Staffline Regulatory News (STAF)

For immediate release 17 July 2018

STAFFLINE GROUP PLC

("Staffline")

Acquisition of the business of Learndirect Apprenticeships Limited ("LDA")

Staffline, the Recruitment and Training group announces today that it has completed the acquisition of LDA, the UK's market-leading Apprenticeship Levy provider from Learndirect Apprenticeships Limited for a nominal sum. Staffline will integrate LDA into PeoplePlus, its Skills and Training division. This acquisition will significantly increase PeoplePlus' share within the Apprenticeship Levy market to c. 10%. The combined business will be the leading adult skills and training provider in the UK, delivering apprenticeships, adult education, prison education and skills-based employability programmes across the UK.

LDA works with many high-profile levy-paying companies, and the combined business will have c. 5,000 apprentices currently on programme, with a strong pipeline of new apprentices. LDA brings an existing blue-chip customer base, adding high profile brands in key areas such as retail, financial services and the NHS. These customers will add complementary market sectors to PeoplePlus's existing offering, and a broadened product proposition.

The acquisition is funded from Staffline's existing resources.

Chris Pullen, Chief Executive Officer of Staffline, commented:

"We are delighted to announce that we have acquired the country's market leading Apprenticeship Levy provider. Combining our businesses makes PeoplePlus the country's market leading skills and training provider with a UK wide footprint across apprenticeships, adult education, prison education and skills-based employability programmes, and is in-line with Staffline's acquisition strategy. We look forward to welcoming the LDA team and to integrating the business within PeoplePlus."

About Staffline - Recruitment, Training and Support

Enabling the Future of Work™

Staffline is the UK's market leading recruitment and training group. It has two divisions:

Recruitment Division

The UK's leading provider of flexible blue-collar workers, supplying over 60,000 staff per day to c. 1,500 private sector clients, across a wide range of industries including agriculture, drinks, driving, food processing, logistics and manufacturing. It operates from over 400 locations in UK, Eire and Poland.

Its world leading Customer Experience platform provides optimised customer-based staffing management solutions whilst providing market-leading levels of job satisfaction for workers.

PeoplePlus Division

The leading adult skills and training provider in the UK, delivering apprenticeships, adult education, prison education and skills-based employability programmes across the country.

Education and Training - market leading provider of training courses for private sector Apprenticeships (both Levy and non-Levy) and Government funded Adult Skills programmes.

Employability - top quartile performer, supporting Government programmes providing back-to-work education and support services to the unemployed.

Justice and Community - education and training services for prisoners and probationers, as well as individual support services for carers and people with disabilities, both at home and in the work place