Acquisition creates largest blue collar recruiter in the UK

A North West privately-owned recruiter has completed a deal to become the largest, privately owned blue collar labour provider in the UK.

Wigan-based Challenge-trg Group has acquired Manchester firm PMP Recruitment from investment house Twenty 20 Capital, for an undisclosed figure, bringing group revenues to more than three quarters of a billion pounds.

The combined knowledge and experience of the group will offer specialist, bespoke end-to-end logistics solutions in recruitment, training, driving, warehouse operatives and haulage, underpinned by its own supply chain technology.

Tom Cropper, Challenge-trg group chief executive, said: “This is a really exciting time for Challenge-trg and PMP Recruitment.

“By coming together and pooling our resources and experience, we can offer our clients the ultimate service in our sector.

“Incredibly, in our first year of trading in 2011, Challenge-trg revenues stood at £750,000; post deal and 10 years on, we’ll hit 1,000 times this number – a real achievement.”

He added: “As a business, our vision and values align – PMP Recruitment is a leader in establishing protocols in the abolishment of modern slavery and Challenge has focused on creating a work environment that develops and supports our employees.

“Through the combined passion for service and continual innovation and investment in technology and training provision, this merger is undoubtedly going to create opportunities for personnel and clients alike.”

The company will now employ more than 500 group operational staff and in excess of 40,000 temporary workers.

Being trusted by these organisations, Challenge-trg said it believes it illustrates the company’s commitment to leading the way in ethical business decisions and ESG agenda.

Jamie Reynolds, who joins the Challenge-trg Group board to support long term client relationships, transition and integration, said: “This deal creates a business that can deliver seriously tailored support to our clients.

“We’re very proud to have made this happen, we believe it means we can create many more jobs across the country at a time when employment is desperately needed. Our values are paramount, and Challenge-trg Group matches all of them. I’m very much looking forward to the future.”

Advisors to the deal were Grant Thornton, Hill Dickinson and Intechnica.