Ashford-based recruitment firm HR GO agreed to acquire Sussex Recruitment Limited and its specialist division Gel Resourcing Limited. Both of the companies are based in Eastbourne.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Sussex Recruitment, founded in 2007, is an independent Sussex Recruitment is an independent recruitment consultancy supplying employment solutions throughout the South East of England and the UK.

Stephen and Margaret Hopkinson, founders of Sussex Recruitment, have retained a substantial minority stake in the new business. Stephen Hopkinson will continue to manage it under its new name HR GO Recruitment (Sussex) Limited.

Gel Resourcing was set up by Stephen Hopkinson and Chris Rose (also the company’s managing director), as a specialist division of Sussex Recruitment and specialises in the recruitment of personnel for permanent and contract roles in occupational health, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences sectors throughout the UK and Europe.

Rose will continue to run Gel Resourcing and both businesses will continue to operate from their offices in Eastbourne.

Roddy Barrow, HR GO Group managing director, commented, “We welcome these two successful consultancies to the HR GO Group. We see both acquisitions as strategic, expanding our footprint of national coverage along the South Coast of England.”

Stephen Hopkinson also commented, “We are pleased to join the dynamic HR GO group. We were impressed by its level of resources, sophisticated technology and digital services, a stimulating vision, and rich heritage of recruitment achievements over the past 61 years. We have achieved much to be proud of over the past 12 years and Chris Rose and I look forward to driving our Sussex businesses into an exciting future with the group.”

Jack Parkinson, HR GO plc Executive Chairman, also commented, “We are committed to seeking new opportunities like the ones we have just announced in Sussex. We have much to offer and we are always keen to hear from other recruitment businesses interested in finding out more.”