Brightwork Group appoints FD as new chief executive

Scottish recruitment specialist Brightwork Group has appointed finance director Derek May as its new chief executive.

The Glasgow and Edinburgh-based company today announced the promotion of Mr May, a Chartered management accountant who has been the firm’s FD since 2013.

Reflecting Brightwork’s growing areas of influence, as well as its consistently impressive turnover and profit levels, Mr May has an extensive background in Blue Chip organisations in the transport, business services and manufacturing sectors.

He said: “This is a very exciting time to be taking the helm at the Brightwork Group. The firm has maintained a strong and sustainable growth trajectory, both organically and through acquisition.

“In challenging times, it has maintained headcount growth and industry-leading training programmes. It is now looking forward to a bright and profitable future as a major player in the extremely competitive UK recruitment sector.”

Mr May, a graduate of the RGU Aberdeen Business School, has provided accounting support to the Brightwork Group on an interim basis since 2006.

He was a graduate management trainee at the Cooperative Group before attaining senior finance positions in companies of the stature of engineering consultants Atkins, ScotRail, First Group and Singaporean transport group ComfortDelGro.

Prior to joining the Brightwork Group in a full time capacity, he had his own accountancy practice supporting SME businesses in Lanarkshire.

The Brightwork Group was established by recruitment veterans Charles Turner and Anthony Knight in 2006. Since then it has established itself in drinks and industrial recruiting, supplying thousands of workers every year to household name Scottish enterprises.

It has also built up a thriving specialist recruitment arm, BWSR, focusing on the professional, technical and managerial sectors. Turnover in this division has risen almost 10-fold since its inception in 2008.

Its latest acquisition is Quality Link Recruitment (QLR), the respected Scottish staffing and event management service, which will significantly enhance Brightwork’s offering in the catering and hospitality sectors.