Driving force in transport aiming to recruit

Jark Driving yesterday announced that it had opened a branch in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The company decided to establish a large Yorkshire base after securing a number of national clients, including Turners of Soham, which is one of the largest haulage companies in the UK.

Roger Sherratt, the company’s divisional manager, said: “We are hoping to increase the number of opportunities for skilled drivers in the area.

“Jark Driving Wakefield joins the already established Jark Industrial Wakefield at the new office.

“We are hopeful that this new branch will strengthen Jark’s market position as a top provider of specialist recruitment.”

A company spokesman said the Wakefield office would provide recruitment services across Yorkshire.

The spokesman added: “There was an office previously in Hull, but this (work) is transferring to Wakefield, so the Hull office will become Jark Industrial.”

The spokesman added that staffing levels at the Wakefield site would increase gradually, depending on the client wins and opportunities.

Jark, which is one of the largest privately owned recruitment groups in the UK, has expanded rapidly in recent years.

It was founded in 1996 by its current chairman, John Buckman.

In April 2008 Jark, which is based in Dereham, Norfolk, acquired the Aptus Group to create a recruitment business with a combined turnover of more than £100m.

The Aptus acquisition bolstered Jark’s influence in the industrial, construction, healthcare and commercial sectors.

The deal added critical mass in other areas, including the public sector.

In June 2008, Jark signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Start People, a subsidiary of USG People, which has operations in 13 European countries.

The company’s financial performance has been boosted by a number of significant contracts in the health sector.

Earlier this month, Jark Healthcare was appointed as the first tier supplier of all grades of nursing and care staff to Southend University NHS Foundation Trust.

Jark has also become a lead agency for the supply of all permanent healthcare vacancies to Kingsley Care Homes.

Kingsley has 21 homes which are mainly based in East Anglia.