Technology recruiter Nicoll Curtin has this week opened a new office in Singapore to serve investment banking clients.

Managing director Lawrence Hargreaves told Recruiter that the firm has had its eye on Singapore for the last 18 months to two years but “wanted to be sure we had the UK market offering right” before launching in Asia. Among Nicoll Curtin’s Singapore clients is Barclays Capital.

The recruitment firm’s Singapore office, located in the prestigious Prudential Tower, will be staffed by two UK expatriates, associate director Georgina Parker and delivery manager Jake Bridge, alongside two newly-hired local recruiters. The team will likely increase to eight by the end of the year, Hargreaves predicted.

Hargreaves, who described his role in the business as “extremely hands on”, will also work out of Singapore for the first month for client meetings and negotiations.

The move into Singapore represents a major shift in international focus for Nicoll Curtin, which last year dipped its toe into operating in Canada but later closed the one-person operation. Hargreaves said the decision to refocus on Asia was based on several factors, including high levels of business growth there, significant investment by the Singaporean government to create a business-friendly environment and the fact that “the majority of our current clients have at least a base in Singapore”.

Accompanying the Asian launch is a refreshed public face for Nicoll Curtin, including a new website, logo, sales collateral and colour scheme.