Recruitment group USG People saw reduced revenues and earnings in the first three months of 2013, with the only growth seen in a segment it is due to sell to recruitment giant Randstad.

Group-wide revenues were down 10% organically to €640.7m (£539m) against Q1 2012, with underlying earnings by interest, tax and amortisation halving from €19.1m to €9.4m.

Earlier this month, recruitment group Randstad acquired the firm's general staffing activities in six mainland European countries. The deal should go through by the middle of 2013.

Of these, the Spanish general staffing business was the only reported sub-segment to see revenue growth organically of 12% to €48.9m. However, the country was referred to as a “low margin country” by the results. Spanish general staffing also grew year-on-year 6% in 2012 as a whole, and 1% in both 2010 and 2011, although the division had taken double-digit hits in 2008* and 2009.

USG People has also announced plans this week to push its Professionals brand in the wake of the Randstad deal.

(*2008 revenues reported as Portugal and Spain combined.)