Robust demand for temporary and contract staff is behind a strong set of results expected by international executive and professional services recruiter Harvey Nash when it announces its interim results for the first six trading months of 2012 on 28 September.

In a trading statement the company says that “despite the challenging market conditions and macro-economic uncertainty”, it expects to confirm “a robust performance during the period”, with further increases in revenue (up 15% to around £293m) and gross profit (up 6% to around £41m) when compared with 2011. 

The company says: “During the period, robust demand for temporary and contract recruitment mitigated expected lower levels of permanent recruitment and lifted by 19% the overall average number of freelance and offshore contractors working on client projects compared with the same period last year. 

“This continued change in mix is the result of clients hiring flexible labour as opposed to permanent recruits and, accordingly, has shifted the group’s gross margin in favour of flexible and contract recruitment services.”

The company adds: “The group’s US business reported the strongest performance with profits expected to increase by more than 30%, while in mainland Europe it continued to generate good revenues and profits slightly ahead of the prior year despite uncertainties in the eurozone. 

“The UK & Ireland businesses demonstrated the value of its significant market share gains with an increase in revenues and profits over the prior period despite a generally weak market for recruitment.

“Strategically, the group’s focus on the growing digital, mobile and social media technology markets, and its unique outsourcing and offshoring offering has resulted in an excellent financial performance so far and positions the group well going into the second half.”