| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Recruitment |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | Luton, UK |
| Key people | Tony Berry (Founder) |
| Parent | Impellam Group plc |
| Website | www.bluearrow.co.uk |
Blue Arrow Limited is a United Kingdom based employment and recruitment agency that places individual jobseekers in employment and provides businesses with temporary and/or permanent staff in the industrial sector, catering sector, driving sector, logistics sector and office sector.
The head office is in Luton, Bedfordshire. Blue Arrow used to be a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but is now part of the Impellam Group plc, an international staffing business traded on the Alternative Investment Market with operations in the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand.
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On 10 November 1959, Blue Arrow (then named 'The Barnet Agency Ltd') was incorporated. On 12 October 1982 the company name was changed to 'Blue Arrow Personnel Services Ltd', and then finally to 'Blue Arrow Ltd' in June 2000.
The company was founded by Sheila Birch and Tony Berry. Sheila, the initiator of the business and former president, was dropped from the board after the company became listed on the Unlisted Securities Market in 1984.[1] In June 1987 Blue Arrow was successful in acquiring Manpower Inc., which was then the World's largest temporary employment agency, for the price of $1.3bn.[2]
In 1987, Blue Arrow was at the centre of a financial scandal when employees of National Westminster Bank's investment arm, County NatWest, covered up a failed issue of £873m of new stock (intended to finance the takeover of Manpower Inc.). Blue Arrow itself was cleared of any wrongdoing.[3]
Tony Berry stood down as CEO in 1989.[4]
In 1994 the Company was acquired by Corporate Services Group for £47.8m.[5]
With Lord Ashcroft having built up a share holding of over 25% in CSG, Blue Arrow merged with his recruitment process outsourcing firm Carlisle Group on 7 May 2008, to form Impellam.[6]
Blue Arrow used to be divided into the following groups: Blue Arrow High Street, Blue Arrow Managed Services, Blue Arrow Driving, Blue Arrow Catering, ABC Contract Services, Blend and Austin Benn.
However, now the brand Blue Arrow Group comprises Blue Arrow High Street, Blue Arrow Managed Services and Blue Arrow Driving.
Blue Arrow is a member of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and is Investors in People accredited.