Berry Recruitment has acquired Croydon-based PRC Employment bringing its total number of branches across the country to 27.
PRC will continue to trade under its existing brand that was built up by Collette Nixon FIRP who launched the business in 1988.
The consultancy focuses on office and commercial recruitment from junior levels through to executive management level.
Its main sectors are secretarial, office administration, sales and marketing, legal, IT, call centre/help desk, finance and accountancy.
Berry Recruitment, based in St Albans, Herts, has grown rapidly in recent years both organically and through acquisition and expects turnover to rise to more than £50m in 2014.
It targeted PRC Employment because of its excellent reputation, high staff retention levels similar to its own, and its geography and areas of expertise.
Berry was one of three companies seeking to acquire PRC and its emphasis on traditional values was the reason it triumphed.
Collette Nixon has had 40 years in the industry and founded ‘Professional Recruitment Consultancy’ (PRC) as a reaction against other agencies which did not offer a personal and professional service where quality and costs were a prime concern.
She is a fellow member of the industry’s governing body, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, and said: “PRC Employment is a leading Croydon independent consultancy.
“We’ve been on the high street in Croydon since 1988 and have built up an excellent client base and reputation with both clients and candidates.
“Berry also has an excellent reputation and will continue to develop the business and our reliable, competitive service.
“There were two other companies interested in PRC but Berry shares our traditional values. They are very good to their staff and will look after ours.
“My staff have been with me for 18 or 20 years and it was important that I went with the right company.
“It is an exciting time for PRC and the time was right for me to move on.”
Chris Chown, Berry’s Managing Director, said: “We aim to grow organically and by careful acquisition.
“PRC fits well with our strategic plan of increasing our commercial business across the group.
“It is a long-established business with reach across London and the South East.”
PRC’s four staff are remaining and Berry hopes to add to their number as it invests.
Berry Group recently announced that its pre-tax profits rose last year by 82 per cent to over £1m.
The purchase price for PRC has not been disclosed.
