Recruitment firm swallowed up

A NORTH West recruitment company has been bought by a national firm expanding into the region.

Stockport-based Cheshire Recruitment Services, which specialises in recruiting HGV drivers for major distribution companies, has been bought by Staffwise.

The £40m turnover Portsmouth company last month bought Preston-based Match Recruitment out of administration and is looking for more smaller companies to buy.

The sale of CRS was brokered by Knightsbridge Business Sales.

Cheshire Recruitment Services was founded by Barry Wilkson and Stuart Moffat in 2004.  It has a turnover of £1.1m and also supplies industrial staff, warehouse operatives and engineering workers. Both founders are staying on after the sale for an undisclosed sum.

Tom McMurray, chief executive of Staffwise, said:“Cheshire Recruitment Services is an excellent addition to the Staffwise portfolio and is a great platform from which to further expand into the North West.”