Expanding Kingdom makes recruitment acquisition

Newton-le-Willows-based international facilities management operator, Kingdom Services Group, has acquired Bury-based Spectre Recruitment Group.

Established in 2016, Spectre Group provides specialist staffing and recruitment services to some of the UK’s most recognisable brands, placing 1,500 temps and contractors into jobs across several sectors.

The business will be rebranded as Kingdom People to align with the existing Kingdom recruitment brand, but the amount paid hasn’t been revealed.

To the end of March 2022, the acquisitive Kingdom Services Group, which started out as a security company, and has expanded into cleaning and recruitment, recorded turnover of £132,426,624 and made pre-tax profits of £4,459, 697.

Managing Director, Mike Rogers, alongside his senior leadership and management team (SLT) who have steered Spectre’s recruitment business so far, will remain at the helm, with Rogers now becoming Chief Operating Officer of Kingdom People.

The deal represents a large leap into recruitment services for Kingdom, which says the acquisition will be a seamless transition and business as usual for Spectre Recruitment Group’s clients and 1,500 colleagues.

In the most recent set of accounts filed at Companies House, to the end of March 2023, Spectre Recruitment Group recorded turnover of £29,597,495 and made pre-tax profits of £1,048, 622.

Terry Barton

Terry Barton, Kingdom Services Group CEO, said: “Throughout the acquisition process I have got to know Mike Rogers and his SLT and it is very clear we share the same values and ambitions to be the best-in-class recruitment provider in the UK and to provide service with care.

“Kingdom remains a family-owned business with family values and Mike and his team share those values.

“Spectre has a strong trading performance, a solid brand and excellent reputation.”

He added: “They have a great energy about them, and they attract and retain good people. The acquisition further strengthens the well established and existing recruitment and staffing proposition we provide through Kingdom People.”

In a joint statement, Spectre’s founders, Nick Hall and Matt Cullen, who have resigned as directors of the business, said: “A proven and trusted staffing and recruitment partner to many leading organisations, the business now moves into its next exciting phase of development, with Kingdom at the helm.

“The acquisition combines Kingdom and Spectre’s substantial national support and expertise to become a major player in the UK staffing and recruitment sector.”

In June 2023 Kingdom acquired London-based facilities management companies Red Support Services and Green Support Services, and in February 2023 bought Leeds-based national training provider, Dutton Fisher Associates, a provider of training and apprenticeship services to the social housing sector and along with Kingdom Training, was rebranded as Kingdom Academy.