THE Berry Recruitment branch based in Harlow won a major award at a ceremony in London.

It was the annual conference of Berry Recruitment Group (BRG) held at the Royal Thames Yacht Club.

The Harlow team picked up an ‘achievement of net profit budget’ award for exceeding their annual target, and Terrell Hunter received a ‘five-year long service award’.

Staff from the company’s near-40 branches across England and Wales attended the event.
Managing director Chris Chown presented the award to branch manager Patrick Casey.

Chris said: “The Harlow branch had another great year.

“Conditions were difficult with a shortage of candidates, so to exceed targets was even more impressive.

“Under Patrick’s leadership the branch has been innovative and has been increasingly using technology to improve its service.”

BRG’s latest accounts showed an 11 per cent increase in gross profits to £14.4m.

Those attending also heard a tribute to BRG’s late chairman Tony Berry who died last year aged 81.

In 1981 Tony Berry bought a controlling stake in Blue Arrow, a recruitment business in St Albans, Herts.

He grew this company quickly and acquired a number of other businesses including Manpower and Brook Street.

It was launched on the Stock Exchange becoming a FTSE 100 company and developing into the biggest recruitment business in the world. It sponsored Britain’s America’s Cup challenge in the late 1980s.

Tony was once voted ‘best dressed man in the City’ and his generosity and largesse were legendary.

In addition to his business interests Tony was a long-time director of Tottenham Hotspur and was club chairman in 1991-92.