A Manchester recruitment firm has recorded its most profitable first quarter to date - after it says it successfully overcame the challenges of the pandemic.
MERJE, which works with firms in fields including finance and risk management, said revenues to March 31 increased by 16% on the year before - which had previously been its record quarter.
The firm said it now wants to implement commercial growth plans - including expanding its staff headcount by almost 40% - taking the overall number of employees from 36 to 50 by the end of the year.
It comes after the firm last year expanded into Scotland.
Ed Manson, MD for MERJE, said: “To surpass where we were positioned prior to Covid is a huge achievement, given the global circumstances and the impact they had on the jobs market.
"This latest milestone as we enter a period of recovery is all down to the hard work, resilience and determination of our expert team during the pandemic and the challenges which came with it.
“Alongside this, MERJE grew exponentially over the course of 2020 and into 2021 to accommodate three new specialist areas.
"They include our thriving Legal, Actuarial and Insurance and Claims divisions, as well as an expansion into Scotland with the appointment of a dedicated business manager."
The firm said the key hires would be "instrumental" in working across MERJE’s disciplines including compliance, customer contact and financial crime and fraud.
That's with a view to helping the business, founded in 2011, make the whole of 2021 its most successful financial year-to-date.
It follows a record year in 2019, during which MERJE reached a record revenue in excess of £10m.
Mr Manson added: "We’re delighted to have made such great strides so early into 2021 and recognise that this is significant given the many obstacles which the majority of businesses found themselves facing both this year and last.
"We now look forward to keeping up the momentum, by capitalising on our great start to the year with a view to achieving even greater success.
"This comes as we prepare to celebrate the landmark 10th anniversary of MERJE in October after being established in 2011."
