Two major recruitment companies are flouting their confidence in London as a booming financial capital by opening new offices in two City neighbourhoods.

Michael Page International will open a new office on the 28th floor of 1 Canada Square in Canary Wharf on 5 November, Randstad last week launched the opening of its Ironmonger Lane office with a series of celebrations.

Uncertainty surrounding the looming economic climate has not cast a pall over the City ambitions of either concern, company leaders told Recruiter.

"We thought it was about time for the City to get to know us," said Fred van der Tang, managing director for Randstad UK. Van der Tang told Recruiter his company was "not too fazed" about fears of an economic downturn. "That's nothing new. This company has been in business for 47 years, and it's seen lots of ups and downs. There might be a slight slowdown, but there is still good growth in the City."

The 6,700 square foot Michael Page office at Canary Wharf will open with 57 consultants to service the financial services, accounting, secretarial, marketing and human resources sectors. "People will be right in acknowledging this office opening as a show of confidence," said Andrew Norton, MD of Michael Page Financial Services. "And we've planned for growth as well. This office will be full in six months."

The recruitment firm has existing clients amongst the banks, law firms and other major businesses already operating at Canary Wharf. "It's an obvious place to be based - all the clients agree," Norton told Recruiter during an exclusive tour of the new offices. "There's no one else who looks like us who is here, so we're leading from the front again."

The move to Canary Wharf has been in the works for the past 12 to 18 months, Norton said, adding: "One difficulty was finding the space." It marks one part of a relocation of Michael Page operations from Cannon Street. Other elements of the business that currently work in the Cannon Street office will soon move to Aldermanbury Square.

The company also has offices located in the capital's in Southampton Row and Pall Mall.

Randstad also took the occasion of the company's City opening to launch its first Employment Survey 2007/08.