Operating profits at the Parc recruitment group rose to €3.7 million in the year to the end of March from €3.5 million in the previous year. The 6 per cent rise in operating profit was slower than the rise in sales, which grew by 14.4 per cent to €116 million.

The greatest share of the sales - €64 million - was recorded by its aviation unit, Parc Aviation. The group recorded sales of €52 million at its general recruitment unit, Parc HR Services.

The management, directors and staff of the group own 74 per cent of its shares following a buy-out in 1995 from Aer Lingus. Private equity group HgCapital owns the remainder of the shares. While Parc cancelled a flotation it planned in 1998, the group spent €300,000 in 2003 in a deal to acquire the combined Noonan Recruitment Consultants and Professional Placement Group.

Companies in the Parc group are registered in Dublin and Belfast. It employs 79 people in offices in Dublin and Shannon and another 46 in its British unit at offices in London, Glasgow and Havant, Hampshire. Parc Aviation has operations in 35 countries with a base of some 700 pilots and aircraft engineers on assignment to 50 clients.