Megagrowth ranking one

Hobson Prior, Tunbridge Wells.

Growth: 597.2%

by business editor Trevor Sturgess

If Matthew Perrett and Jane Woodhead had succeeded in their attempted management buyout of a previous company, there would have been no Hobson Prior.

That disappointment spurred them on "to prove everybody wrong" and provided a springboard for the spectacular growth this specialist recruitment company has enjoyed since the pair set it up in 2002.

It has earned Hobson Prior the coveted top spot in Megagrowth 2009 with four-year growth of nearly 600 per cent.

Life sciences and the pharmaceutical industry worldwide need highly skilled people and many businesses, across Europe, turn to Hobson Prior to find them.

Many years of experience in the sector coupled to high-end performance have earned the company a burgeoning reputation in the industry.

Hobson Prior may not be the biggest player in the market, but it is amongst a handful of businesses recognized as leaders in the field, with the experience and infrastructure to meet the needs of an international client base.

"We believe that what we do adds value," says Mr Perrett. "We focus on the hard-to-find specialists and our clients recognize that this is not easy and that there are costs involved. We have never sought volume-based relationships based on price and are very confident that the experience and ability of our team, aligned to our operating model truly support our clients’ staffing needs."

Around 40 per cent of the firm’s nett fee income is generated outside the UK, with Switzerland and Germany leading the way, followed by some 20 other European countries.

Hobson Prior takes a pro-active approach to sourcing talent, seeking out likely candidates for vacancies and roles before they are formalised by the end client. "What our team tries to do is get close to the client, try to understand what their hiring needs are going to be, and even pre-empt them."

The demographics are with Hobson Prior. As fewer younger people study medicine and science, the inflow of new talent is reduced whilst demand for specific skills continues.

"Many industry observers have been quoted as saying that ‘pharma is not recession-proof but it’s recession-resilient’," he adds. "However, the past year has been incredibly difficult and the indicators are that conditions will continue to be challenging."

And while the credit crunch may have temporarily weakened global demand, Hobson Prior’s focus on value-based services coupled with a strong balance sheet has enabled the firm to continue its business improvement strategy without the need for any bank finance. "Not having to rely on a funding line to support our business gives us a huge degree of security and allows us to make decisions that are in the best interests of the company and our employees, without recourse to any banking facility," says Mr Perrett.

Kent has proved a rich hunting ground for talent. Hobson Prior only takes on graduate trainees, putting them through what Mr Perrett calls "a very tough but incredibly comprehensive" training programme that "engenders standards which are different and distinct." That policy also lends credibility to the firm’s strapline: "Exceptional People Delivering Exceptional Standards."

Over the next five years, Hobson Prior expects to achieve further value-led growth, with more staff and increased penetration overseas.