North East recruitment firm announces merger amid ‘ambitious’ expansion drive

Specialist North East recruitment firm Concept Personnel has embarked on an ‘ambitious’ expansion programme, starting with the merger with another recruitment business.

The North Tyneside based recruitment consultancy, led by Jo Carter, has merged with Milton Keynes based Onyx Recruitment, led by Michelle Theuma. Both businesses are celebrating their 20th anniversaries and joining forces to broaden their offer to existing and prospective candidates and employers.

The new business, launched this December 2023, will be known as Concept Onyx Recruitment and aims to scale-up and grow rapidly in the next three to five years, with each office staffing up to handle growth.

Concept Personnel, with its team of seven, is a marketing, creative and digital recruitment agency, while Onyx Recruitment is a specialist in recruiting senior interim and temporary people in accountancy, finance, HR and operations.

The new business will continue to focus on its specialist areas from its offices in North Tyneside and Milton Keynes, while also starting to offer a broader range of sector experience.

Jo Carter, of Concept, commented: “We have both operated successfully in our niche areas, but this merger allows us to combine skills and resources, expanding the range of services we can offer existing and new clients. I have known Michelle for several years since Concept opened an office in Milton Keynes.

“We have a like minded, ethical approach to business, and are both committed to providing a professional, supportive service to candidates and clients. We want to be the best in our sectors. The plan is to build three teams in each office offering specialist support in digital and tech, marketing and creative, and HR and finance sectors.”

Both Jo and Michelle believe their two client bases will have crossover requirements that can be met by the new business. Concept’s clients are agencies and in-house teams within large corporate organisations and the public sector, from start-ups to established businesses. Onyx services corporate clients in London, the Home Counties and around the UK.

Jo added: “The recruitment environment never stands still. Skills and demands are ever changing. What we have learned is that we must listen and react quickly and constructively to the changing needs of our clients.

“By doing this, we have built long-term relationships with many of our clients. We enjoy seeing them grow and develop. We exist and will continue to prosper by helping other people grow their teams and businesses. We help find them the talent to take their businesses to the next level.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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