Vedior shares extended their recent strong run after its first-quarter results.

Sales for the three months to March were €1.724bn (£1.2bn), up 13% on a year earlier. Operating income was up 34% at €51.7m.

Chief executive Zach Miles said he was pleased to see income rise in two of its key markets, France and the Netherlands.

But its UK businesses did not fare so well. UK operating income was unchanged, with sales rising 1%. A Vedior statement said that most professional/executive recruitment sectors showed good growth, especially accounting, engineering, legal and interim management sectors.

Education sales increased by 17% due to late Easter school holidays, while traditional recruitment remained weak with the light industrial market most impacted.

Its UK interests include Select Education and an 85% stake in Special Agent, also an education recruiter. It recently upped its stake in the Blomfield Group, owner of accountancy and finance recruiter Joslin Rowe, to 70%.

- see more in 3 May issue of Recruiter