"Its a fantastic company which is adding real value to a range of top UK clients and I am extremely excited to be working with Simon and his team as we look to scale the business."
Mark Mills
An ambitious recruitment business is primed for its next phase of growth after appointing serial entrepreneur Mark Mills as its chairman.
Workforce People Solutions, which is based in Bolton, employs 40 staff and turns over £10m a year.
It is led by chief executive Simon Hayton, who completed a management buyout of the business in 2016 in a deal worth £13m.
Workforce recruits highly-skilled labour for blue-chip and SME clients in sectors including healthcare, furniture and textiles, hospitality and leisure, automotive, transport and general engineering.
Through its Recruit, Relocate and Retain business model, Workforce places candidates from across Britain and Europe in UK industries which are suffering from severe skills shortages, initially on temporary contracts, with many leading to permanent roles.
Simon, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the recruitment industry, aims to double the size of the business over the next three years.
Mark was the founder and chief executive of Cardpoint, which he grew to £100m of revenues before selling the business for £170m in 2006.
Since then he has worked with several north west companies, guiding them through various stages of growth.
They include Mini-Cam, which was sold to listed technology business Halma, Velocity Composites, Healthcare Communications (UK), which was bought by IMI Mobile, Tactical Solutions (UK), and Garside and Laycock Group, which was sold to SPIE Group.
Simon said: “I am delighted to welcome Mark as our chairman. His track record of working with dynamic businesses as they look to scale is second to none.
“His strategic advice and support, and his ability to spot opportunities, will be of great benefit as we push ahead towards our ambitious growth targets.”
Mark, who is pictured, left, with Simon, said: “As soon as I met with Simon and he talked me through the business model, I was hooked. Workforce is doing something very worthwhile by providing a vital solution to many sectors which are suffering from skills shortages and are literally crying out for its services.
“It’s a fantastic company which is adding real value to a range of top UK clients and I am extremely excited to be working with Simon and his team as we look to scale the business.”
Earlier this year, Workforce received a £500,000 growth funding boost by NPIF-FW Capital Debt Finance, which is managed by FW Capital and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
