A recruitment agency in Gosport has seen its sales treble in the last two years thanks to a booming local economy.
Growth has been so fast that the Berry Recruitment branch has moved into bigger offices as its team continues to expand.
It is still based in its existing building on the Quay West Industrial Estate, but now can accommodate twice the number of people.
Some major business investment and regeneration of the town centre has helped create new jobs and the conditions for many more.
Branch manager Angela Milne has a team of five staff in Gosport and she also looks after BRG’s Southampton branch.
Traditionally the business has worked in the ‘industrial’ sector but has moved into other areas including ‘commercial’ and permanent recruitment, and is continuing to expand due to
needs of the business community.
The Solent Enterprise Site at Daedalus is growing, with 700 jobs hoped to be created there this year.
Gosport’s waterfront and town centre have been named a ‘Regeneration Area’, which will boost business and already planning permission has been granted for 33,000 square metres of employment floor space.
There are also £15m of road improvements being carried out to make Gosport more accessible, which follows a new cross harbour ferry pontoon and introduction of a rapid bus service.
Angela believes conditions are ripe for a boom in business across numerous sectors in the region.
She founded Green Personnel in 1999 and in 2012 Berry Recruitment Group bought her company.
She said: “After the acquisition I was due to stay on for a year, but I loved Berry so much I’m still here running the Gosport and Southampton branches.
“Improving economic conditions and growth of business in the area has meant our expansion has been rapid.
“Our sales have trebled in the last two years and we anticipate further growth throughout 2015.
“We have many long-standing clients such as Crewsaver – now known as Survitec – who we’ve been working with for the last 14 years on the manufacturing front.
“There are many other huge employers located locally and I feel a definite sense that the economic recovery is here to stay.”
Located nearby is the Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival School, STS Defence and multi-national and global companies such as Vector and Boeing.
Gosport is also home to a number of private flight companies specialising in both leisure and commercial markets.
Located in south Hampshire are seven out of the top 10 global aerospace companies.
Angela added: “We are always looking for good candidates whether they are seeking temporary or permanent positions.”
