Staffing Firm Expands as Companies Ramp up Hiring

Staffing firms took a big hit during the recession, so consider it a positive sign that one of the largest staffing companies in the state is growing revenues, staff and locations. In 2012, Dover-based Leddy Group, which specializes in customized staffing and consulting services for administrative, accounting, and light industrial industries, opened an office in Florida and plans to open another office this year (the location has yet to be disclosed). The Florida office expanded the company’s service offerings by placing teachers.

Leddy Group, established in 1994, is a division of Work Opportunities Unlimited, which celebrated its 30^th anniversary last year. The firm works with clients in Maine, NH, Vermont and Florida.

Leddy opened its Florida office in July as it saw a market opportunity for customized staffing services and had a staff member with experience in that marketplace. “We talk [with clients], identify their needs and customize our services to them. We can customize schedules, conduct on-site job fairs, and develop pools of candidates to meet their last minute needs,” says Patty McGrail, senior vice president, of some of the company’s customized services. “We really want to partner with our clients and enhance their productivity.”

Leddy now has two staff members in the Palm Beach office. Leddy has 17 core staff members at its six locations in Dover, Bedford, Lebanon, Keene, Rutland, Vt. and Florida. It services clients as far as Burlington, Vt., northern NH and Maine.

Leddy places 50 workers a week on average, but as many as 100 in any given week, McGrail says. It places people on a temporary basis (to fill in for a staff member on vacation or leave of absence or to fulfill a specific project), temp-to-hire, and direct placements. Temp-to-hire is the bulk of their business, McGrail says, as employers are adding workers, but want to test them out first to see if they will be a good fit.  “Clients see the value in partnering with us to rebuild their team,” McGrail says.

Overall, the staffing employment industry is also on the rise, with an increase of 25.5 percent since the beginning of 2012, and an increase of 2.2 percent year-over-year, according to the American Staffing Association.

“We’ve experienced significant expansion and hit major milestones in 2012, and look forward to further growth in the new year, as Leddy Group continues to adapt and grow within a changing economy,” McGrail says.

For more information, visit www.leddygroup.com.