Empresaria Group plc plans to report gross profit, or net fee income, for 2018 will be up 4% compared to the previous year, according to a trading update released today. The London-based staffing provider plans to release full results on March 13.

Profit for the year is expected to be in line with current market expectations, Empresaria announced. However, diluted adjusted earnings per share is now expected to be slightly lower than the prior year.

Profit increased year over year in three of the company’s four regions — the UK, Asia Pacific and Americas. Empresaria also noted strong performances from its IMS offshore recruitment services business; Alternattiva business (outsourcing, perm and temporary business in Chile); LMA professional services business; ConSol Partners IT business; and Rishworth aviation business.

Those business lines helped offset the expected weaker results from Headway technical and industrial business and Skillhouse IT business, according to the company. The weaker results are due to the previously highlighted changes to temporary worker legislation in Germany and Japan.

Empresaria also said it’s working to bolster its management team.

“We are investing approximately £0.5 million in 2019 to strengthen our central management team, including the appointment of Rhona Driggs as chief operating officer in November 2018,” Empresaria CEO Spencer Wreford said. “This will enable us to increase the support to our brands in the key areas of business development, technology, training and marketing to drive incremental value as part of our strategy to build leading brands in niche sectors.”

Empresaria has 20 brands operating in 21 countries worldwide, including the US.

Empresaria shares were down 0.75% to £66.50 at 7:45 a.m. Eastern time; the company had a market cap of £32.84 million, according to FT.com.