Grafton Recruitment is expanding with plans for four new offices around Ireland

RECRUITMENT FIRM GRAFTON is expanding its operations and opening new offices in Galway, Limerick, Sligo and Dundalk. 

Tina McKenzie, the company’s chief executive, made the announcement yesterday on social media.

A spokeswoman for the company said “on the new offices, we are still at the very early stages of this, it may take another six months to open branches in those areas”.

Currently, Grafton Recruitment has 10 offices on the island of Ireland, with two in Dublin, one in Cork and the rest in Northern Ireland. 

“We believe there is real potential in those particular parts of Ireland and we are keen to have a presence there,” said the spokeswoman, regarding the new branches. 

She added that the company has further plans to expand in the coming years. 

It is expected that these new offices will create up to 30 new jobs across the four branches, with plans for further expansion across the Grafton network expected in the next five years.

‘Local representation’

Grafton Recruitment this week reported a 2018 turnover of £56.9 million, up from £46.8 million the previous year.

Gross profit also increased by £0.4 million as a result of “increased activity and new contracts”, according to the company’s financial statements. 

The director’s statement noted that the recruitment services market is highly competitive in the current economic climate. 

“The company seeks to manage the risk of losing customers to key competitors by providing a high value service and by maintaining strong relationships and local representation with key customers,” it said. 

The Irish branch of Grafton Recruitment was acquired by UK-based recruitment firm Staffline Group PLC last year.

The group today reported revenue of £1.2 billion for the full year ending December 31 – an increase of 17.7% on the previous year – and a group operating profit of £39.1 million.

Grafton Recruitment was founded in 1983 and is one of the largest recruitment companies on the island of Ireland. 

It directly employs over 250 staff and last year placed 5,500 candidates in permanent jobs.

Note: This article was amended to include additional information on the new jobs at Grafton Recruitment and to correct information regarding its current locations.

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