International recruiter SThree has started the year in “good shape” with rising profits, according to an interim management statement covering the period from 29 November 2010 to the quarter ended 27 February 2011.

The group says group gross profit achieved in Q1 increased by 19% year-on-year to around £42m (2010: £35.8m). UK gross profit rose by 12% and non-UK gross profit increased by 24%. Non-UK now represents 63% of gross profit (2010 full year: 60%).

Permanent gross profit rose by 32% and contract gross profit increased by 8%, while permanent represented 50% of gross profit (2010 full year: 49%).

Chief executive Russell Clements says: “For seasonal reasons, the first quarter is the group’s least significant in terms of the year as a whole. Nonetheless, it is encouraging to see that all of the regions in which we operate have remained on an upward trend.”