Hays in profit boost amid 'challenging' market

Recruiter Hays says it is primed to meet top-end profit targets despite a “challenging” jobs market.

The London-based firm expects to deliver pre-exceptional item operating profits of between £37 million and £46 million.

The company stressed it is still mindful of wider uncertainty in the global economy, and expects “market conditions to remain challenging” in the near future.

It also said it is likely to maintain headcount levels through the next quarter, having made significant cuts over the past year.

The update came as the company reported net fees had declined by four per cent in the three months to the end of June.

It represented a slowdown in its rate of sales decline, amid a boost from an improved performance in its temp and contracting business.

Net fees were eight per cent lower year-on-year in the UK and Ireland.

Chief executive Mark Dearnley said: “We continue to make strong progress with our structural cost and productivity initiatives, and currently expect full-year 2026 pre-exceptional operating profit will be at the top of the consensus range.

“Progress on the design of our strategy and the shaping of a more competitive operating model is well underway.”

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.