DWF offers clients the personnel touch

North-west practice Davies Wallis Foyster (DWF) has bought a recruitment company to offer clients a headhunting service.The firm set up the new division to help its commercial and corporate clients find temporary and permanent staff at director and senior management level.

DWF has bought executive resourcing specialist Deborah Telford Business Associates for the service.

It forms a key part of DWF HRhorizons, a new offshoot that aims to provide a comprehensive 'single source' support service for HR professionals.Other firms, such as DLA and Pinsent Curtis Biddle, have similar HR consultancies.

John McMullen, head of Pinsents' employment team, said his firm's recruitment service was more of an add-on for clients.

'I wouldn't personally consult a law firm for a major headhunting exercise,' he added.Ms Telford, who now heads the DWR division, said the firms joined after they identified a market gap.

'Increasingly, businesses report difficulties in recruiting directors and senior managers on both an interim and permanent basis,' she said.The firm will be drawing on its strategic alliance with the highly rated Lancaster University Business School to attract MBA graduates, and will also provide advice on immigration issues for companies looking to employ foreign graduates.Paula Rohan