Leading independent Norfolk recruitment firm Cooper Lomaz is celebrating a record month, having doubled the number of people it has placed in full-time work.

Meanwhile the number of vacancies on Cooper Lomaz' books has grown by 35%. The firm, established 23 years ago, has offices in Norwich, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds. It focuses on graduate, highly-skilled and managerial roles.

'We are seeing a very positive trend and we are actively recruiting staff here at Cooper Lomaz to cope with the increased demand,' said buoyant Operations Director Mark Fletcher.

'Over recent months we have been placing 40-50 people in permanent full-time jobs. In July that number jumped to 91. That's a very big uplift – it's the highest number of placements in one month in Cooper Lomaz' history.'

In addition to the full-time jobs, Cooper Lomaz recruiters filled 20 contract positions in the same period. And the rapidly-growing number of vacancies the firm has been tasked to fill made July a double whammy month.

'The number of vacancies on our website averages 350. Currently it is 471 and rising,' said Mr Fletcher.

'The figures reflect the growing level of confidence among our client businesses. Companies are feeling much more positive about hiring additional staff.'

None of the people who have been found jobs have been recruited for so-called zero-hours contracts.

'To be honest we don't see much of that at all,' said Mr Fletcher.

The biggest challenge Cooper Lomaz faces is filling the huge demand for specialists in the burgeoning oil gas and renewable energy sector.

'Even here we've had a number of successes and have filled a number of positions over the past six weeks,' said Mr Fletcher.

The feel-good factor has fuelled an expansion at Cooper Lomaz itself.

'Since January we have hired 11 people and we have got four vacancies we are looking to fill,' said Mr Fletcher.

'The recruitment industry is always regarded as a good barometer of the economy. Recruitment is the first thing to be affected as confidence goes down. And it is one of the first areas where a returning optimism can be detected.'

For more information on the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and their business to business exhibition, visit www.edp24.co.uk/business/norfolk-chamber-of-commerce or www.norfolkchamber.co.uk.