Services were held last week for Stephen Hill, founder and executive chairman of Hill McGlynn & Associates, who died on 12 June of a heart attack.

Tributes poured into Hill McGlynn's website from around the world to praise Hill, who was known within the industry as a generous and inspirational leader. Messages described Hill as "a true inspiration" and most often, "a gentleman".

"Working with Stephen was an experience that stays with you in life, and not just a job," wrote a former employee. "His charm and wit were always a highlight of any time spent with him," another commentator wrote.

"Stephen's legacy will live on through the numerous individuals he influenced. Condolences from one of the influenced," wrote another.

Brian Wilkinson, managing director of the Commonwealth Zone for Vedior, of which Hill McGlynn is a subsidiary, wrote: "He touched so many lives in so many ways and was the most helpful person I've ever met."

Gary Irvine, chairman of the REC board, on which Hill served, said that he would miss Hill's "wit, generosity, advice and not least your friendship".

Hill served earlier this year on the panel of judges that adjudicated the Rec-to-Rec Award category in Recruiter's 2007 Awards for Excellence. Most recently, he was awarded the Vedior Chairman's Lifetime Achievement Award at the company's conference in Rome.

He founded Hill McGlynn in 1976, which went on to become one of the UK's leading construction staffing companies with a growing international reach in Australia and the Middle East.

He is survived by his fiancée Alison, who he was due to marry this month, his children Jonathan, Matthew and Louise, his fiancee's children Ashley and Anouska, and his father Lionel.