The interim figures of GCS were given a boost by strong results from its French office.

The IT recruiter has an office in Caen and a buoyant European market helped turnover increase 20% to £11.5m, director Martin Smith said. Net profit hit £500,000, also up 20%.

GCS, whose main office is in Reading, also has an office in London as well as its office in northern France. A team of consultants also serves Dutch clients via the London office. In all, GCS employs about 80 staff.

“The French results were very good - the team there increased its business by 140% - as were the Dutch, and our business model of contingency recruitment into small and medium-sized businesses allows us to take advantage of the marketplace,” Smith told Recruiter.

“We have an entrepreneurial culture which lets our consultants run their own businesses within our business.”