Fri, 18 Jul 2025 | BUSINESS SALE
Two separate buyers have acquired three divisions of a Greater Manchester-based recruitment, logistics and training services provider after the company fell into administration earlier this month.
Challenge-trg Recruitment Group, which was headquartered in Wigan, employed 320 permanent staff, along with approximately 13,500 temporary workers.
The group was comprised of a number of divisions, including Challenge-TRG Recruitment, which provided recruitment services across the UK logistics and warehousing sectors, training courses provider Challenge TRG Skills Limited and logistics fleet operator Challenge Logistics Limited.
In the year to March 31 2024, recruitment agency Challenge-TRG Recruitment Limited reported turnover of £416.4 million, up from £230.7 million a year earlier, but fell to a pre-tax loss of approximately £2.2 million. The loss was attributed to increased interest rate charges resulting from the Bank of England’s increased base rate.
Haulage division Challenge Logistics Limited, meanwhile, saw turnover fall from close to £20 million to £12.4 million, while pre-tax profits plummeted from £1.6 million to slightly over £134,000. Directors blamed the drop in revenue on “a dramatic increase in client demand during November and December 2023”, resulting from lower retail sales volumes amid high inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.
Martyn Rickels and Anthony Collier of FRP Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of four entities in the group on July 12. Immediately upon their appointment, the administrators completed sales of three divisions, in deals that protect the vast majority of both permanent and temporary roles across the group.
The recruitment and training businesses were sold to Swipejobs Group subsidiary CTRG Limited, while logistics giant William Stobart and Son Limited acquired the majority of the logistics business.
FRP partner and joint administrator Martyn Rickels commented: "We’re pleased to have secured a positive outcome that preserves the group’s core operations and protects thousands of jobs. The sales were completed swiftly, minimising disruption for clients and workers, and we’re now supporting a smooth transition to the new owners."
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