Empresaria Group

Empresaria Group is a United Kingdom-based specialist staffing and recruitment business headquartered in Crawley. The group operates through a diversified portfolio of recruitment companies serving professional, information technology, healthcare, property, construction and engineering, commercial, and offshore recruitment markets. Its offering spans temporary and contract staffing, permanent placement, executive search, offshore recruitment services, and recruitment process outsourcing. The company was founded in 1996 by Miles Hunt, with David Telling as chairman. Its original business philosophy was distinctive within the recruitment sector: rather than building a single centrally managed agency, Empresaria sought to identify talented recruitment professionals and allow them to own and operate autonomous specialist businesses within the wider group. This model was intended to preserve entrepreneurial management and sector expertise while providing access to group capital, infrastructure, and international expansion opportunities. Empresaria raised external capital through a private placing and was admitted to Ofex in 1999. During its early years, the group expanded its UK operations and developed a portfolio of recruitment businesses. By 2003, the business had shifted emphasis toward contract recruitment, reflecting management's view that recurring temporary and contract income could provide greater earnings consistency than a predominantly permanent-placement model. International diversification became a central part of the group's strategy from 2004, when Tony Martin, formerly chairman and chief executive of Vedior NV, became chairman. Empresaria's shares were admitted to AIM in the same year. The group subsequently acquired or invested in businesses in Southeast Asia, Germany, the Netherlands, Chile, China, Finland, and other markets. Notable international developments included a majority stake in Monroe Consulting Group in Southeast Asia, the acquisition of Headway in Germany, EAR Group in the Netherlands, and Alternattiva Group in Chile. The international portfolio helped drive substantial growth during the 2000s. Group turnover exceeded £50 million in 2005, reached £148 million in 2007, and surpassed £200 million in 2008. During the global economic downturn in 2009, turnover declined for the first time, but the group's geographic and sector diversification, together with its emphasis on temporary staffing, supported continued profitability and reduced net debt. Empresaria's service model combines agency recruitment with more specialized workforce solutions. Its businesses place candidates in temporary, contract, and permanent roles; conduct executive and specialist searches; provide offshore recruitment services; and support clients through recruitment process outsourcing. The group supplies personnel across multiple industries and countries while allowing operating companies to retain a degree of local and specialist autonomy. In June 2019, Rhona Driggs became chief executive officer after serving as chief operating officer from November 2018. In 2022, Penny Freer became interim chair following Tony Martin's retirement. The group reported 2021 revenue of £258.4 million, adjusted profit before tax of £8.6 million, and 2,725 employees at 31 December 2021. These figures describe the scale of the business at that time; no later financial figures are included here without a reliable source.

Empresaria Group was established in 1996 by Miles Hunt, with David Telling serving as chairman. Its founding concept was to create a federation of specialist recruitment businesses led by capable recruitment professionals who could own and operate relatively autonomous companies. This approach sought to combine entrepreneurial incentives and specialist market knowledge with the financial and operational support of a larger group. The company raised capital through a private placing and joined Ofex in 1999. At that point, reported turnover was £4.9 million. The proceeds were used to develop existing subsidiaries and support new UK start-ups and acquisitions. During the early 2000s, Empresaria increasingly emphasized contract recruitment. Management considered temporary and contract staffing less dependent on individual permanent-placement cycles and therefore potentially more consistent as a source of earnings. In 2004, the group began a more deliberate international diversification program. Tony Martin, formerly chairman and chief executive of Vedior NV, became chairman, and Empresaria's shares were admitted to AIM. The company expanded beyond the United Kingdom through acquisitions and investments in specialist recruitment businesses. In 2005, it acquired a majority stake in Monroe Consulting Group, extending its presence in Southeast Asia. The group later acquired Headway in Germany, EAR Group in the Netherlands, and Alternattiva Group in Chile. Further international expansion included China and Finland. The strategy produced rapid growth in the middle of the decade. Turnover exceeded £50 million in 2005, rose to £148 million in 2007, and passed £200 million in 2008. The group operated across a broad range of sectors, including professional services, information technology, healthcare, property, construction and engineering, commercial recruitment, and offshore recruitment services. Its geographic spread and mix of temporary, contract, and permanent work gave the company some protection against weakness in any single market. The global economic problems of 2008 and 2009 nevertheless affected demand. In 2009, Empresaria recorded its first year of declining turnover. The group continued to generate profit, however, and its diversified operating portfolio and temporary-staffing exposure helped support performance while net debt was reduced. The business subsequently continued as an international specialist staffing group, combining temporary and contract staffing, permanent recruitment, executive search, offshore recruitment services, and recruitment process outsourcing. Rhona Driggs became chief executive officer in June 2019, having joined the senior leadership as chief operating officer in November 2018. Penny Freer became interim chair in 2022 after Tony Martin retired. Reported 2021 figures included revenue of £258.4 million, adjusted profit before tax of £8.6 million, and 2,725 employees at year-end.

1. 2022Interim chair appointed

   Penny Freer became interim chair after Tony Martin retired.

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2. 2019Rhona Driggs became chief executive

   Rhona Driggs was appointed chief executive officer in June after serving as chief operating officer from November 2018.

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3. 2009Response to the global downturn

   Turnover declined for the first time amid global economic weakness, while the group remained profitable and reduced net debt.

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4. 2008Turnover exceeded £200 million

   Empresaria recorded turnover above £200 million as its international diversification continued, including expansion into China and Finland.

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5. 2007International portfolio expansion

   The group reported turnover of £148 million and expanded through Headway in Germany, EAR Group in the Netherlands, and Alternattiva Group in Chile.

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6. 2005Southeast Asian expansion

   Empresaria acquired a majority stake in Monroe Consulting Group, extending its international recruitment platform into Southeast Asia.

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7. 2004International strategy and AIM admission

   Tony Martin became chairman as the group pursued international diversification. Empresaria shares were admitted to the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market.

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8. 2003Greater emphasis on contract recruitment

   The group shifted its business mix toward contract recruitment, seeking greater earnings consistency than a model focused mainly on permanent placements.

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9. 1999Admission to Ofex

   Empresaria was listed on Ofex after a private placing that supported subsidiary development, start-ups, and acquisitions. Reported turnover was £4.9 million.

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10. 1996Empresaria founded

    Miles Hunt founded Empresaria, with David Telling serving as chairman. The group adopted a model based on autonomous specialist recruitment businesses operated by recruitment professionals.

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A diversified, international specialist staffing group that combines local recruitment expertise and entrepreneurial operating companies with group-level resources and cross-border reach.

• Temporary and contract staffingStaffing services

  Empresaria supplies workers for temporary and contract assignments across its specialist sectors. This activity became increasingly important to the group during the early 2000s because recurring contract placements could provide a steadier earnings base than a recruitment portfolio centered only on permanent hiring.

• Permanent placementRecruitment services

  The group recruits candidates for permanent roles through specialist operating businesses. Permanent placement is offered across professional, technology, healthcare, property, construction and engineering, commercial, and other recruitment markets.

• Executive searchSpecialist recruitment

  Empresaria provides executive and senior-level search services through its specialist recruitment network. These services are designed for clients seeking experienced leadership and hard-to-source professional talent.

• Offshore Recruitment ServicesRecruitment outsourcing

  Offshore Recruitment Services support clients through recruitment activity delivered from offshore or international operating locations. The service forms part of Empresaria's broader workforce-solutions offering and international delivery model.

• Recruitment Process OutsourcingRecruitment outsourcing

  Recruitment Process Outsourcing provides clients with externally managed recruitment capabilities. The offering extends Empresaria beyond individual placements into broader support for sourcing, hiring processes, and workforce recruitment operations.

• 2004Launched an international diversification strategyStrategy

  After developing a UK recruitment portfolio, Empresaria sought additional growth and geographic diversification.

  What changed. The group appointed Tony Martin as chairman and began expanding through international investments and acquisitions.

  Aftermath. The group added operations or investments in Southeast Asia, Germany, the Netherlands, Chile, China, Finland, and other markets.

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• 2003Rebalanced toward contract recruitmentStrategy

  Empresaria sought to make earnings more consistent by reducing reliance on permanent recruitment cycles.

  What changed. The group increased its emphasis on temporary and contract staffing.

  Aftermath. The contract-focused and diversified operating model was subsequently described as a source of resilience during the 2009 downturn.

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1. Empresaria Group
2. Empresaria Group official website