Global professional recruitment and IT outsourcing group Harvey Nash has recorded “strong” trading in H2, according to a trading update for the full year ended 31 January 2011.

The update reveals that the firm’s board expects results for the full year to be ahead of expectations, with total revenue of around £425m, gross profit of £68m and profit before tax of around £6m, up 46% on the previous comparable year.

The group add that its net cash position at the year end was better than expected at around £8m and has no long-term debt, while bank facilities are available to fund working capital as required.

The statement continues: “During the recession the group remained profitable, generating strong cash flows, resulting in increased dividend payments and a further strengthening of the balance sheet. The strong financial results for the year just ended reflect a return to growth across the business and the leverage achieved from increased market share gains particularly in the UK and Europe.”

The group will announce on the 28 April 2011, preliminary results for the year ended 31 January 2011.