News Archives - Bluestones Group

Bluestones Group launches Bluestones Support Partners

Kelly Croutear — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:16:26 +0000

Bluestones Group launches Bluestones Support Partners to deliver operational excellence to recruitment agencies

We are pleased to announce the launch of Bluestones Support Partners, a newly established division within the Bluestones Group that unifies our comprehensive operational support services under one dedicated, market-facing brand.

The creation of Bluestones Support Partners represents a strategic expansion of the Group’s offering, enabling recruitment agencies both inside and outside the Bluestones portfolio to access tailored, scalable operational support that enhances efficiency, drives profitability, and enables growth.

Delivering flexible, end-to-end operational support

Bluestones Support Partners offers a wide range of services, including marketing, IT, HR, payroll, finance, and offshore resourcing. Agencies can access these services individually, combine them to create bespoke packages, or opt for the Recruit Ready solution — an all-in-one platform designed for start-ups and scaling agencies seeking integrated support.

Led by experienced recruitment professionals

The division is led by Elizabeth Pringle, a highly experienced recruitment professional with a successful track record of launching, scaling, and exiting agencies. She brings first-hand insight into the challenges recruiters face when transitioning into business ownership, and is passionate about removing the operational barriers that can hold them back.

“I am so excited for this division! The market is a challenge right now, but this means that agencies are now looking for cost-effective and efficient outsourcing options to enhance their profitability and ensure that their employed in-house staff are billing heads creating revenue. Plus, the solo-recruiter market is growing rapidly. With a shift in mind-set since COVID, recruiters are looking for more flexible, adaptable and remote ways to be recruiters on their own terms. There has been a surge in the numbers of new recruitment companies registered on Companies House. Our experience as a Group allows us to take opportunity of this growing market and be their experienced back-office support partner.”

Elizabeth Pringle, CEO, Bluestones Support Partners

Elizabeth is supported by a senior leadership team comprising:

Julie O’Leary, Partnership Development Manager – overseeing partner engagement and onboarding
Robert Arnold, Managing Director of QPS Group – responsible for payroll, finance, and compliance services
Caroline Kemp, Head of Bluestones Offshore Partners – delivering scalable offshore recruitment solutions
A team of dedicated Heads of Department across Marketing, IT, and HR, providing day-to-day delivery and strategic support

Supporting the Group’s “All Things Recruitment” mission

Bluestones Support Partners joins the Group’s existing Talent, Funding, and Investment divisions, reinforcing Bluestones Group’s broader “All Things Recruitment” strategy — designed to support recruitment businesses throughout every stage of their lifecycle.

The launch of Bluestones Support Partners formalises the operational capabilities that have long underpinned many of the Group’s internal brands, and now opens those services to the wider market. This move reflects growing demand for reliable, cost-effective back-office support, particularly among solo recruiters and new start-ups.

To learn more about Bluestones Support Partners, visit their website:
www.bluestonessupportpartners.co.uk

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Bluestones Group appoints new Professional Services Managing Director

MC — Mon, 19 May 2025 08:16:14 +0000

We’re excited to welcome Nicola (Nicky) Rogers as the new Managing Director of Professional Services at Bluestones Group.

With more than three decades of experience in the recruitment and workforce solutions industry, Nicky has led transformational programmes across critical sectors such as education, transport, nuclear, construction, and tech. She joins us from Rullion, where she most recently served as Director of Client Services, overseeing strategic sales, ESG integration, and client growth across complex, regulated markets.

Steve Pendergast, CEO of Bluestones Group, commented:

“This appointment reflects our strategy to build a balanced portfolio of high-performing brands. Nicky’s exceptional background, leadership qualities, and passion for sustainable workforce solutions make her an ideal fit for the Group. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”

Nicky began her career with Adecco Group in 1994, rising through the ranks to become a Business Director. She has led national delivery programmes including the ONS Census 2021 and Uber’s industry-first outsourced pensions solution. In addition to her operational expertise, she’s a passionate advocate for mental well-being and has contributed to workforce development policy as a member of the UK Fusion Skills Council.

Nicky Rogers said:

“I’m proud to be joining a forward-thinking organisation like Bluestones Group. This is a people-first business that’s serious about its purpose – and I’m excited to help shape the next chapter of growth and innovation in the Professional Services division.”

In joining Bluestones Group, Nicky brings a strategic, people-first mindset backed by commercial strength, operational rigour, and a passion for doing things differently. She is committed to enhancing our Professional Services offering across the UK and beyond; developing consultative, insight-led relationships that deliver long-term value for clients and candidates alike.

Known for her authenticity, humour and deep sector knowledge, Nicky leads with purpose and intent. Her focus will be on expanding our footprint in key markets, strengthening service lines, and ensuring the Bluestones Group continues to offer differentiated, future-fit workforce solutions.

Welcome to the team, Nicky!

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QPS Group achieves SafeRec certification

Kelly Croutear — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:41:53 +0000

QPS achieves SafeRec certification, strengthening payroll compliance and transparency

QPS Group, part of Bluestones Group’s Support division, has achieved SafeRec certification, reinforcing its commitment to transparent, compliant, and risk-free payroll solutions for recruitment agencies and contractors.

QPS Group specialises in fully compliant payroll, accountancy and financial services, helping agencies manage payments with confidence while ensuring contractors receive accurate, verified pay. SafeRec certification is recognised as the gold standard in payroll auditing, providing real-time independent verification to ensure payroll accuracy, full HMRC compliance, and complete supply chain transparency.

With increased scrutiny on compliance in the umbrella company market, SafeRec certification demonstrates that QPS operates to the highest standards, offering:

Real-time payroll audits – Ensuring all payments are independently verified for full compliance.
Supply chain transparency – Protecting recruitment agencies under the Criminal Finances Act.
Payslip verification for workers – Providing contractors with full visibility of their earnings and deductions.

Alongside its existing FCSA accreditation, this latest certification further establishes QPS as a trusted payroll provider, giving agencies and contractors total confidence in their payroll processing.

As part of Bluestones Group’s Support division, QPS continues to lead the way in compliant, innovative, and transparent payroll solutions, ensuring agencies and contractors can operate with complete peace of mind.

Read more about this achievement on the QPS Group website here.

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QPS launches new services and a bold brand refresh

Kelly Croutear — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 14:15:36 +0000

QPS Group (formerly Quest Pay Solutions) has unveiled a comprehensive suite of services to empower recruitment agencies and contractors

As part of the Bluestones Group portfolio and sitting within the Group’s Support Division, Quest Pay Solutions (QPS) has been a trusted partner to recruitment businesses for the past eight years.

Specialising in Umbrella PAYE and CIS services, QPS is committed to helping businesses navigate the ever-evolving recruitment landscape. In response to the changing needs of both hirers and recruitment businesses, as well as new compliance obligations introduced by the Labour government, QPS has leveraged its expertise and resources to develop an innovative range of products and services.

These solutions are designed to support recruitment businesses in driving growth, ensuring compliance, and adapting seamlessly to regulatory changes, underpinned by the strength and backing of the Bluestones Group.

What's new? Expanded services and enhanced solutions:

Enhanced accountancy services

Recognising the unique financial needs of contractors, freelancers, and small to medium-sized enterprises, QPS Group now offers tailored accountancy solutions. These services simplify financial management, ensuring compliance and efficiency for businesses of all sizes.

Specialised financial services

Understanding that securing mortgages is a significant concern for professionals transitioning to contract positions, QPS Group has introduced specialised mortgage services. These offerings are designed to assist contractors in obtaining mortgages, addressing one of the primary barriers to entering contract roles.

Comprehensive payroll solutions

To support recruitment agencies and their staff, QPS Group now provides a range of PAYE services, including outsourced payroll for agency staff, PAYE, and Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) services. These solutions are crafted to ensure seamless payroll management, allowing agencies to focus on their core operations.

Global payroll and UK funding service

Expanding its reach, QPS Group offers international payroll services to facilitate global operations for recruitment agencies. Additionally, new UK funding options are available to support business growth and financial stability within the recruitment sector.

Robert Arnold, Managing Director of QPS Group said:

“At QPS Group, we are committed to providing comprehensive solutions that empower our clients to achieve their business objectives. Our expanded suite of services reflects our dedication to addressing the evolving needs of recruitment agencies, contractors, and SMEs, enabling them to thrive in a competitive market.”

For more information about QPS Group’s new services, please visit https://qpsgroup.co.uk/

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New life sciences agency launches

MC — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:52:30 +0000

We’re pleased to announce a new Bluestones joint venture, with the launch of a new life sciences agency – SEDA Talent.

Based in central Belfast, the new business will be recruiting for biotech, foodtech, medtech, and pharmaceutical professionals throughout the UK and Ireland. Initially permanent focused, the business will evolve to also provide contract and temporary recruitment services, as founders Darrach Teague and Seamus Moore grow the business.

SEDA Talent director, Darrach Teague commented

Launching SEDA Talent with Bluestones Group is an exciting new chapter. Our mission is to revolutionise how companies build high-performing teams in this rapidly evolving sector. By leveraging our deep industry connections and focusing on recruitment as a strategic solution, we’re not just filling positions – we’re enabling our clients to scale and meet critical business objectives. SEDA Talent is committed to adding value at every step of the recruitment process, ensuring we’re not just a service provider, but a true partner in our clients’ growth and success.

SEDA Talent is a new business within the Bluestones Equity Partners division (formerly known as Bluestones’ investment division), and joins Clayton, ENS, Green Carbon Talent, and EC&I Partners.

Bluestones Equity Partners CEO, Matt Cody commented

Having the opportunity to invest in and support the launch of SEDA Talent, with Darrach and Seamus at the helm, demonstrates our capability to move quickly, identify investment opportunities, and build new recruitment brands that can enhance our portfolio. Through our investment and support, the SEDA team now have the chance to establish a prominent business in the life sciences recruitment space and realise their ambitions of running their own recruitment company.

Please make sure you also follow SEDA on their LinkedIn page to keep abreast of all developments, news, advice, and new roles.

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IT support business launches

MC — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 11:54:56 +0000

We’re delighted to officially launch Zircon IT Systems – a trusted IT support partner of the recruitment industry.

With its focus on providing, clear, bespoke IT services, tailored to the recruitment sector, Zircon is uniquely positioned to become an IT partner of choice for many recruiters and agencies.

Zircon is led by IT expert, Alison Drew – who has over ten years’ experience meeting the needs of an ever-changing, ever-growing recruitment sector. Alison, has spent her time in the industry developing a flexible service offering that can not only react to the short-term demands of the market, but also future-proof her clients and keep them one step ahead.

Alison Drew, Managing Director of Zircon IT Systems had this to say:

“We’ve worked with and supported hundreds of recruiters within the Group’s portfolio, and now feel the time is right to offer our services to a wider audience.
The early feedback we’ve had is that there’s a gap in the market for what we offer: recruitment sector expertise, professional IT support, and generally being a trusted IT partner that won’t over-engineer (or over-charge) for our solutions and support”.

Whether it’s project based or retained support, Zircon offers a proven and flexible IT support service for recruitment businesses, focusing on six key areas:

IT infrastructure
IT support
Procurement & setup
Project support
Security
Software & licensing

Keep up to date with the latest insights and advice on all recruitment specific IT information through their website and their LinkedIn page.

For more information, speak to the team today on 0151 433 8860.

Zircon IT Systems is the fourth business within Bluestones Group’s burgeoning support division, joining established businesses Quest Pay Solutions (recruitment payroll), Recruitment Funding Solutions (recruitment funding), and APEX (recruitment marketing).

As Steve Pendergast, Group CEO commented,

“The Group’s support division is a particularly innovative concept; in that it takes the collective experience of our subject matter experts within the Group and enables external recruitment businesses to access their services.
It also flips on its head the idea that service functions are only considered as cost centres, as we continue to build scalable and profitable recruitment support businesses within our portfolio”.

The introduction of Zircon is a further development of our ‘All Things Recruitment’ concept. With three clear divisions – Recruitment, Investment, and Support – Bluestones is well-positioned to continue building its portfolio of recruitment and staffing service businesses that cover every aspect of the recruitment sector.

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Bluestones Investment Group expands globally with two key acquisitions

Nick Baldwin — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Bluestones Investment Group, a specialist investment group that focuses on the recruitment sector, is pleased to announce the successful completion of two strategic acquisitions. The newly acquired businesses, Australasian Recruitment Company (ARC) and Home Recruitment (Home), contribute unique strengths to Bluestones Investment Group’s balanced and robust portfolio.

ARC, headquartered in London, specialises in the placement of candidates travelling to the UK from Australia and New Zealand into a variety of white-collar, remote, and office support roles.

Operating out of Auckland, New Zealand, Home specialises in the placement of Kiwi expats returning from overseas into white-collar and office support roles across the country.

Steven Pendergast, Bluestones Group’s CEO, commented on the acquisitions:

"We are thrilled to welcome ARC and Home into the Bluestones Group. These acquisitions align seamlessly with our vision of becoming a global leader in the recruitment and staffing industry. We believe that the combined strengths of these businesses will not only benefit our clients and candidates but will also contribute significantly to our overall growth strategy."

Steven Pendergast

The acquisitions were spearheaded by Trish Stratford, Divisional CEO, who was instrumental in identifying the strategic fit and closing the deals. She commented:

“Both ARC and Home exemplify our ideal acquisition targets - innovative firms expanding our reach, driven by visionary leaders, a shared culture driven by exceptional service and opportunities to create value for world-class clients and candidates across critical geographies."

Trish Stratford

Supporting on the acquisition and sale of both businesses, Bluestones Investment Group was advised by RSM, with corporate finance advice provided to the shareholders of ARC and Home by Ryecroft Glenton Corporate Finance.

The acquisitions of ARC and Home mark a significant milestone for Bluestones Investment Group, expanding the company’s reach internationally and reinforcing its commitment to engaging in strategically aligned investment opportunities in its chosen sectors. These acquisitions compliment the Group’s balanced portfolio, allowing the company to continue tapping into diverse markets and offer specialised services tailored to the unique needs of each region.

“We are thrilled to join the Bluestones Group during this exciting period of growth and expansion,” said Holly Finlayson, Director of ARC. “Leveraging Bluestones Group’s vast infrastructure and resources will accelerate our shared goal to provide life-changing career opportunities for talented Australasians and local talent seeking work in the UK.”

Minta Holton, Director of Home, commented: “This partnership propels our capability to showcase world-class Kiwi talent on the global stage to an entirely new level. Combining Bluestones Group’s renowned staffing excellence with our networks and repatriation specialisation presents tremendous upside for expat job seekers, local talent and New Zealand employers.”

Such acquisitions form a key element of Bluestones Group’s growth strategy, complementing its approach to investment through joint ventures and organic growth. The company remains committed to pursuing opportunities that enhance its capabilities and market presence. With the integration of ARC and Home into the Bluestones Group, the company is poised for continued success on its journey to becoming a £1bn revenue business.

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Bluestones Best Companies Result 2023

MC — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:20:56 +0000

For the fourth year running, Bluestones Investment Group is pleased to announce that it has been recognised as a Two Star accredited company by Best Companies.

As an employee engagement survey that allows our employees across the Group to respond anonymously and provide insight across a range of workplace factors, we use the survey as an opportunity to gauge how our people feel, and understand more about their views on the company and how we work.

As well as maintaining the two-star rating, we’ve also maintained our inclusion in the Top 75 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK list and in the Top 75 Best Company to Work For in the North West.

As a recruitment specialist organisation, to be recognised as a Top 25 Best Recruitment Company to Work For in the UK, is also pleasing, particularly as it sees us improving from 35th last year, to rank in 23rd position in 2023.

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Elite Talent Services launches

MC — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:42:50 +0000

Our latest recruitment investment joint venture, Elite Talent Services officially launched on 1st November 2023 – as a professional permanent and contract recruitment specialist business headquartered in central Norwich.

The business will focus primarily on the IT, Engineering, and Professional Services sectors, and predominantly within the South East of England – but will be opportunistic when it comes to building their business and will support selected clients in other sectors, as required.

Elite Talent Services MD and founder, James Wardell commented on the launch,

“Having developed an expansive recruitment career working for other companies, I wanted to take this opportunity to create my own business. The support and investment I’ve received from Bluestones has helped make that dream a reality.
We’re now actively signing up and working with new clients and candidates, with the early signs very promising. We’ve got a small team to start with, but big plans to scale quickly.”

From the initial investment enquiry in mid-September, we completed the full business launch within just six weeks – demonstrating our proven investment model, streamlined systems and workflows, and our ability to get new recruitment businesses up and running quickly.

Matt Cody, Investment Director at Bluestones commented,

“As a new business within the Group’s investment division, this is part of our growth strategy to continue building our pipeline of recruitment businesses that can scale at pace and, over time, join our core recruitment portfolio, expanding our offering across a wider range of sectors and geographies.”

Please take a look at the Elite Talent Services website HERE, and follow their company page on LinkedIn HERE.

If you believe, like James, that you have the skills, experience, and drive to launch your own agency – but don’t want to do it all on your own, or require the funding and support to launch, then speak to us. You can find out more about what we do in our investment division or make an initial investment enquiry online.

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Bluestones Medical achieves another impressive Workforce Alliance audit result

Kelly Croutear — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 09:10:30 +0000

Bluestones Medical passes their latest Workforce Alliance audit with flying colours!

We’re pleased to announce that Bluestones Medical, a leading healthcare recruitment agency, and part of the Bluestones Group’s recruitment portfolio, has successfully passed their latest NHS Workforce Alliance audit with flying colours. This achievement underscores the team’s unwavering dedication to delivering excellence in healthcare and reaffirms their commitment to upholding and surpassing industry standards.

The recent audit conducted by the NHS Workforce Alliance stands as a testament to the exceptional quality and organisational prowess of the devoted team at Bluestones Medical. We are thrilled to report that the agency not only met, but exceeded the stringent requirements set forth by the Workforce Alliance, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining the highest levels of compliance, safety, and professionalism.

Bluestones Medical’s audit success reaffirms that NHS Trusts can place their trust in the agency with confidence, knowing they have chosen a partner that consistently surpasses expectations.

Moving forward, Bluestones Medical remains better equipped than ever to serve NHS clients with the best quality healthcare professionals. This achievement reinforces Bluestones Medical’s position as a trusted leader in the healthcare recruitment industry, and we look forward to seeing them continue to provide unparalleled support to the healthcare sector.

About Bluestones Medical:

Bluestones Medical is a healthcare recruitment agency within the Bluestones Group, specialising in providing healthcare staffing solutions to NHS Trusts and private healthcare providers. With a commitment to excellence, Bluestones Medical consistently delivers high-quality healthcare professionals to meet the unique needs of the healthcare industry.

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