Innovative Scottish technology recruitment specialist 9-20 recruitment is entering into a rapid expansion phase following a successful management buyout, significant new outside investment and a new strategy focusing on UK growth. The company, headed post-MBO by IT recruitment expert Gordon Brown, is on course to double its staff by the late summer and plans to expand from its base in Glasgow to a UK-wide network covering four core disciplines in the high-tech sector. By building a scaleable model based on attractive staff incentives, including share options, divisional responsibility and directorships, Brown's ultimate aim is to take the company to technology-rich hubs in Aberdeen, Cambridge and Europe and the Middle East in the longer term. He said: "Scotland has a strong portfolio of technology companies with exciting products and innovative R&D which can only benefit from the unique recruitment process outsourcing service we offer." For Clydebank-born Brown, taking the helm at 9-20 recruitment is the culmination of a 14 year long engagement in the complex specialism, and one which has involved him dealing with SMEs all the way through to blue chip businesses in senior roles at leading recruitment businesses including Melville Craig and Search. He co-founded 9-20 recruitment with technology recruiter Wendy McDougall, who developed and created the company's industry-leading applicant tracking software, Firefish Software. Following the MBO, which was backed by a venture capital-based consortium, the company will be developed into 9-20 recruitment, led by Brown, with a focus on strategic growth partnership over the next 18 months. Ms McDougall said: "I would like to thank all our loyal clients and candidates we have dealt with over the last nine years. As most people are aware, I have been focussing on the growth of Firefish Software over the last two years and Gordon was keen to drive 9-20 recruitment forward to the next stage of the company's exciting journey." "I wish Gordon all the best and look forward to watching 9-20 recruitment continue to help the Scottish technology sector to grow and prosper." 9-20 recruitment will be restructured into four key areas - technology, digital marketing, sales and business development and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), which is where Brown foresees major growth prospects. With RPO, 9-20 provides go-ahead companies which perhaps are not yet ready for an HR department with an entire internal recruiting infrastructure, including expert guidance on intellectual property, staff retention, projects and bespoke growth scenarios. As well as growing the company by incentivising his people, Brown is keen to re-introduce the key values of integrity, honesty and service which he believes characterised the industry before they were eclipsed by its exponential expansion. Brown said: “Finding the right person for a key IT role is fundamental to the success of any business. I intend to ensure that long into the future 9-20 recruitment is synonymous with delivering our customers the best IT staff in the sector.”