Market expectations for adjusted profit before tax for the year ended 30 November 2017 are in the range of £42.0m to £45.6m, with a consensus of £43.8m.

Chief executive Gary Elden said: “We have delivered an encouraging overall result for the year, and now expect full-year profit to be slightly ahead of consensus.  Strong performances in the US and Continental Europe, particularly from our market-leading business in the Netherlands and our business in Germany, were key to the delivery of this result.  

The group said group profit was up 4% for the full year with strong growth in the US, up 18%, with Permanent up 12% and Contract up 21%. There was also robust growth in Continental Europe – up 9% driven by the Netherlands, up 20% year-on-year – and continued recovery in Energy, up 25% and Life Sciences, up 7%. 

“Our Contract business continued to perform robustly, with GP increasing by 10% year on year,” said Elden. 

A statement from the company said 80% of group gross profit was generated from markets outside the UK&I compared to 75% the previous year. UK&I continued to be challenging, impacted by IR35 in the public sector, it added. 
 
“Looking ahead to 2018, the momentum of our Contract business and the strength of our performances in the US and Continental Europe leave us well-positioned for growth,” added Elden.