THE region’s only independent recruitment company dedicated to human resources (HR) professionals has marked its first year in business by recruiting three new staff, with plans to double that number in the next 12 months.

Gateshead-based Exclusive Human Resources was set up by managing director Mark Ions in July last year and since then has won a growing share of the region’s HR recruitment market, placing a stream of candidates into permanent and temporary roles.

It has amassed a range of clients across the North- East, as well as into the Scottish borders and across to Cumbria, and hopes to expand further outside the region.

The three new recruits – who take team numbers to four – are Jen Ions, who has taken up the position of operations manager, Gareth Harrison, who becomes senior consultant, and Julie Armstrong, Exclusive’s new customer relationship guardian.

Managing director Mr Ions said: “After nearly ten years in the recruitment business I was totally disillusioned with working for big recruitment agencies where numbers counted for more than people.

“In the face of an economic downturn, and with the share price of one of the UK’s nationwide recruitment companies falling to its lowest for five years, it’s more important than ever that recruiters prove their worth.

“Between them, all three of our new team members bring a wide range of talent, expertise and enthusiasm, which puts us in an ideal position to see our future growth plans become a reality.”