BOSSES at a recruitment firm in Whitefield are celebrating after recording a £10m-plus turnover for the last financial year.

MERJE officials say their success can be put down to a surge in contractor placements during 2019.

The performance of the Bank Street outfit is 21 per cent up on the equivalent period the preceding year, it has been noted.

Impressive work was noted across their seven core disciplines, they say, including risk and compliance, finance and audit, customer contact and procurement,

Andrew Varty, a managing consultant, said: "We have observed a continuing demand for our contractor services by our clients, who look to quickly and seamlessly draft in niche expertise to provide support with projects and skills gaps."

The headcount at the Bank House firm also increased by 10 per cent.

Mr Varty added: "While we anticipated major challenges for clients on account of IR35, the delay has enabled continued stability during present circumstances.

"We predict that Covid-19 and the current climate will result in organisations furthering requiring the specialist services that contractors are able to provide.”

The company also appointed a new head of business development, in Michael Brennan, to expand MERJE's national reach.

Jonathan Abelson, the firm's managing director and co-founder, said: “It is a fantastic outcome that we were able to achieve such significant financial success in 2019 and even more impressive despite facing difficult market conditions.

"They include the inherently competitive nature of our industry, a rise in in-house recruitment teams and high demands of clients around certain skill-sets.

“We are proud to have made good strategic progress, rounding off a turbulent year in a positive position. This is an amazing feat and testament to our unrivalled client and candidate services."

He also praised the work of specialist consultants through the year, as they venture looked to make further progress in 2020.