Exeter business recognised

The Berry Recruitment branch based in Exeter won a major award at a ceremony in London.

It was the annual conference of Berry Recruitment Group (BRG) held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

The Exeter team picked up a ‘board recognition award’ for developing the ‘permanent’ recruitment side of the business.

Staff from the company’s near-40 branches across England and Wales attended the event.

Managing director Chris Chown, who presented the award to branch manager Cory Elliott, said: “Our Exeter branch very much deserved a board recognition award for its growth over the last 18 months.

“The team has really developed its services and has grown rapidly despite difficult trading conditions due to a shortage of candidates.

“The group is fortunate that in the West Country our Exeter and Cornwall branches are really developing themselves into a force.

“I anticipate that the Exeter team will continue to grow the branch and I can see it taking on more consultants.”

BRG’s latest accounts showed an 11 per cent increase in gross profits to £14.4m.

Those attending also heard a tribute to BRG’s late chairman Tony Berry who died last year aged 81.

In 1981 Tony Berry bought a controlling stake in Blue Arrow, a recruitment business in St Albans, Herts.

He grew this company quickly and acquired a number of other businesses including Manpower and Brook Street.

It was launched on the Stock Exchange becoming a FTSE 100 company and developing into the biggest recruitment business in the world. It sponsored Britain’s America’s Cup challenge in the late 1980s.

Tony was once voted ‘best dressed man in the City’ and his generosity and largesse were legendary.

In addition to his business interests Tony was a long-time director of Tottenham Hotspur and was club chairman in 1991-92.