Clients at MAYACHI often ask if expanding recruitment efforts to regions like Europe, the USA, or other international markets is worth the investment. Drawing on years of experience working with agencies that have successfully placed candidates abroad, I always answer with a resounding yes. However, while the potential rewards are substantial, agencies should perform due diligence before entering the international recruitment arena.
Here are some of the main advantages of overseas placements:
INCREASE PROFIT MARGINS
International roles often come with higher pay rates due to talent shortages in the local market. Companies turn to UK recruitment agencies to bridge this talent gap and are typically willing to pay a premium to attract qualified candidates from abroad. This is especially lucrative for both permanent and contract roles, where profit margins can be 5-10% higher than similar positions in the UK.
WIDER CLIENT REACH
Many UK-based businesses have international branches or are part of larger global companies that have similar staffing needs. By leveraging relationships with existing UK clients, agencies can expand their services to meet the staffing needs of these clients’ international counterparts, providing additional value and positioning themselves as a global recruitment partner.
EXPANDED CANDIDATE AND CLIENT POOL
In contract staffing, there is often a segment of candidates willing to work internationally for financial incentives. For example, UK contractors may consider overseas roles if the compensation is appealing enough. Access to these globally mobile candidates enables agencies to fill roles in multiple regions and reassign candidates as contracts end, enhancing placement opportunities.
INTERNATIONAL PLACEMENTS WITHOUT A PHYSICAL PRESENCE
UK recruitment agencies benefit from being able to make placements abroad without establishing a physical office in the target country. With some initial groundwork, such as setting up currency accounts and, for contractors, securing export funding to ensure candidates are paid ahead of client payments—agencies can manage the recruitment process seamlessly across borders. The key is ensuring compliance with local regulations around fees and payments.
At MAYACHI, we specialize in supporting recruitment agencies with global placements. We provide expertise on administrative and funding requirements, and we maintain connections with invoice finance providers as well as international tax and payroll professionals to ensure compliance and operational efficiency for overseas placements.
