

PRO Limited and Partners Group, have come together to create Hydrogen Group. With a workforce of 230 and turnover of 60 million a year the groundbreaking new company will create one of the UK’s largest recruitment specialists.

Both PRO and Partners Group have been ranked by Europe 500 in the Top 100 fastest growing companies in the UK this year. As a combined entity, both companies have experienced average organic growth of 32 per cent year on year for the last 5 years, in a market that has experienced 8 per cent average growth over the same period.

Ian Temple, Group Chief Executive and founder of PRO, said: The shared culture and approach of both the businesses has enabled each to become market leaders in their specialist markets. The creation of Hydrogen heralds a new era allowing us to broaden our product range, offer new services to clients, extend our footprint across the market and give us the platform to continue our market leading growth.

Tim Smeaton, founder and current Managing Director of Partners Group, added: Together these businesses represent one of the fastest growing recruitment specialist firms in Europe. Our shared heritage, strategies and working practices hold us in good stead to maximise opportunities for growth in niche market segments and build on the success both companies have achieved in recent years.

Following the merger, Hydrogen has appointed Janet Fricker as Chief Financial Officer. As a qualified chartered accountant with a strong background in the global retail and drinks industry, Janet brings a wealth of experience to the newly formed Hydrogen Group and hopes to continue its success through her financial leadership.

Hydrogen has a balanced portfolio of contract and permanent business that is split approximately 50:50 between financial services and commerce and industry clients, covering Finance, Law, HR, Sales and IT. In addition, through management consultancy Reflect, the Group provides expert consulting advice and services within recruitment outsourcing and human capital management, helping businesses recruit, retain and develop their personnel.

PRO (established in 1997) and Partners (established in 2000) enjoy a cultural and strategic alliance, with the management teams of both having worked together since 1992. By bringing together these businesses, Hydrogen has created an outstanding platform for growth and the company now has the size, scale and financial means to invest in new areas.