Irish recruitment company Grafton Recruitment’s expansion strategy into the new European Union (EU) accession countries has paid off, with the business reporting strong revenue growth for the six months to September 2004.

Overall revenue for the group increased by 41% to £35.4m, while its profits surged ahead by 165% compared with the same period in 2003. The company’s revenue from its offices in northern and southern Ireland grew by 29% to £27.4m.

Aine Maria Mizzoni, Grafton’s managing director for Ireland, predicted that the group’s strong performance would continue throughout this year. “The process of strengthening and deepening the range of client services on offer from Grafton began in 2004, but it will continue into 2005, when I am confident that this scale of business growth will continue,” she said.

James Kilbane, chairman of the Grafton Recruitment Group, added that the firm’s growth endorsed its ambitious growth strategy into the new EU states. “As the benefits of EU membership take root in the economies of the new member states and our offices establish themselves in new markets, we are confident that Grafton’s international business will add even greater value to these already impressive figures over the coming year,” he said.

Grafton’s search and selection division Spengler Fox had also outperformed expectations, said Kilbane, having established new offices in Belgium and the United Arab Emirates.

Grafton currently operates 51 branches across 14 countries and employs 445 people worldwide.