Peter Cowgill invests in recruitment business

PETER Cowgill, chairman of Bury-based retailer JD Sports, has invested in recruitment firm Uniting Ambition.

The Staffordshire-based business specialises in supplying high growth firms and has offices in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and London.

The size of the investment has not been disclosed but was described as “substantial”.

Uniting Ambition is owned by Assured Solutions Holdings which is controlled by majority shareholder Adam Shaw. It has been a member of the Virgin Sunday Times Fast Track Top 100 for the last two years and clients include Just Eat, Laterooms.com, Claire’s Accessories and Bet 365.

Mr Cowgill said: “I am delighted to be investing in Uniting Ambition at such an exciting period. This is a time of great change in the recruitment sector. With its current services and its strategic expansion plan, Uniting Ambition is well placed to expand its role in the sector.

“Furthermore, with growing confidence in IPOs and capital markets, the company is well positioned with its services to capitalise on the emerging growth in the domestic economy.”

Mr Shaw, Uniting Ambition’s chief executive, said: “I’m delighted that someone of Peter’s calibre and reputation has identified Uniting Ambition as a strong investment.

“The recruitment market is buoyant, creating a huge opportunity for us. Working alongside some of the UK’s best performing, up and coming brands, Uniting Ambition is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this and accelerate growth not only for our business but for our partners.”