Staff agency announces latest acquisition with NatWest support

Kent, May 2009 - South East recruitment agency, Kent Staff Services 2000 Ltd, has established itself as the largest supplier of temporary staff in the South East of England following the purchase of an additional recruitment agency, thanks to funding from NatWest.

Established in Kent in the 1990s, Kent Staff is an independently owned company specialising in the recruitment of skilled and unskilled labour to a wide range of industrial businesses. Operating from Gravesend, Hastings and Folkestone, the company was looking to expand their regional remit and has since acquired Storm Personnel Services Ltd, based in Dunstable taking on four new clients, bringing a combined annual turnover of £3m. Kent Staff has grown the business considerably from £1m to an impressive £15m turnover to date. In addition, Kent Staff employs 1300 staff, 200 of which have been retained from Dunstable.

Thanet Earth is the company's latest business win, and Kent Staff is providing packers to assist with the distribution of eco-friendly vegetables to supermarkets. The state of the art greenhouse development, based on the Isle of Thanet, is the largest greenhouse complex in the UK and a positive acquisition for Kent Staff.

Following a nine-year relationship with NatWest, Paul Kidd, Managing Director of Kent Staff approached NatWest to support them with their expansion plans. Stuart Furlong, Relationship Manager at NatWest and his colleague Rob McGarvey, RBS Invoice Finance Manager worked closely to provide an invoice discounting facility to fund working capital. This will allow for Kent Staff to acquire their new Dunstable based operation as well as taking on additional headcount to manage their new clients.

This latest finance package derives from the NatWest and RBS SME Regional Fund, which sees an additional £250 million funding available to SMEs in the South East in 2009, demonstrating its commitment to the Government in supporting this sector.

Paul Kidd, MD of Kent Staff Services 2000 Ltd commented:

"This is an exciting time for the business as we expand regionally and employ additional staff, which we see as a positive move in this difficult climate. We look forward to forming close relationships with our new clients and continuing to provide our existing clients with a high calibre of temporary staff. I am grateful to NatWest for supporting us on our latest phase of expansion."

Stuart Furlong, Relationship Manager at NatWest in Thames Gateway added:

"The management team are a good example of the entrepreneurial spirit that still exists despite the present tough economic conditions that businesses are facing. We are pleased to have concluded this deal which is an important strategic chapter for Kent Staff and look forward to continue working with the business in the future"

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