InterQuest Group’s chairman Gary Ashworth has backed IT sales recruiter Lanborne Consulting through the group’s private equity arm IQequity.

The Slough-based recruiter is jointly backed by Ian Pratt, who will run the business as managing director. Pratt says: “I’m excited to be working with Gary, there is a lot I can learn from him.”

Ashworth told Recruiter: “It would be shame to waste a good recession. We have up to £100m of leveraged funds and we are looking to back three to four more companies before the end of the year.”

The private equity arm was founded in January (Recruiter, 14 January).