http://www.jark.co.uk/news/rss.xml Jark Recruitment showing the latest news. en-gb Copyright: (C) Jark Recruitment http://www.jark.co.uk/syndication/ 15 USG People announced that its subsidiary Start People has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Jark Recruitment, a subsidiary of Jark Plc (United Kingdom), to strengthen its European approach to clients. The agreement will allow HR services provider Start People, which is active in 13 European countries, to strengthen its position in European tender procedures. Increasingly, clients tend to sign Europe-wide contracts that also include the UK, not least because a large number of these clients have UK-based head offices. In the past six months Start People and Jark Recruitment have together completed a large number of European tender procedures in the industrial and logistics sector. This has now led to this confirmation of their cooperation. “The temporary employment market in the UK is characterised by a high degree of fragmentation, stiff competition and relatively low margins. That is why Start People has for the time being opted for strategic cooperation when targeting European clients. Our cooperation with Jark Recruitment offers opportunities for commercial synergy as we both hold strong positions in the industrial and logistics sector. In addition, the services offered by the two companies (general staffing, in-house services and recruitment & selection) and the respective corporate cultures are a good fit. This is the next step towards realising Start People’s European strategy,” said Ron Icke, CEO of USG People. “I am delighted with this confirmation of our cooperation. Start People is a renowned European player whose expertise and experience with clients on the continent, combined with our knowledge and understanding of the UK market, should make us even better able to provide services to our clients who operate at European level. Both organisations will now also be able to introduce each other to clients,” said John Buckman, Chairman of Jark Plc. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-and-start-people-sign-strategic-co-operation-agreement.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-and-start-people-sign-strategic-co-operation-agreement.htm Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT 1st April 2008: Jark Recruitment, one of the UK’s largest independent recruitment companies has taken a majority stake in the Aptus Group to create a recruitment firm placed in the top 40 out of 13,500 in the UK, with a turnover of £105 million this financial year end March 31st 2008. The group’s chairman, John Buckman said: “With Aptus joining the Group this moves Jark into a new league, enhancing our capability in dealing with larger and national contracts as well as remaining local through our branch network which now has a broader base covering the UK and into Europe. “Jark is already a major player in the industrial, construction and healthcare sectors. Aptus will add strength to these, but the acquisition also brings Jark critical mass in other sectors, including public sector and driving as well as inroads into other sectors in catering, retail and small specialists fields where we currently have no representation. Aptus can trace its trading back to 1963 and prides itself in managing larger national accounts with blue chip top 100 FT index companies. The combined operation is well placed to further build on their reputation. “This acquisition means our current 5 year plan of achieving £100 million turnover has been out performed two years ahead of schedule. Jark itself had grown its turnover organically to £63 million March 31st 2008 but this acquisition has accelerated our plans. Together, the two companies can immediately begin to operate at a level which neither would have been able to separately. “The new Jark Group offers staff and clients terrific opportunities and we are well-positioned to continue growing organically and through further acquisitions. A new 5 year plan will be presented at the Jark Annual Conference in May which will be in line with our ambition of being a Top 10 player in the UK recruitment market.” Under the terms of the deal, Jark Group has acquired a majority shareholding in Aptus, which is currently owned by its three directors, Phill McTaggart, managing director, Steve Gray, IT director and Gary Wiley, finance director. All three will remain with the company. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-takes-major-stake-in-national-recruitment-company.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-takes-major-stake-in-national-recruitment-company.htm Tue, 1 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT In a first for the recruitment industry, Jark Healthcare has launched a new training programme for its carers, enabling them to provide learning support as well as medical help. Sufferers from learning difficulties who develop a medical condition needing specialist care usually have to rely on two or more different carers. This disruption and lack of continuity can have serious emotional effects for the sufferer, upsetting their routine and affecting their overall wellbeing. To overcome this shortage of dual skilled carers, Jark has launched a training programme for experienced carers who also want to provide learning support. Jark piloted the scheme with 11 carers in its Southend office. All are now working in learning disability or integrated care environments, with very good feedback being received from service users. Following this success, the programme is now being rolled out across Jark Healthcare’s other ten branches. Kevin Farr, managing director of Jark Healthcare is pleased with the success of the initiative so far, “Having identified a shortage of carers able to offer this mix of skills, we’ve been able to develop a scheme that not only helps our care workers increase their own skills but also helps Jark Healthcare supply staff for integrated care clients, where a mix of enablement, support and hands on care is required”. The training given by Jark will provide a grounding for carers who work towards NVQ qualifications in care and learning difficulties. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-healthcare-launches-innovative-training-scheme.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-healthcare-launches-innovative-training-scheme.htm Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment has appointed a new manager of its Industrial branch in Reading, overseeing a team providing temporary staff for the food processing, warehousing and manufacturing industries. Paul Fitzgerald joins Jark Industrial from a subsidiary of Lehman Bros, the American investment bank where he was the business development manager for the Midlands area, managing the specialist mortgage portfolio. Jark Industrial managing director, Richard Morrissey says: “Paul brings with him a wealth of management and sales experience having spent 16 years within the financial services sector, the last five years within the sales fields as a highly successful business development manager for various mortgage lenders. “It may seem odd at first, but the financial services industry is a great training ground for successful recruiters. Like our industry, it is strongly proceduralised, with a great deal of legislation. It’s heavily target-driven with a great deal of pressure, so the recruitment industry doesn’t come as a shock! “With the continued expansion of Jark, we’re finding there’s a real shortage of good recruitment consultants and managers within our own industry and it’s refreshing to find someone of Paul’s experience and calibre. We’re confident that he’ll fit in with Jark’s entrepreneurial ethos and will lead the Reading team well.” Outside work, Paul is a keen sportsman who can be found either hitting the weights in the gym or zigzagging his way across the golf course. He has also completed the New York Marathon and is fully-qualified scuba diver with experience diving in Mexico, Thailand, Spain, UK and the Great Barrier Reef. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/new-manager-appointment-in-reading.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/new-manager-appointment-in-reading.htm Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment is bolstering its senior management team with the appointment of Amanda Smith as its first group support manager supporting all the companies under the Jark banner – Industrial, Construction, Healthcare and Commercial. In her new role at the company’s head office in Dereham in Norfolk, Amanda will be responsible for a range of functions, including developing Jark’s corporate identity, internal and external communications, staff training and HR, as well as keeping all the companies abreast of impending recruitment legislation and industry best practice. Amanda has a long track record within the recruitment industry spending 16 years in a variety of disciplines including industrial, commercial, construction and search and selection. She has spent the last ten years with Jark Recruitment, most recently as manager of its industrial branch in Ipswich. During her time with Jark Amanda has helped create a strong team ethos and has trained many consultants who have gone on to become branch managers both within Jark and outside of the company. For the last two years her team in Ipswich has been shortlisted for the Customer Service award for Suffolk Recruitment awards and was awarded the prize in 2007. John Buckman, chairman of Jark Recruitment says: “With the expansion plans we have for Jark and the rapid growth we have achieved over the last few years we have reached a point where these functions need to be addressed on behalf of all the companies in the group. By creating a central support function for the whole group it ensures that the same practices are carried out throughout. “The growth plans and new office openings mean we are bringing more companies, individuals and locations into the company, so need a business template to enable people to feel part of Jark and understand our culture and work ethic from the day they start. “Amanda knows Jark and the company’s ethos inside out and has demonstrated her skills in creating strong teams and good working relationships with clients. In her new role she will be able to use her experience and skills for the benefit of the entire group.” As a consequence of Amanda’s promotion, Susan Walker has been appointed branch manager of Jark Industrial in Ipswich. Susan has also worked for Jark for 10 years in both Norwich and Ipswich, most recently overseeing the launch of an Industrial operation in Jark’s Norwich branch. In its inaugural year Susan led a team that helped the combined Norwich operation achieve a £6 million turnover, 43 per cent up on the previous year’s trading figures. “By appointing Susan to manage our Ipswich branch, we have maintained a degree of continuity as she has worked with Amanda in Ipswich before,” says John. “It also demonstrates that within Jark we have the capacity to train staff for senior positions and the opportunities to reward staff who are capable of rising to the challenge of holding management positions.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-appoints-group-support-manager.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-appoints-group-support-manager.htm Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment has appointed Susan Walker as branch manager of Jark Industrial in Ipswich following the promotion of Amanda Smith to the newly-created position of group support manager at Jark’s head office in Norfolk. Susan has worked for Jark for 10 years in both Norwich and Ipswich, most recently overseeing the launch of an Industrial operation in Jark’s Norwich branch. In its inaugural year Susan led a team that helped the combined Norwich operation achieve a £6 million turnover, 43 per cent up on the previous year’s trading figures. Jark Industrial in Ipswich enjoyed a 30 per cent growth in turnover in the last financial year, helping the combined operation achieve £7.4 million turnover. As well as financial success, for the last two years Jark’s Ipswich branch has been shortlisted for the Customer Service award for Suffolk Recruitment awards and was awarded the prize in 2007. John Buckman, chairman of Jark Recruitment says: “By appointing Susan to manage our Ipswich branch, we have maintained a degree of continuity as she has worked with Amanda in Ipswich before. It also demonstrates that within Jark we have the capacity to train staff for senior positions and the opportunities to reward staff who are capable of rising to the challenge of holding management positions.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-industrial-new-manager-for-ipswich.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-industrial-new-manager-for-ipswich.htm Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT After completing a 2008 main sponsorship deal with Norwich based Buy-to-let specialists, The Money Centre, The King’s Lynn Stars are also pleased to announce 2 more team partners for the 2008 season, Banham Poultry and JARK Industrial. Banham Poultry are based in Attleborough in Norfolk and are one of the UK’s major Poultry suppliers with over 750 staff. Managing Director Dennis Foreman, is proud to continue his close association with the club ‘this is our 3rd consecutive year as a main team partner and the team have really done us proud, we have a great relationship and I can only wish them luck for more success this coming season’. Working closely with Banham Poultry off the track and now on it, is JARK Industrial, one of the largest suppliers of staff for the food processing, warehousing and manufacturing industries. Managing director, Richard Morrissey, is keen to get his company involved ‘I was invited along as a guest of Banham Poultry’s last season and loved the excitement and whole community feel of the sport, JARK is a growing company and last year we turned over 63 million pound with 33 offices located across the UK and Europe, our King’s Lynn office is one of our busiest and it’s great to get involved with successful local clubs like the Stars.’ More details can be found at www.jark.co.uk. Stars Promoter Keith Chapman is proud that his team has attracted 2 more major partners, ‘this is another major boost to our club, our success over the past few seasons plus our schemes in the local community have raised our profile and sponsorship deals like these have been created as a direct result. I would like to thank personally thank all our sponsors as without them we wouldn’t be able to invest so much money into the team and be so successful’. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-industrial-team-partners-of-kings-lynn-stars.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-industrial-team-partners-of-kings-lynn-stars.htm Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Jark Industrial, a leading supplier of contract staff for the food processing, warehousing and manufacturing industries has appointed an area manager for East Anglia. Simon Sassiene joins Jark Industrial at a time of rapid expansion for the company and in a role that has been created to reflect this growth. Simon will be responsible for seven recruitment consultants located in branches in Norwich and Ipswich placing around 400 temporary staff each week. Jark Industrial Managing Director, Richard Morrissey says: “The growth of Jark Industrial means we have to develop our infrastructure and management structure to ensure we maintain the same levels of attention to detail. “Jark has a reputation of delivering its promises and Simon’s appointment means we have someone with a wealth of experience and a commitment to ensure we keep our standards high.” Simon has a career in recruitment spanning 17 years and covering the industrial and driving sectors in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Anglia. He has helped establish successful businesses for Staff Box, PMP and the Corporate Services Group. His most recent venture was to set up a technical division for Select Recruitment. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-industrial-appoints-east-anglia-area-manager.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-industrial-appoints-east-anglia-area-manager.htm Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Jark Healthcare, a leading provider of staff to the healthcare sector has set its sights on becoming the largest in its market in Northern Ireland. Jark Healthcare has appointed Deborah Oktar-Campbell to oversee the expansion, which will see the company grow from its existing two branches in Downpatrick and Lisburn with new operations planned to open in Armagh and Ballymena in 2008. The company eventually aims to have five branches with 20 staff and 1,000 carers in a range of roles throughout the province. Deborah has a BSc in healthcare and a diploma in nursing and has extensive experience in healthcare, from both a hands-on and management perspective. Her 17 years experience began when she was at college and worked as a care assistant, before various filling nursing posts until she became a nursing sister. She then moved into healthcare management where she rose to the position of regional manager and operations manager at Southern Cross, the largest provider of care homes in UK with more than 20 care homes in Northern Ireland. Deborah is looking forward to the new challenge, “After eight years working with the same team and experiencing various changes in the marketplace, I am looking forward to a new challenge in healthcare in a different capacity. “Northern Ireland is entering a new phase of political stability with local assembly government and the health minister Michael Magimpsey has announced the spend for the next three years, specifically benefiting our field. “Jark Healthcare’s aim is to become the first choice of recruitment agency in Northern Ireland. We offer a commitment to our customers and carers that we believe is the best in the industry, offering a top quality service, value for money and a commitment to deliver our promises.” Since joining Jark late last year, Deborah has restructured Jark Healthcare’s existing branches, with Downpatrick concentrating on providing staff for individual patients at home while Lisburn focuses on providing staff for care and nursing homes. The Downpatrick branch of four staff is managed by Margaret McGrady who joined Jark Healthcare in 2004. Margaret has an NVQ in care management and co-ordinates care staff providing over 1,100 hours of care per week. Jark’s Lisburn office comprises five staff and is headed up by Carol Savage. Carol has a degree in Health and Welfare and five years experience as a care assistant. She joined Jark Healthcare in 2004 and has recently gained an NVQ in care management. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-healthcare-gears-up-to-conquer-northern-ireland-market.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-healthcare-gears-up-to-conquer-northern-ireland-market.htm Thu, 7 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Jark Healthcare, a leading independent supplier of contract staff for the healthcare sector has appointed Michael Blythe as manager of its Hull office. Michael joins Jark from London, where he has worked in IT recruitment since returning to the UK from the USA. His appointment marks a homecoming for Michael as he was brought up in Hull. It will also enable him to revisit his own past at the KC Stadium. Michael joined the Tigers as an apprentice but was injured in the first game of his professional contract. With his dream of a career as a footballer shattered, he dedicated himself to his education and was awarded a student-athlete scholarship to study in America. He graduated with a first class honours degree in business from Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania. At the same time as Mike’s appointment, Lisa Johnson has been promoted to senior consultant. Lisa started her career with Jark on the other side of the desk as a carer before joining as a recruiter in Hull where she has been for the last two years. Michael Blythe says: “I am very pleased to return to my home patch and with a company as dynamic as Jark Healthcare. The company is growing strongly and I am looking forward to being a part of that success. In Hull I have the very capable support of Lisa Johnson who is the nucleus of the branch. She has proved herself as an extremely capable consultant, recently winning an internal company award for best consultant and her specialist knowledge and expertise will be a real help to me and her colleagues”. Jark Healthcare specialises in domiciliary care and provides carers to nursing homes, social services and private individuals. The office in Hull has four staff and is located in George Street in the centre of Hull. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/new-appointments-at-jark-healthcare-hull.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/new-appointments-at-jark-healthcare-hull.htm Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Jark Industrial, a leading independent supplier of contract staff for the food processing, warehousing and manufacturing industries has appointed a new manager in its Southend office. Mike Busby takes over from Alison Scott during her maternity leave. Mike joins Jark Industrial after seven years working in the industrial recruitment sector, with a proven track record that includes a ten-fold increase in turnover for his previous company, working with some of Kent’s largest industrial clients. His move to Jark coincides with the continuation of significant growth expansion for the company. Mike says “I have been offered a fantastic opportunity with Jark who are most certainly one of the fastest growing recruitment agencies in the UK and I am enjoying each day immensely.” The Southend office of Jark Industrial office is part of Jark Recruitment, one of the UK’s largest independent recruitment companies, with 32 offices and 220 employees and a forecast £64 million turnover in the current financial year. As well as managing Jark Industrial’s Southend office, Mike will also be involved in project-based work as part of Jark’s continued aim for excellence in its flexible recruitment approach. Mike is a qualified paragliding test pilot and lives with his wife and two daughters in Kent. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/new-manager-for-jark-industrial-southend.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/new-manager-for-jark-industrial-southend.htm Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT 14th January 2008: Jark Recruitment, one of the UK’s largest independent providers of temporary and permanent contract staff has opened a new office in Maidstone and the three-strong team has enjoyed a successful first week. Jark Commercial provides temporary and permanent staff for the office-based sector and joins Jark Industrial which has operated from the Kent Business Centre in Maidstone since last year. The company believes one of the core reasons for its success is specialising in specific recruitment sectors and developing an in-depth understanding of its clients’ needs. In addition to the commercial and industrial sectors, Jark has specialist healthcare and construction companies. The combined operation has 31 branches and 220 consultants and had a turnover of £44.7 million in the last financial year. Based at the Kent Business Centre in Maidstone (01622 772413), Jark Commercial will specialise in both temporary and permanent vacancies across a wide range of commercial disciplines – sales, retail banking admin, telesales, legal, finance, accounts, HR etc, with a wide geographical area that covers Maidstone, Ashford, Canterbury, west Kent and Folkestone. Jark Commercial was established in 2006 and already has offices in Stevenage and Reading. The Maidstone office is the first of several new branches scheduled for 2008. The Maidstone team is managed by Jenny Rodwell, who has over three years experience in recruitment covering sales and commercial. She is supported by Ben White who looks after permanent placements and has three years of estate agency experience and a further two in field sales. Sara Coote is responsible for the temp division and has experience in retail and sales. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jarks-new-office-in-maidstone-off-to-a-flying-start.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jarks-new-office-in-maidstone-off-to-a-flying-start.htm Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment, one of the country's largest independent providers of contract labour, has continued its recent impressive performance with strong growth at the start of its new financial year. The Dereham-based business has posted first-quarter results showing a 72pc increase in turnover on the same period last year. In the three months to June 30, Jark's turnover was more than £13m, putting it on course to achieve its annual target of £62.3m and planned annual growth of 40pc. The figures come on the back of a successful 2006-07, with the business posting annual figures for the year ending March 31 showing a 38pc increase in turnover to £44.7m. Since 2003, Jark has had specialised divisions focusing on the industrial, construction and healthcare sectors, and last year the company launched a commercial division. Earlier this year, each division was established as a standalone company. The combined operation now has 31 branches and employs 183 consultants. “We are extremely pleased with Jark's performance last year,” said chairman John Buckman. “We achieved growth in all four sectors, but had an outstanding increase in market share in our industrial division, which turned in 54pc growth, and construction, which achieved 29pc growth. “We are very pleased that our strategy of organic growth is continuing to serve us well. The secret of our success is in concentrating on specific market sectors and delivering the promises we make to our customers. During a time in which the market is shrinking, and many of our competitors are making losses, Jark Recruitment has bucked the trend and continues to retain our clients, win new ones and expand into new market sectors.” Over the past year and a bit, Jark has increased its market share in all areas of the UK where it has a presence, with every branch turning in significant increases in turnover. It also continued to expand its operations around the country. Locally, Jark Healthcare has opened a branch in King's Lynn, complementing the Jark Industrial branch in the town. Elsewhere within the region, Jark has industrial interests in Norwich and Ipswich; construction interests in Norwich, Cambridge and Ipswich; and healthcare interests in Norwich and Ipswich. Further afield, its Warsaw branch also went from strength to strength. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/just-the-job-for-recruitment-firm.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/just-the-job-for-recruitment-firm.htm Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment, one of the top one hundred recruitment companies in the UK, is launching the second phase of its new commercial division in Reading. The company, which achieved a record group turnover of £32.36 million last year, chose to open its second commercial office in Reading because of the thriving business community and close proximity to the South of England. Jark Recruitment, who has until now specialised in the industrial, driving, construction and healthcare recruitment sectors, diversified into commercial recruitment when it opened an office in the Docklands area just one month ago, and now Station Road in Reading is home to its second commercial branch. The branch officially opens on December 11 and will be run by eight staff, including sales consultants and support staff. From Reading, Jark Recruitment will embark on an ambitious expansion plan for the commercial division, which will include the opening of 20 further commercial offices across the country by 2010. Jacalyn Parker, Commercial Divisional Manager of Jark Recruitment, comments: “We are delighted to launch the second office of the commercial division in Reading. At the hub of the Thames Valley, Reading gives us the opportunity to supply temporary and permanent commercial recruitment solutions to thousands of recruits across a large and prosperous area, as well as providing us with a platform to branch into the South of England.” Jacalyn, who joined Jark Recruitment in May and has 13 years experience in the commercial recruitment industry, continues: “We are confident that in a competitive market environment we will be successful. We have set ourselves high start out targets that we are confident will separate us from other agencies straight away. Customer service and candidate retention are central to the way we work, and we pride ourselves on always being able to offer our clients flexible and cost effective recruitment solutions, which is something the company has been doing across the industrial, driving, construction and healthcare recruitment industries since it launched in 1996. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-launches-new-division-in-reading.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-launches-new-division-in-reading.htm Tue, 5 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment, one of the UK’s top one hundred recruitment companies, has recently opened a new Industrial branch in Maidstone, the commercial heart of Kent. Jark’s Maidstone branch will provide numerous employment options for the 800,000 strong Maidstone workforce in temporary recruitment for the Industrial market. Mark Brown, Southern Area Manager for Jark, comments: “We are continuing with our growth target within the Industrial, Construction and Commercial sectors and Maidstone is one of many new branch openings planned. Kent is a new area to us but we will continue to build on our reputation in the rest of the UK as a professional and preferred supplier to many local businesses.” Jark will provide temporary and permanent recruitment solutions to the Industrial market, including driving, logistics, manufacturing, technical, warehouse and catering. “From an early stage in Jark’s development we identified Maidstone as an ideal location to introduce another Jark branch where we can reach local, regional, UK, European and even world markets thanks to its location on the main transport routes between London and continental Europe. It is also possible to reach all towns in Kent in under an hour via an excellent public transport network, including railway stations and bus services allowing workers to reach all corners of the county. Its strategic location and cost effective setting holds potential for the expansion and development of the business, both in the city centre and its range of prestigious business parks.” “The forecasted economic growth and development for Maidstone matches Jark’s own expansion plans, and we look forward to developing our business alongside the city and economy as it grows. £200 million has recently been invested through major projects within the area, which promises Maidstone to be an up-and-coming area to invest in.” “We are pleased to have put a team in place already at the Maidstone branch with the recruitment of experienced Senior Consultants, Louise Ferguson, Sam Chester and On-Site Co-ordinator Oto Teniss. We are looking to further expand the team over the next few months to consolidate our position within Maidstone’s recruitment market, and drive the branch forward.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-opens-new-branch-in-maidstone.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-opens-new-branch-in-maidstone.htm Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment is proud to be celebrating its first decade in business. Ranked in the top 100 largest recruitment companies in the UK by the Employment Agencies Industry, Jark employs 153 staff in 21 locations across the country and a branch in Poland and, in an industry fierce in competition, turned-over an impressive £32.36 million in the 2005-2006 financial year, which shows a 25 per cent increase on the previous year. The company is on target to achieve a turnover of £42 million this year. This is impressive growth for a company that started in a small business unit in Swaffham in 1996. Here John Buckman, Chairman of Jark Recruitment, comments on developments within the industry and developments in the business since it began a decade ago: "We have experienced first hand the rapid development of the industry and have worked continuously to adapt to its dynamic behaviour. The recruitment industry in general is becoming a crowded marketplace and is fiercely competitive, but we have stayed ahead by moving with the changes. In the 1990s when UK businesses were outsourcing their HR requirements we grew specialist divisions alongside the industry boom and we have been growing ever since." "We have witnessed changes in the most popular professions such as a move away from single skilled craftsmen to a preference in the media, IT, marketing and sales sectors, which is why we have recently launched divisions to specialise in those sectors. However it is our focus in the Construction and Industrial markets that is giving us our greatest successes as we out perform our competitors and take market share. The UK labour market has performed well in recent years, compared to other countries such as the US, Germany and Japan, and now has one of the highest employment rates in its history. However, the significant benefit that the UK market has over other countries is that only 25 per cent of the market is controlled by the top ten recruitment companies in the country. Compare this to some of the more mature recruitment markets abroad where the top ten agencies control 60 per cent or more of the market, it is easy to see that there is room for competition at the top end of the UK market. John concludes: "So far, the development of Jark has been achieved through a continuous reinvestment in organic growth and adding other businesses to the group that complement our specialist sectors. But considering the market situation as it is now, it is wide open for a few quality agencies to be aggressive and invest in taking market share. Jark Recruitment plans to do just that. With a proven track record for growth, a strong financial foundation, its investment in people and an experienced management structure, the company plans to expand significantly in its second decade of trading." Based on Jark Recruitment's rate of expansion last year in which it opened four new offices, the business could quadruple in size in the next decade, and with plans already in place to further expand overseas, European success is also on the horizon for the Norfolk-based company. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/celebrating-10-successful-years-in-recruitment.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/celebrating-10-successful-years-in-recruitment.htm Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment, one of the UK’s top one hundred recruitment companies, is delighted to announce its expansion and relocation plans in Cambridge. The company, which already has a Construction branch on the outskirts of the city, is moving closer to its customers by relocating to the high street and offering more choice by adding an Industrial and Commercial brand. John Buckman, Chairman for Jark Recruitment, comments: “Cambridge is an important market for us. The introduction of a Commercial brand to the company is new and follows on from the recent launch of the brand in the London Docklands in September. After London, Cambridge was the next logical choice for us to expand within the Commercial sector. It is world-renowned as a centre for innovation, education and culture and is therefore a prime location for business. The town has fantastic growth potential because of its location and the reputation of its Universities, especially within the Commercial market.” Due to an increasing demand from the public for jobs within the food processing, warehousing and manufacturing industries, an Industrial branch has also been included in the new offices. John continues: “In a marketplace which is becoming more and more competitive, it is essential we attract as many skilled workers as possible and meet the needs of the broad range of companies we are supplying employees to. It is vital we remain flexible, move with the times and provide the best service possible within the recruitment industry.” The re-location of the Cambridge branch to the high street is just the beginning for Jark Recruitment nationally. It marks the start of a relocation process, which sees all branches that aren’t already, move to the high street. This involves a total of xx branches. John concludes: “We are driven by customer service and pride ourselves on the services we offer our clients, candidates and staff. By investing in the services we offer the Cambridge market shows our dedication to the area.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-invests-in-cambridge.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-invests-in-cambridge.htm Wed, 8 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment and associated recruitment companies has finished the 2005/2006 financial year with a record group turnover of £32.36 million, which is a 25 per cent increase from last year. In a market which has had an overall decline of 4.2 per cent and a decline of 11.2 per cent in the temporary recruitment sector, which is Jark Recruitment’s main marketplace, this is a successful conclusion to a busy year for the company, who has recently been ranked as the 93rd largest company in the UK by the Employment Agencies Industry. John Buckman, Chairman of Jark Recruitment and associated companies, comments: “We are delighted with our success and attribute this to the high calibre of existing staff and the quality of consultants* and candidates joining us, both of which are testament to our high quality standards while keeping the services we offer both cost effective and efficient. As a result we have expanded our client base by 22 per cent throughout the year as well as maintaining high client retention levels. All divisions of the company contributed to our success – construction, industrial, driving, healthcare and commercial all increased sales and gross profit.” John continues: “We were especially pleased with our performance as our actual results were only one per cent out from the targets we set ourselves at the beginning of the year. In a market, which has experienced an overall decline, this is an impressive achievement. It is my opinion that the UK market is fragmented and, with the increase in legislation and competition, it is likely that the industry will go through a period of consolidation.” “In the more mature recruitment markets in the world, such as America and Holland, over 60 per cent of the market are controlled by the top ten national agencies. In the UK, the top ten agencies control less than 25 per cent of the market, which means the market here is wide open for a few quality agencies to be aggressive and invest in taking market share. I believe Jark Recruitment can be one of those companies, having established a strong financial foundation, a proven track record for growth and an experienced and good quality management team with some of the best staff in the recruitment industry.” “Jark Recruitment is positive about the year ahead, we have set ourselves the target of increasing sales by 30 per cent and gross profit by 32 per cent to help us achieve a group turnover of £42.10million.” Jark Recruitment plans further branch openings to complement the four new offices, which opened across the UK last year, as well as overseas expansion based on the success of the Poland branch opening, and investment in infrastructure, to further strengthen their position in the market throughout 2006-2007. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-has-another-record-year.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-has-another-record-year.htm Fri, 21 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment, one of the top one hundred recruitment companies in the UK, is the first in the industry to implement new technologies on the Internet to keep job seekers up-to-date with jobs as they break on to the market. In a world heaving under the weight of billions of web pages, keeping up to date with forever changing information you want can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially in a world where good jobs and good staff are snapped up fast. Based on the scheme, which keeps people up-to-date with breaking world news, Live Bookmarks place a link in the web browser, which updates a list of jobs and available staff from Jark’s website without the need to keep checking the site. RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds are also available for the consumer to use in customised home pages on search engines such as Google, MSN, Yahoo, AOL or with news reader application. Danny Parr, Technical Director for the Jark group who developed this service, comments: “We came up with the idea after seeing what was being done in the news arena to deliver breaking headlines to the consumer. The Internet is flooded with news and information and RSS feeds are invaluable in enabling news vendors to get their story to the consumer first with minimal effort. With the Job Board market place becoming just as competitive, we decided it was time to take the hassle out of online job hunting and have utilised this technology for delivering jobs to the consumer. We have added RSS Feeds to all our job board sectors for all companies within in the group and, in addition, added Live Bookmark links to all the sites so that all the latest jobs, and available staff as well as news and features are delivered directly to our subscribers, rather than them having to click from site to site. All you have to do is click on one icon to receive to the requested information, and we do the rest for you.” “We undertook considerable research on the best way to present the technology to the consumer and what makes the Jark site unique is the ease in which the consumer can access the technology. Anyone can visit the site, click the desired feed and be presented with five of the most popular online search engine news readers. Clicking these links will automatically set-up the consumer’s computer for our feed. We also present links to the some of the popular news reader applications.” “If a visitor is using one of the ’new breed’ of Internet browsers such as Firefox, IE 7 or Opera, they will, upon entering the Job Board immediately find the ’Live Bookmark’ icon available within the browsers tool bar, one click and they have a live feed straight from the specific category of jobs or staff they require delivered to their desktop. This will be updated automatically by the browser as new jobs or staff are posted to our site. For those people who use news readers regularly, they can simply drag an icon from our site and drop it on to their news reader.” “We have spent considerable time on the ’behind the scenes’ design of these sites. Utilising new standards and technologies in CSS, XML, XSL, HTML and RSS ensuring our site is W3C compliant and is therefore accessible to all on almost any device or platform and is optimised for the consumer. We’ve looked at different solutions to provide the job search market with the tools they really want to make searching for jobs quick and easy. The website is flexible and user friendly, making the latest technology available in an attractive and simple to use environment” Mr Parr concludes: “I am positive that within the next six to twelve months you will see this technology become the standard in the recruitment industry as job sites compete more and more for their share of the Internet marketplace, and that companies not using it will be in the minority. We are proud to be the first to realise this and lead the way forward.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-pioneers-new-technology-for-job-feeds-to-the-net.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-pioneers-new-technology-for-job-feeds-to-the-net.htm Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT Macmillan Nurses benefit from Norfolk teams 3 peak challenge. Richard Morrissey, a Director of the Industrial division of Jark Recruitment, based in Dereham, has successfully completed the 3 peaks challenge for charity together with a team of 14 and raised over £4,000 for the Macmillan Nurses Fund. The team took on the challenge of climbing Ben Nevis, ScaFell and Snowdonia, the three tallest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales, in just over 24 hours. The challenge started in Scotland at 8am on Saturday 23rd July at the base of Ben Nevis standing at 4,408 ft, Ben Nevis took the team just 3 hours to climb and 2 hours to descend. A seven-hour drive followed as the climbers set off for ScaFell in Wales, where the 3,205 ft peak awaited. The team managed to climb up and down ScaFell in three hours 50 minutes with the descent made by torchlight. By the time they reached the bottom at 12.15 am on Sunday morning, they were ready for a well-needed rest. The team managed to catch four hours (disturbed!) sleep as they travelled through the night to arrive at their final challenge at Snowdonia. The Welsh peak took two hours 15 minutes to climb and under two hours to descend for 13 of the group, while the remaining two decided to run up and down the 3,560 ft of Snowdonia! In total, 1,270 miles were driven between Friday morning and Saturday afternoon, 11,173 feet climbed, 72 bottles of Lucozade drunk and 60 bananas eaten! Richard Morrissey describes what it was like to take part in such a physically demanding challenge: “The whole team really wanted to complete the challenge in under 24 hours, five of the 15 climbers made it in 24 hours but with heavy traffic, a broken down minibus, injured team members and four hours unbroken sleep, it was unfortunately not to be for everyone. However, as a team, we only missed our target by one hour and five minutes, which is still a fantastic feat.” “Snowdonia was the most gruelling challenge we faced, with 60 mph winds and the whole climb completed in thick fog. Morale and motivation was pushed to the limits as people suffered fatigue, tiredness, dehydration and extremely sore feet and legs. However team spirit and the determination to succeed ensured everyone completed the task.” “We are thrilled with the sponsorship raised. Money is still coming in but we estimate the final total will be between £4,000 and £5,000 going to the Macmillan Nurses Fund. The challenge was completed in the memory of my father in-law who we lost to cancer last year and we hope the money raised will help the nurses continue with the fantastic care they give to patients every day of the year. We would like to thank everyone who sponsored us and we are looking forward to planning a new challenge next year, after a bit of recuperation of course!” Sponsorship is still being collected for Richard and the team’s 3 peaks challenge. If you would like to add to the funds already collected for the Macmillan Nurses Fund, please make cheques payable to Macmillan Nurses Fund: c/o Richard Morrissey, JARK Recruitment Ltd, Beechurst, Commercial Road, Dereham, Norfolk, NR19 1AE. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/macmillan-nurses-jarks-3-peak-challenge.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/macmillan-nurses-jarks-3-peak-challenge.htm Thu, 29 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT The summer season brings music festivals, holidays abroad and trips to the beach which means more vehicles than ever are travelling the length and breadth of the UK. And with thousands of us stopping at service stations, a few extra hands are needed to cope with the demand for mid-journey refreshments. To help manage the seasonal peak in traffic, Jark Recruitment has been appointed by the Moto group, the UK’s largest provider of motorway services, to supply a temporary workforce. Jark will place 70 hand-selected staff in restaurants, shops and catering facilities in 15 Moto service stations throughout the UK in a contract that lasts until September. The contract has provided Jark Recruitment with the ideal opportunity to use their newly opened Polish branch in Warsaw, from where all 70 English-speaking candidates will be hand picked via pre-screenings and formal interviews. Richard Morrissey, Director of Jark Recruitment, comments; “We are thrilled to have been appointed by the Moto group to provide a tempory recruitment solution. Moto was the motorway services arm of the Compass Group, the largest foodservice organisation in the UK and Ireland, but has recently been sold to a consortium led by Australian bank, Macquarie, in part of a deal worth over £1.8 billion. Moto is a familiar name to all of us who travel the UK’s motorways, and we are excited to be supplying them with Jark candidates in half of all their service stations across the country.” “The contract will give us a platform to show our ability to supply tailored recruitment solutions from Poland and Eastern Europe for any specific client requirement and for any industry, no matter how large. We have always been specialist providers of temporary and permanent solutions to the industrial, driving, construction and healthcare industries, and a move into the UK’s catering services with our Polish candidates is a new and exciting opportunity for us.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/moto-awards-contract-to-jark.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/moto-awards-contract-to-jark.htm Wed, 28 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT Nevis Healthcare, the specialist nursing and care recruitment agency, has appointed recruitment expert, Kevin Farr, as Managing Director of the company. Healthcare recruitment is one of the most taxing forms of recruitment. There is a consistent shortage of nurses and more jobs than nurses to fill them. As a result, it requires someone with a proven healthcare recruitment background or an experienced healthcare professional to ensure the best results for the nurses and the clients. Kevin Farr has 12 years experience in the recruitment industry and five years experience in healthcare recruitment. He was previously Sales Director at Allied Healthcare, where he was responsible for establishing a sales division within the company. At Nevis Healthcare, Kevin will manage Nevis Healthcare’s 11 national branches and will be responsible for three area managers and twenty consultants. John Buckman, chairman of Nevis Healthcare, comments: “We are delighted that Kevin is joining Nevis Healthcare as Managing Director. We are a company wholly dependent upon the quality of its staff and its candidates and we must be a people first business. Kevin’s experience in completing national tenders, contract management and implementing sales strategy, will bring critical additional skills to the company.” Kevin concludes: “Nevis Healthcare is a relatively new company, yet in this short time it has built up a strong reputation for itself in offering nurses flexible working shifts and competitive pay, which provides clients with a happy and motivated workforce. We need to build on this reputation and make the most of our position. In the last three years, the nursing home market has been Nevis Healthcare’s most successful sector, now I am looking forward to developing our social care division across the complete branch network. It will be a challenging, but achievable task, which will contribute to Nevis Healthcare achieving its ambition of increasing turnover by 20 per cent this financial year.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/nevis-healthcare-appoints-managing-director.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/nevis-healthcare-appoints-managing-director.htm Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment is pleased to announce two new office openings in Chelmsford and Nottingham bringing the company’s total number of offices to ten. The company embarked on an expansion plan at the beginning of the year to further establish their national presence and seize new opportunities in the recruitment market. This expansion plan also includes a new industrial division in Peterborough. John Buckman, managing director of Jark Recruitment, comments: “We have had a nationwide spread as a recruitment provider for several years now but have operated predominantly out of our East Anglian offices. Nottingham greatly appealed to us as the home city for our flagship Midlands branch for several reasons. It has been identified by the government as a city playing a central role in the UK’s economy and has a large skilled workforce. The forecasted economic growth and development for Nottingham matches Jark’s own expansion plans, and we look forward to developing our business alongside the city and economy as they grow.” John continues; “The Chelmsford construction office opened in March to capitalise on the supply chain opportunities for infrastructure, development and regeneration work in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. There is a massive demand for construction skills in London and the surrounding areas highlighted by the delay in finishing Wembley stadium. Over the next six to 12 months, we will be consolidating our position in Chelmsford’s recruitment market and preparing ourselves to be ‘fit to supply’ Olympic contracts by mid 2007. With nine new stadiums, a 500-acre Olympic site in Stratford, a £17 billion regeneration of the capital’s transport systems and massive redevelopment of Stratford’s schools, hospitals, housing and derelict sites, construction skills are going to be stretched to the limit – so it is crucial for us as a specialist construction recruitment supplier to be in the area and capitalise on demand.” And to finish off a trio of new openings – Jark has doubled the size of the Peterborough office, adding an industrial sector to the town’s established construction branch, increasing the branch turnover to £2.6 million a year. John concludes: “The Peterborough expansion consolidates not only the ambitions for the industrial sector, but for the company. Jark’s aim is to open four offices in 2006 and increase turnover by 39 per cent. Our team wholeheartedly believes in the business and what we have to offer to clients, and as a team, we are jointly ambitious about the future of Jark Recruitment.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/national-expansion-for-jark-recruitment.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/national-expansion-for-jark-recruitment.htm Thu, 20 Apr 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment, one of the UK’s leading independent recruitment companies, has expanded in to the international market for the first time by opening a branch in Warsaw, Poland. The new office is now open, and sourcing and supplying skilled and unskilled workers to businesses in Poland, the UK and to existing Jark Recruitment clients. Polish candidates will be placed in employment in Jark’s specialist divisions of driving, industrial and construction, as well as in healthcare with associated company, Nevis Healthcare. Richard Morrisey, director of the Industrial division of Jark Recruitment, will oversee the new Warsaw branch. He comments: “Poland is a country with great growth potential for Jark Recruitment. The country experiences a high level of unemployment, which drives the recruitment industry for overseas employment. Poland is the largest country in Central and Eastern Europe with a population of 38 million. However, it has an average unemployment rate of 20 per cent, which rises to 35 per cent outside the cities and in the Eastern regions, and this has resulted in Poles being forced to search for work outside their home country. In fact, since the EU enlargement in May 2004, 173,000 Polish workers have applied for work in the UK, which is the highest received out of all the EU nations.” Morrissey continues: “Poland’s unemployment rate is currently encouraging more UK businesses and industries to relocate to Eastern Europe, where they can benefit from lower labour and distribution costs. This should have positive repercussions for the Warsaw branch of Jark Recruitment, who will be able to supply either individuals or workforces to UK businesses setting up in Poland for the first time.” Jark’s first international branch complements a UK expansion programme for the Norfolk based recruitment agency, with five branch openings planned across the country this year.. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/international-expansion-for-jark-recruitment.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/international-expansion-for-jark-recruitment.htm Mon, 20 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment, one of the UK’s leading independent recruitment companies, has appointed Stewart Weathers to the newly created post of Industrial Divisional Manager, following successful expansion in the sector. Before embarking on a career in recruitment, Stewart was a professional athlete who competed in the 200 metres at the 1992 Seoul Olympics. After retiring from the sporting world, Stewart joined Blue Arrow as a temp in 1996. His drive and dedication as a professional athlete has helped him race his way through the ranks in the recruitment industry with stints working for Blue Arrow directly, Kelly’s and Prime Time before joining Jark at the beginning of the year. Richard Morrissey, director of the Industrial division at Jark Recruitment, comments on the new appointment: “Stewart has got off to a flying start with the company – he joined the company at the beginning of January and opened his first branch in Peterborough just three weeks later! This is a fantastic start for Stewart and I wish him contiuing success for the future in his new role.” “Stewart will be taking on many of my day to day responsibilities. My role as director of the company involves more time being spent at our head office in Dereham, developing business plans for the Jark group as a whole with fellow board colleagues. But with the appointment of Stewart, the industrial sector will undoubtedly continue to grow, with recruitment drives in existing industrial branches and a concentrated effort to open multiple new branches throughout the year.” http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/ex-professional-athlete-competes-for-jark-recruitment.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/ex-professional-athlete-competes-for-jark-recruitment.htm Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT Jark Recruitment, one of the UK’s leading national independent recruitment companies, has bought out competitor recruitment agency, Tactical Solutions, in Leeds. The acquisition positions Jark Recruitment as one of the largest providers of industrial recruitment in Leeds with a forecasted branch turnover in excess of £4 million for 2006. The acquisition merges Tactical Solutions’ workforce into Jark’s Wakefield branch and is the first of many expansion plans for Jark in the area this year. Eventually, two branches will be formed to make the most of the combined skills this merger has given Jark - one of the offices will be headed up by David Hansley, existing Jark Manager, the other by Natalie Zonta from Tactical Solutions. Jark’s Wakefield office provides recruitment solutions to industrial and commercial businesses in the area. Richard Morrissey, director of the Industrial division of Jark Recruitment who oversees the newly expanded Wakefield office, comments: “We are delighted to announce the purchase of Tactical Solutions in Leeds, which has now been successfully merged in to our Wakefield branch. As one of the largest independent recruitment companies in the UK, we are always looking to further strengthen our position in the market and Tactical Solutions provided a complementary fit to us. They had been supplying temporary and permanent staff to Leeds-based companies for over six years and came with a strong reputation and much good will in the area. They bring with them a £1.2 million turnover from last year, which will make a valuable contribution to the overall financial performance of the company.” Leeds is one of the largest cities in the country and the primary industrial city of the north of England. Although a large proportion of its population are engaged in the service sector, Leeds is primarily an industrial city. Its rapid growth during the nineteenth century was due to the raw materials of the Industrial Revolution, such as coal and iron ore, being in great supply. The industrial structure of Leeds is now, of course, more diversified and there are plenty of options for industrial employees and businesses, especially when using Jark Recruitment with all staffing requirements. http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-purchases-tactical-solutions-in-leeds.htm http://www.jark.co.uk/news/items/jark-recruitment-purchases-tactical-solutions-in-leeds.htm Thu, 2 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT