Recruitment business MSS People pushes into Scotland

● North Yorkshire firm opens office in Glasgow ● Move part of a planned expansion across country

Scotland’s already competitive recruitment sector has gained another player with English firm MSS People opening a base in Glasgow.

The company, which was founded in 1964, said its expansion would enable it to offer a full range of services to a “growing portfolio” of clients in Scotland. The firm – headquartered in Stokesley, North Yorkshire–specialises in engineering, technical, finance, contact centre and sales and administration hirings.

John Mccullagh, managing director at the second- generation family-owned busi - ness, said: “With record low unemployment and a resilient jobs market, employer hiring intention sin Glasgow and the rest of the country is at its highest level in over a decade.

“This is making it harder for employers to find the right people with the right skills to support their businesses ambitions.

“The Scottish market has become increasingly important to us over the last 12 months. Whilst we cover a wide geographical area, Glasgow provides the best location both strategically and in terms of the locally available skills base that our clients need .” Gary Morris, regional recruitment manager, will head up the new operation and lead the firm’s planned expansion throughout there st of the country.

He said: “The senior market in Scotland has had a number of challenges over the past 18 months with the war on talent becoming more intense.

“We are confident that our new base in Glasgow will prove to be a sound strategic move and enable us to continue growing our client base, increase our own headcount and take a step closer to realising the ambition of securing our position as one of the leading recruitment businesses both here and across the border in England.”

Recruitment is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, estimated to be worth £ 36 billion a year – up from £ 25bn four years ago.

According to figures published by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, recruitment companies will be responsible for 56 per cent of all jobs filled between now and the end of 2018, compared to 45 per cent in 2016.

Scotland was one of the only parts of the UK to experience a slight increase in its unemployment rate, official figures on Wednesday revealed.

The jobless rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 4 per cent in July to September, up from 3.9 per cent in the previous three months but a decrease from 4.7 per cent a year earlier.