Spherion Europe, part of the US staffing giant, is to take on 100 new staff and open six new offices as it embarks on an ambitious expansion project across the UK.

The company, behind well-known UK brands Crone Corkhill and financial recruiter FSS, is committing a multi-million pound investment to develop its business in Britain.

The expansion will see the company open new offices in six major cities across Britain, with the main focus on its established core areas of recruiting financial and office support staff.

There are also plans for diversification. Spherion will now offer services in other areas including HR, sales and marketing, IT and legal.

The company already runs an onsite HR business, Spherion Managed Solutions, as well as an IT arm.

The move is a sign that confidence is returning to the UK recruitment market after what has been a difficult period across most sectors in the industry.

Spherion has recruited Stuart Blake as director of regions to develop the new business.

Blake has a long history in the industry and was previously managing director of Nigel Lynn Associates and Harrison Willis, as well as having held senior positions at TMP.

Commenting on the news, Aled Morris, MD of Spherion Europe, said: ‘We believe there is a good opportunity for the kind of quality services which we have traditionally offered in London under the FSS and Crone Corkhill brands.

‘We will be offering multi-products from a single site. Previously companies have had to go to a number of recruitment consultants who each specialise in a particular area.

‘Our clients have indicated that they want to be able to go to a single provider for all their recruitment needs across a number of disciplines including secretarial, financial and office support.’