Recruitment group SThree has announced full-year profits should meet expectations, while Harvey Nash had announced it is trading ahead of management expectations.

In its trading update for the financial year ending 25 November 2012, SThree says it expects full-year profits to be £25m, in line with market consensus expectations.

Group gross profit grew 8% year on year to £205.4m, with contract gross profit up 11%, and permanent gross profit rising by 6%.

The same statement also announced that the retirement of chief executive Russell Clements, which had previously been slated to take place following next April’s AGM, will now happen on 1 January.

In its interim management statement covering the period from 1 August 2012 to 29 November 2012, Harvey Nash says it has traded “ahead of Management expectations mainly driven by increased revenues and profits in the UK and Ireland, temporary and contract recruitment in Northern Europe, and an improving result from Asia”.

Revenue and gross profit for the quarter ended 31 October 2012 increased by 10% and 5% respectively compared to the same period in 2011, with profit before tax 3% ahead of the previous year.

For a full round-up of the mixed fortunes for listed UK recruitment companies in 2012, see business services analyst Kean Marden's City Comment piece from yesterday, 29 November.