Wirral employee-owned recruitment firm Scantec Personnel, specialising in engineering, manufacturing and science, delivers resilient performance amid UK slowdown with revenues falling to £34.6m. Tony McDonough reports

Specialist recruitment firm Scantec Personnel says a general UK slowdown has hit both revenues and pre-tax profits.

However, managing director Peter Bates said the Wirral company had still delivered a good performance in the context of the challenging economy. Scantec has posted its accounts for the 12 months to December 31, 2025, on Companies House.

They show a 7% fall in revenues to £34.6m and a 13% dip in pre-tax profits to £953,650. During the year the company, which has its headquarters on Birkenhead waterfront, employed 25 people.

Founded in 1990, Scantec specialises in finding skilled people to fill roles for clients in the engineering, manufacturing and science sectors. In spring 2025 ownership of the business passed from John Robinson to the firm’s employees via an Employee Ownership Trust.

According to the accounts no dividends were paid out in 2025 but what are called ‘distributions’ totalling just over £2m were transferred into the EOT.

Peter Bates said in the annual report: “The slowdown in the UK economy adversely affected trading during 2025, resulting in lower gross fees and operating profit compared to the previous year.

“Despite these conditions, the company remains profitable and achieved improvements in gross margin and gross fees per head.”

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He added: “The directors remained focused on growing Scantec recruitment operations across its specialist markets.

“Investment in technology, operational processes and employee development will continue to support service delivery, efficiency and new business development.”