• Alva Labs, a Swedish digital hiring tool, has acquired DevSkills, a Stockholm-based creator of coding tests for evaluating technical competence of developers. Christoffer Norman is appointed chief operating officer of Alva Labs. The acquisition will give Alva Labs customers access to DevSkills’ coding tests through its platform, and will strengthen the company’s product offering as a digital recruitment tool. By integrating this new role-based assessment method, Alva Labs says its platform is taking a big step forward to delivering on its ambition to become an end-to-end solution for recruitment.

• The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) Global has announced LinkedIn as a new strategic global partner. LinkedIn and APSCo will share insights and expertise to deepen understanding of the recruitment and talent landscape, providing APSCo members with valuable knowledge through global webinars, events and analysis. As part of this new collaboration, Marc Oliver Nissen, director of LinkedIn Talent Solutions in DACH, will be joining the APSCo Deutschland Representative Committee.

• PepsiCo has announced its partnership with Back on My Feet, a US national nonprofit homelessness organisation, to expand its diversity of job candidates, including individuals recovering from addiction, homelessness or those who have previously faced incarceration. Back on My Feet, which is based in Philadelphia and present in 17 cities across the US, supports individuals who have experienced homelessness, financial challenges and/or are in recovery from addiction to gain housing, employment and confidence. The organisation does this through fitness and by providing members with access to career workshops, mentorships, skills training and other resources.

• Prosper 4 Group, the company behind the inclusivity hiring platform Bridge of Hope, has announced a multi-year technology partnership with workforce management software company Alvius. Under the terms of the deal, the Bridge of Hope site will transition to the Alvius TPS (Talent Pooling System), with Alvius providing the technical infrastructure for the Bridge of Hope to use to operate.

• Renewable energy and sustainability recruitment specialist Climate17 has merged with Spanish, Valencia-based Eolo Renewables, allowing the recruiter a platform for continued growth and expansion into international markets. The new firm will come under the existing Climate17 brand, which was established by renewable energy and sustainability recruitment veterans David Blake and Tom Wolsey. Carlos Soria Villegas, managing director of Eolo, will join the board of Climate17 and head up the international arm of the business.

Following the merger, the combined business now employs a team of 28 based between Bournemouth and Valencia. The merger will deliver a “unique” combination of skills and expertise which will allow Climate17 to deliver the increasing global demand for renewable energy and sustainability professionals.

• Multinational staffing firm Gi Group Holding has acquired UK recruitment company Encore Personnel. Encore operates through 11 branches plus 22 managed service sites, offering temporary and permanent recruitment solutions to clients across the UK.

• Hands On Consultancy, based in Huddersfield, and niche recruiter ProCore Recruit, based in Warrington, have merged to create The Staffing Experts. The combined business will be based in Warrington, Cheshire and will operate across the UK and internationally. The Teesside and Yorkshire teams will continue to work in these locations.

Jo Hand has taken up the role as CEO of the business. Hand’s appointment follows 35 years in the recruitment sector starting with 18 years at Manpower UK, where she was regional manager for the North of England. She then ran her own agency. Working alongside Hand is director Lee Narraway, who has spent over 20 years working in the pulp and paper, mining and manufacturing sectors before setting up ProCore in 2007.