FINANCIALS: Hydrogen and RTC positive on trading
21 January 2014
Two AIM-listed staffing companies have issued broadly positive trading updates for the 2012-13 financial year, ahead of the publication of their full-year results.
Tue, 21 Jan 2014Two AIM-listed staffing companies have issued broadly positive trading updates for the 2012-13 financial year, ahead of the publication of their full-year results.
Professional international staffing company Hydrogen Group says that trading during November and December 2013 was in line with projections and that the group is forecast to report an increase in net fee income (NFI) for the year of around 2% and pre-tax profits for the year in the region of £2.3m.
During the period, the group saw further strong growth in the technical & scientific sector, which now represents 45% of the group’s NFI. However, conditions in the professional support services recruitment markets remained challenging.
In 2013 the group continued with its strategy of investing for growth in the medium term. During the first half of the year, offices were opened in Houston, US and Stavanger, Norway to take advantage of strength in the global oil & gas markets, and a number of experienced hires were recruited across the business. The group has added 10% to its headcount since the half year, and now stands at 386.
Meanwhile, international recruitment, training and consultancy firm RTC says it expects its final results for the financial year to 31 December 2013 to show “a material improvement in profit before tax against market expectations”. This reflects group revenue broadly in line with market expectations, a marked improvement in gross margins achieved and efficiencies in administrative expenses, according to a company statement.
It adds that it expects “a much improved performance” from one of the companies in the RTC Group, ATA Recruitment, in the second half of the year, proving the successful implementation of the restructuring in the first half of the year.
Andy Pendlebury, chief executive officer, says: "The economic conditions in many of our markets remain challenging and competition is fierce, but we continue to drive growth through our strong brands, our people and attention to excellent service and quality."
Professional international staffing company Hydrogen Group says that trading during November and December 2013 was in line with projections and that the group is forecast to report an increase in net fee income (NFI) for the year of around 2% and pre-tax profits for the year in the region of £2.3m.
During the period, the group saw further strong growth in the technical & scientific sector, which now represents 45% of the group’s NFI. However, conditions in the professional support services recruitment markets remained challenging.
In 2013 the group continued with its strategy of investing for growth in the medium term. During the first half of the year, offices were opened in Houston, US and Stavanger, Norway to take advantage of strength in the global oil & gas markets, and a number of experienced hires were recruited across the business. The group has added 10% to its headcount since the half year, and now stands at 386.
Meanwhile, international recruitment, training and consultancy firm RTC says it expects its final results for the financial year to 31 December 2013 to show “a material improvement in profit before tax against market expectations”. This reflects group revenue broadly in line with market expectations, a marked improvement in gross margins achieved and efficiencies in administrative expenses, according to a company statement.
It adds that it expects “a much improved performance” from one of the companies in the RTC Group, ATA Recruitment, in the second half of the year, proving the successful implementation of the restructuring in the first half of the year.
Andy Pendlebury, chief executive officer, says: "The economic conditions in many of our markets remain challenging and competition is fierce, but we continue to drive growth through our strong brands, our people and attention to excellent service and quality."
