The history of Hays stretches back to 1867 when it was established as an operator of wharves and warehouses on the south bank of the River Thames in London, England. Following decades of acquisitions, rebrands, pivots and an IPO, the company formally announced its intention to reposition itself as a specialist recruiter in 2003.
Today, the Hays group has operations across 33 countries, including the UK, Ireland, Continental Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific regions. It also has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Now recognised as a global expert in qualified, professional and skilled recruitment, the company’s 13,000 employees fill an average of 1,300 job vacancies every day.
Hays credits its success to its ability to specialise at scale. Its regional, industry and specialism experts truly understand the local market as well as the job roles and companies in which they place candidates. This expertise extends across numerous fields, including technology, accountancy and finance, construction and property, engineering, life sciences, sales and marketing and banking.
Naturally, this global success has seen the company scoop several prestigious awards. Notable accolades include Best Large Recruitment Company, Best Candidate Experience, Best Recruitment Agency and Best Specialist Recruitment Business. Hays has also been recognised as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies.
Even as the recruitment process has evolved over the years, Hays has held its place at the forefront. In 2012, the company filled 83,750 permanent roles, and 250,000 temporary positions, up considerably from the respective 59,090 and 220,000 the previous year. This incredible success saw Hays record revenues exceeding USD 8bn in 2022.
