Hays Public Services grew its net fee income by 10% in the quarter  ending 31 December 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.  In comparison, the company’s net fee income for its UK business as a  whole fell by 22%.

“About a year ago we could see the City getting a lot harder and we took a conscious decision to put more resources into the public sector,” explains Paul Venables, Hays’ finance director.

Venables adds: “It not that the public sector is hiring more people because they are not, but we decided to push a lot more into Scotland, Wales and the regions.”

Venables says the company wanted to take advantage of having an office “in every town and city in the country.” Hays’ public sector business now represents around 30% of its UK & Ireland net fees.

Venables says he expects the public sector to continue to be a strong area for the company. Venables was speaking during a conference call attended by Recruiter, following the release of its trading statement for the quarter ended 31 December 2008.