Empresaria (AIM: EMR), the UK-based international specialist staffing group, provided a trading update for the financial year ended 31 December 2017.

The Board reported that full year profitability will be in line with current market expectations. The group expects net fee income to be approximately 17% ahead of the prior year and diluted adjusted earnings per share up approximately 9% on the prior year. The group is also expected to deliver a record adjusted profit before tax, up approximately 20% year-on-year.

In 2016, net fee income at Empresaria was £59.0 million.

Empresaria stated that it had strong performances in the UK within professional services and other services (domestic services and new house sales), in Japan in IT & design and in Chile in retail. The group added that the technical & industrial sector experienced a challenging year.

Empresaria also announced that it has worked to minimise the impact of changes to temporary worker legislation in Germany and the business in the Middle East has been resized resulting in an improved performance.

“We are pleased with how well our recent investments have integrated into the Group, including an improved performance from our businesses in the USA in the second half. We continue to build on the strengths of our Group, investing in our existing brands and identifying further potential external investments,” the company stated.

Joost Kreulen, Chief Executive of Empresaria, commented, "Empresaria has demonstrated the benefit of its diversified business model, delivering another record profit in 2017. We are focused on delivering our strategy: strengthening a multi-branded group, with a focus on developing leading brands that are diversified and balanced by geography and sector."

Empresaria will announce its results on 14 March 2018.

In trading today, Empresaria traded at £107.5, up 5.9% on the day. Based on its current share price the company has a market value of £52.69 million.