Creative & digital recruiter Gemini People has bought the assets of competitor Purple Consultancy for an undisclosed amount after the latter went into administration. 

Purple founder Toby Thwaites, who has not joined Gemini People, did not respond to Recruiter’s request for comment.

The deal to buy 16-year-old Purple’s assets went through on 9 March, Gemini People chief executive Michelle Watson tells Recruiter. “We were literally locked in our board rooms for two days,” Watson says. “From the time we put in the offer until it went through, it was a total of 29 hours.”

A week on, the purchase has already delivered real benefits, and “unlocked a whole new business for us”, Watson says. “Eighty per cent of the clients are new to Gemini People, and there is a whole new population of candidates who are new to us.” 

The assets further include “a fairly chunky contracts book”, Watson says, with more than 50 freelancers out on assignment and 8,000 Twitter followers.

Watson points out that “pretty much all” of Gemini People’s current leadership team actually came over to the company from Purple within the last few years. “Initially they were quite sad [about Purple’s move into administration] but now they see everything they started has come full circle.”

Watson emphasises that purchase discussions were not underway with Purple before the company went into administration, despite rumours to that effect. In fact, Purple’s move into administration came as “a big shock”, Watson says.

A notice on Purple’s website advises visitors of the transfer of assets. Visitors are also subsequently redirected to Gemini People’s website.

ReSolve was the administrator. Supporting Gemini People through the purchase was the legal team of Hamilton Bradshaw Private Equity, the primary investor in Watson’s company, which is four years old.

Gemini People is on the lookout for other acquisitions as well, Watson adds.

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