Date posted: 26th Mar 2026
Clive Owen Corporate Finance was pleased to support a growing North East-based recruitment company’s ambitious plans by advising on its acquisition of a fellow regional recruiter.
Start People Limited, which specialises in manufacturing and supply chain recruitment, has successfully acquired SG Personnel.
The acquisition forms part of Start People’s strategy to expand its market presence and reach a turnover target of £20 million by 2027. SG Personnel’s established client base and team will support Start People’s journey towards its financial goals, with up to 15 new jobs expected to be created.
Michael Cantwell, Corporate Finance Partner at Clive Owen LLP, provided lead advisory services to Start People Limited, including financial due diligence and project management of the transaction, with legal support delivered by Dan Flounders and Samantha Higgins of Jacksons.
David Edwards, director of Start People, said: “Founded on a commitment to excellence in compliance and customer service, SG Personnel has built an enviable reputation for delivering high-quality temporary and permanent staffing solutions across industrial and logistics sectors.
“These synergies with Start People will strengthen delivery, operational scale, and enhanced client service offerings across our regional markets and perfectly align with the growth plans over the coming years.”
Michael Cantwell said: “Congratulations to David and the Start People team on this latest growth phase, with this transaction setting them up for continued, sustainable growth. Manufacturing and its supply chain remain a massive sector in the North East, and this deal will allow them to take advantage of the vast opportunities available.”
This latest deal comes fresh on the heels of strong activity across Clive Owen Corporate Finance, which has recently advised on a series of high-profile transactions and strengthened its team further following the appointment of Michael Dickens as Corporate Finance Manager.
Michael added: “Our Corporate Finance division continues to go from strength to strength, buoyed by a large uptick in activity levels, with the addition of Michael both complementing our existing capabilities and adding to our service lines, especially given his investment experience and expertise.”
