Grafton Recruitment, a recruitment agency providing innovative HR solutions, part of Gi Group Holding and Kelly Services, a personnel consulting agency, join forces in Poland. The integration of services is taking place under the Grafton Recruitment brand and will be concluded by the end of the third quarter.
The merger is a consequence of an agreement finalized on January 3, 2024, regarding the acquisition by Gi Group Holding of the European branch of Kelly Services, a global provider of specialized HR solutions. This was the largest transaction in the history of Gi Group Holding, worth 130 million euros, which solidified the group’s role as a leading player in HR services. The Holding strengthened its activities in eleven countries, including Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, and France. It will also offer its services in Belgium, Luxembourg, and Norway. As a result, the holding will serve customers in 27 European countries, not counting America and Asia.
– “We are adapting even more to market needs, taking into account current economic conditions and the resulting difficulties companies face in managing human resources. With the acquisition of Kelly Services, we increase the comprehensiveness and portfolio of services, which will be implemented under one brand. We are already distinguished by a multitude of specializations, full consulting service and investment advice, development of reports and market analyses. We want to develop them, offering companies a wide range of solutions. This is our market advantage, which we will strengthen “– comments Joanna Wanatowicz, Managing Director of Grafton Recruitment.
As a result of the merger with Kelly Services, Grafton Recruitment develops its HR services offering in the area of permanent and temporary recruitment, outsourcing services, contracting, RPO, and consulting service and investment advice. To specializations in IT, production, corporate recruitment, and shared service centers, the vast experience of Kelly Services in recruiting employees in the growing sectors of finance and banking, pharmaceutical services and medical equipment (Life Science), and construction is added.
– “Alongside the development in the area of permanent recruitment, we are intensifying our participation in the outsourcing services and temporary work market. This is a response to the current noticeable demand for all types of alternative employment, which is a result of companies’ limited ability to increase the number of their own employees. Last year, the number of specialist recruiting for temporary work carried out by Grafton Recruitment increased by 13%. We assume that this trend will continue” – comments Robert Skok, Managing Director of Kelly Services.
The Kelly brand will gradually be withdrawn, and services will be offered under the Grafton Recruitment brand. The merger of companies will conclude at the end of the third quarter.
– “We started the merger of companies as soon as possible. We started with the integration of teams and building mutual trust, as these elements are the foundation for further work. We paid special attention to the smooth service for customers of both companies. Now we focus on the adaptation of processes, for which we gave ourselves time until the end of March, and from April we start working in a new formula. Ahead of us is the integration of systems and back-office processes” – explains Joanna Wanatowicz.
As a result of the merger with Kelly Services, the circle of Grafton Recruitment consultants increases to 144, which distinguishes the agency from others operating on the market. At the same time, the number of cooperating candidates increased to 450 thousand. The locations of the offices do not change, currently they are Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, and Gdańsk.
