Public sector hit to Hays

A slump in public sector recruitment knocked Hays UK net fees back 6 per cent in the quarter to June, though this was more than offset by growth overseas with total fees rising by 11 per cent. Hays added that private sector momentum has also slowed in the UK recently.

In all, the company's international activities accounted for nearly 70 per cent of net fee income over the quarter. "In the UK, momentum in the private sector recovery has slowed," the chief executive of Hays, Alistair Cox, said.