In challenging business conditions, what are the M&A (mergers and acquisitions) prospects for a successful recruiter? What will make an agency attractive to a buyer and will AWR have an impact on buyer appetite?
The recruitment industry is being asked to
share its insights for the survey of M&A activity in the industry. So be a part of the latest and most definitive research into the current M&A trends.
The survey, undertaken by law firm Osborne Clarke alongside
Recruiter, will assess the trends in M&A for the recruitment sector. All individual answers will be treated confidentially and the results will be published in
Recruiter.
The previous survey (October 2011) suggested an increase in M&A activity, with 87.5% of respondents expecting more activity in the following quarter, an increase on the 81% level of April of that year.
It also noted the Far East and China as being the most important areas for UK recruiters to be active in order for them to be attractive to international buyers.
Andrew Saul, a partner in Osborne Clarke's recruitment team, says he has noted of late that US staffing firms are showing increased interest in acquiring UK recruitment businesses.
There are two drivers at work, Saul tells
Recruiter. The first comes from US multinational clients putting domestic staffing companies under pressure to provide a service for them in the UK. The second is driven by the desire of US staffing firms to establish an international platform, in parts of the world where UK recruiters already operate.
Saul adds: “It will be interesting as ever to see how such trends are perceived by the industry as a whole.” The survey
can be completed online at Survey Monkey.
Like last time (see
Recruiter 19 October 2011), the survey organisers hope to attract respondents from all sectors within the recruitment industry, from SMEs to large agencies, to get the most accurate indicators of what is likely to be happening in the market in the coming months.
Saul was speaking to
Recruiter’s Colin Cottell, with the full article on p7 of the new edition of
Recruiter, which will be delivered to subscribers this week.
