An executive recruitment agency has been launched by two Shropshire businessmen.

The joint venture is the brainchild of the managing directors of two successful businesses based in Shrewsbury’s Rural Enterprise Centre.

The venture sees Paul Bennett, of Bennett’s Legal Limited, a specialist employment and business law firm and Shane Hawkins, of C2 Recruitment Limited join forces to help smaller recruitment agencies and local employers fight back against the excessive costs encountered when seeking senior or specialist staff from national agencies.

Mr Hawkins said: “In Shropshire, no-one else was able to source senior roles in the same manner as the national agencies.

“Having competed against them in the retail and catering sectors which C2 does, I jumped at the chance to join forces with Paul across a wider range of sectors.

“We already had the tools to compete in our specialist sectors, but the new venture allows a wider recruitment and human resources approach to be taken because Paul knows the healthcare, law, accountancy, media and IT sectors inside out.”

Bennett Hawkins Recruitment Services LLP will recruit managing directors, directors, board members, doctors, solicitors, accountants and human resource professionals for clients in Shropshire and nationwide.

Mr Bennett added: “My clients have had a recruitment dilemma until now – the local agencies whilst excellent for junior roles, did not have the volume of senior roles to specialise in them.

In starting a niche new business, we have resolved that issue by working together with the smaller independent agencies and by harnessing Shane and C2′s national experience.

“We are able to offer skills analysis, team profiling and head hunting to Shropshire businesses without the need to place the vacancy with a London or Manchester based national agency.

“In fact my clients in London are asking if we can help them out! We hope to import business into Shropshire as well as provide this valuable service to the local business community.”