Recruiter snaps up Berkshire counterpart

Nottingham-based recruitment and retention consultancy Macildowie has acquired a Berkshire counterpart which specialises in delivering permanent and interim recruitment and resourcing solutions in HR, marketing, accounting and commercial operations.

The East Midlands firm has acquired 100% of the shareholding in Signet Resources, which was founded in Maidenhead in 2003 and employs 75 people.

Macildowie CEO James Taylor said: “We are very excited by the acquisition of Signet. The culture, values and business practices of the two businesses are very closely aligned making us a great fit for one another.  That was a huge factor in identifying Signet as the first acquisition for the expanded Macildowie group.

“’Building Great Futures’ is a key part of Macildowie’s vision. We believe that this acquisition will enable both companies to deliver an even greater breadth of service to their already loyal customers and clients, while also enhancing the long-term career opportunities of all of our employees.”

Nicky Pusey, managing director of Signet Resources, said: “Over the past 18 months Signet has grown significantly but we still felt that there was a lot more potential for the business. Having known John O’Sullivan for over 10 years when he approached us about a conversation with the Macildowie board we decided that we should explore the opportunity.

“It was critical to Vanessa and I that we work with a business that mirrored our values and passion for delivering exceptional service. We wanted to ensure that what makes Signet so special would remain intact, and we know that joining Macildowie will provide the strong leadership and back office support to enhance our offering for our staff and customers.”

Vanessa Pegg, director at Signet Resources, added: “Macildowie has a long-standing and well-respected heritage in the recruitment sector and, after meeting with James Taylor and James Stewart, their passion and expertise shone through. These characteristics will undoubtedly help us to build on the success our team has delivered. We’re delighted to join Macildowie and look forward to working closely with the whole team.”

Macildowie’s chairman John O’Sullivan said: “Both Signet and Macildowie are part of the Elite Leaders recruitment network which I chair. When Macildowie started looking for a possible acquisition Signet sprang to mind immediately. I knew that the directors, Nicky, Vanessa, James and James would make an unbeatable executive team.

“They share the same passions for excellence and the wellbeing of their people. The fact that the operations of the two businesses fit like a glove made this a no-brainer.”