Helping firms access EU funding for creating jobs as well as providing staff for a rising level of vacancies across the district helped a Bradford employment agency achieve strong growth in 2013.

Stafforce Recruitment in Salem Street won 28 new clients to nearly double its client base by the end of last year and the business is forecast to be 20 per cent above budget for 2013.

From providing up to 63 staff a day to around 13 clients in 2012, Stafforce increased this to a high of 203 staff daily for 30 clients across Bradford, Shipley, Keighley and Brighouse.

Julie Bates, the firm’s Bradford business manager, said the success was due to a number of factors.

She said: “The company’s drive to be more than a recruiter, but a strategic partner that helps clients increase profitability, efficiency and sustainability is increasingly popular with Bradford employers.

“An example of this is how we have helped many SMEs unlock EU, regional and local grants that can see as much as £16,000 awarded for each new appointment. We have also conducted a very high-profile marketing campaign, which has seen us visit the offices of existing and potential clients.”

Growth has also been boosted through a strategic alliance with specialist business consultancy Nicholas Associates, with permanent recruitment executive Jonathan Anderson seconded to Stafforce one day a week.

Julie added: “Typically, Jonathan might place a senior manager or executive with an employer, which will stand us in good stead when semi-skilled or skilled staff are required on the shop floor.”

Julie’s team is expanding with the appointment of a business development executive to help win further clients in 2014 and a branch administrator whose role include ensuring the calibre of candidates; matching them to suitable roles, references and ID checks.

Stafforce also has an operation based at the Princes soft drinks factory at Tong, where the food producer is investing £40million upgrading the plant, including a new warehouse and ingredient processing facilities The Stafforce South Bradford hub opened in August and, as well as serving Princes, has won ten new clients and has 360 staff working for them daily. The majority of its client base is made up of larger employers that require more focused, onsite support, including Princes Soft Drinks Stafforce, based in Rotherham, came to Bradford in 2011 through a tie-up with the former Relay Recruitment based at Salem Street. At the time Relay had a £9 million turnover while Stafforce was a £40 million business.

Stafforce has more than 25 high street recruitment branches and onsite offices supplying more than 3,300 temporary and permanent staff daily.

The firm’s local clients include Princes, The Co-op, BorgWarner, NG Bailey, Golden Wonder and Aunt Bessie's, The Valley Group retail markering agency and Jack Pennington Ltd.