Melville Craig set to expand in bid to satisfy 'hot sector' growth

Sunday Herald, The, Feb 18, 2001 by Steve Wilson

THE Melville Craig Group, the country's largest recruitment firm, has announced expansion plans that will see it hire 70 new staff over the next 12 months.

The Glasgow-based firm currently has 250 employees and is looking to develop its operations in "hot sectors" such as biotechnology and optoelectronics. In the past year, Melville Craig has already broadended its services into the construction industry.

According to director Andy Rogerson, Scotland's bouyant labour market is behind the plans: "Business is very strong, and with UK unemployment dropping towards the one million mark, we're taking steps to strengthen our position in a growing market.

"Two rapidly-emerging areas we will be devoting more resources to are biotechnology and optoelectronics. If the country is to maintain and increase its standing in vital areas of new technology, it's crucial we attract the best possible talent, whether from Scotland, elsewhere in the UK or beyond."

Although the company's workforce is spread between Glasgow (where it has recently invested #400,000 refurbishing its new headquarters) and Edinburgh, it has also experienced business growth in Aberdeen, thanks to new investment in the North Sea oil industry.

In addition to its staffing services and HR Online divisions, Melville Craig has just launched a boardroom due diligence service that aims to vet executives before venture capitalists invest in their companies.

Rogerson added that the company will also continue to be as active in graduate development programmes: "As a market leader it's important we develop our own people rather than look elsewhere. Melville Craig's growth has partly been built on the success of our training programmes."