Recruiter steps up business development to tackle falling profits

Technical and professional recruiter Rullion has pledged to step up its business development activity after annual accounts showed pre-tax profits fell from £5.1m to £4.3m.

Rullion Ltd, the holding company of the Altrincham, Greater Manchester-based group of companies, reported sales fell by £29.3m to £459.75m in the year to December, 2016.

The company, owned by the Cyprus-based Saoulli family, operates across six disciplines ranging from engineering and building to IT and offers temporary, permanent and contract staff.

During the period its headcount went down from 2,114 to 1,875, while the staff costs were £55m.

Its four directors received a total of £437,834 compared to £491,570.

In its strategic report the company said: “Rullion group has a significant number of large contracts to supply workers over the medium to long term on business critical or infrastructure projects.

“As a result it is insulated from short terms fluctuations in income streams and this allows a degree of greater certainty in the business planning process.

However, such contracts can and do fluctuate, the statement said.

It went on: “An inherent part of the competitive landscape is that existing business could be lost to competitors as and when contracts come up for tender.

“The group understands that business development is vital to its continued success and continues to enhance its business development capability throughout the organisation.”