IT recruiter Harvey Nash has reported increased profit and plans for expansion

Nash reported pre-tax profit of £2.6m for the six months to July, up from £1.7m for the same period a year ago. UK turnover rose 14% to £44.2m.

The fastest growth was in mainland Europe, where turnover rose 53% to £63m. Group turnover rose 31% to £121.2m.

Chief executive Albert Ellis told Recruiter the company's results were boosted by new contracts in the Netherlands from the likes of telecoms company KPN and electronics giant Siemens.

He said the liberalisation of the labour laws in Europe had helped.

Ellis boasts that Nash is now bigger in IT recruitment in Europe than either Hays or Adecco. The company pointed to "robust demand" for senior executives and technology specialists across all its markets.

He said: "Building on the success of these results, the group has identified a number of possible bolt-on acquisition opportunities in new and fast-growing geographical areas."

He said he was looking at opportunities in the US, especially Dallas and Atlanta.