Hays has reported pre-tax profit of £192.5m for the year to 30 June, up from £167.7m a year earlier. Turnover rose to £1.83bn, from £1.64bn.

Net fees rose to £538.2m, from £470.6m. In the UK, net fees in Accountancy & Finance were 6% ahead of last year at £158m. In construction & property, net fees rose to £101.6m, from £97m.

Denis Waxman, chief executive, says: “The Group has once again delivered a strong set of results producing sustained fee and profit growth. Overall net fee growth of 14% reflected excellent growth of 38% across our International Divisions and solid growth of 7% in the UK & Ireland.”

He added: “The newer activities in the UK & Ireland continued to grow strongly, but growth was more moderate within the UK major specialist activities.”

Imprint reported pre-tax profit of £4.16m for the six months to 30 June, up from £1.85m a year earlier.

Corporate Services Group, owner of the Blue Arrow chain, reported a pre-tax loss of £1.15m, compared with a loss of £4.74m a year earlier.