Hays buys recruitment agency ZMB

Business-to-business service provider Hays has acquired legal recruiter ZMB to combine with Hays Richard Owen, Hays' legal recruitment arm.

Hays ZMB plans to cross-sell its legal recruitment capability with its IT and accountancy divisions.

Hays Personnel Services, under which Hays ZMB will be run, brings in 42 per cent of the earnings of Hays and has been trying to gain a stronger foothold in the market after conducting a survey on the potential worth of the legal sector.

The sale of ZMB is the second significant move within the legal recruitment market since July, when QD Group was sold to TMP Worldwide for £43m.

Hays Personnel has more than 100 recruitment offices in the UK, 22 offices in Australia and has offices in Germany, France, Belgium and The Netherlands.

Managing director of Hays ZMB Sally Horrox says: "Being part of a FTSE 100 company which is Europe's largest recruitment operation is extremely attractive but it is clear that to compete effectively in the UK and internationally we have to build a global brand."