Loan fund helps firm into the overseas markets
A Sunderland-based recruitment agency is looking to new overseas markets with the help of investment from a North East loan fund.
Sunnyside Recruitment has primarily focused on the hospitality and catering sectors since being set up in 2016, but has also gradually built up a presence in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector over the last couple of years.
The firm launched a new Discover Medics branch last year, which has a particular focus on recruitment opportunities from Dubai and the United Arab Emirates – with the help of a £25,00 investment from the North East Small Loan Fund.
It is now planning to recruit a digital marketing apprentice and a trainee recruitment consultant, with more jobs expected to follow as the business continues to grow.
Himal Arachchi, founder and managing director of Sunnyside Recruitment, said: “I’ve always been passionate about international recruitment, and when the opportunity arose to recruit for a vacancy in Dubai, I saw how we might be able to develop a new side to the existing business.
“The Chamber of Commerce recommended that we speak to NEL about our investment requirements and the guidance we got from the team really helped us clarify how we could best utilise the investment.”
Jonathan Armitage, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, added: “Discover Medics offered a welldefined brand offering and a clear vision of how it will be delivered, and the growth capital we’ve provided will enable it to make the most of both.”