V7 was founded in 2017 by entrepreneurs and business partners Steve Whiston (pictured) and Keith Jones, with recruitment experts Alex Waterhouse and Claire Hodgson. Operations director Natalie Wood joined a year later in 2018. 

As a result of the MBO, Whiston and the existing management team have acquired an additional 33.5% shareholding, enabling Jones to exit the business. Following the buyout, the V7 management team has plans to scale operations in the UK and internationally by cementing their European offering via its German office and expanding into the US by 2027.

The Manchester city centre-based business, which also has an office in Germany, specialises in the niche recruitment markets of aviation, construction, utilities, fire & security, data centres and pharmaceuticals. 

The MBO was supported by experts in recruitment finance and existing financial provider Zodeq, along with Cheshire based accountants, Afford Bond. Advising Whiston and the management team on the MBO was Manchester-based Ward Hadaway. Legal advice to Jones was advised by JMW. 

Whiston said: “Our MBO and the additional funding that we have secured will help V7 go to the next level in 2023… Our growth plans are ambitious, but we are confident with our established team and support network of its execution.”

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