Exclusive Recruitment land major investment for growth

Newcastle headquartered Exclusive Recruitment has secured a five figure investment to expand its operations in the North East and Aberdeen.

The firm has turned to regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers for an investment from the Finance For Business North East Growth Fund that it administers to help provide the working capital required to support its goal of trebling its turnover in the next three years.

Exclusive operates a pure recruitment division which works across a range of different industries and specialisms, and an HR Consultancy Division with an outsourcing arm which takes responsibility for every aspect of clients’ HR and personnel functions.

Set up in 2007 by managing director Mark Ions, the company is headquartered at the picturesque Prestwick Business Park in Newcastle, and has further offices in Aberdeen and Leeds.

Investments are also being made in upgrading the firm’s IT infrastructure, reporting systems and doubling the size of its already impressive Newcastle office.

Despite the economic downturn, the firm was able to open new offices in Leeds and Aberdeen in 2008 and 2012 respectively, and moved into its own headquarters building at the beginning of last year.

Mark Ions says: “Right from the start, our focus has been on setting and maintaining the very best standards for both clients and candidates, and despite the toughest of economic conditions, this commitment to quality has kept the business moving forward.

“Recruiting the right people and using the right recruitment partner is a necessity for every business, and we are building an unrivalled team of specialist consultants who are experts in their given sector.

“Our coverage has expanded over the years to include Oil and Gas, Engineering and Manufacturing as well as specialist consultants within Executive Search, HR and Accountancy & Finance, and this investment will allow us to continue this very focussed expansion.

“The need to continue the growth of our outsourced HR arm is also vital as more growing businesses understand the need to outsource everything from basics like staff handbooks and contracts of employment to more complex internal investigations, disciplinaries and TUPE related issues. This side of the business has thrived on clients’ continuing need to manage every aspect of the employment and HR regime.

“Exclusive has been through some very clear step changes in our operations since 2007, when new staff and resources have enabled us to quickly reach our commercial goals, and we’re very confident that bringing this outside resource into the firm is going to be the catalyst for our next growth spurt.

“When we decided to bring in external investment, we met with various providers to examine a number of different options, and NEL’s open and professional approach made them stand out. Their core values closely matched our own, and we worked closely with them to a clearly defined timescale.”

Jane Siddle, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, adds: “The Exclusive management team has achieved impressive and well-planned organic growth over several years, and has similarly-robust plans for the future which provide us with an excellent investment opportunity.”

Aimed at regional businesses which are at a development and growth stage, the Growth Fund forms part of the wider Finance for Business North East Fund.

Managed by North East Finance, it will see £125m of investment capital injected into the region by the European Investment Bank and the European Regional Development Fund 2007-13 over a five year period.

NEL is looking to make around 130 investments over the five-year life span of the Growth Fund, and is actively looking to speak to ambitious north east companies with robust business plans.