Casual labour becomes a serious business

Simon Hull supplies staff to businesses ranging from construction to food processing. Picture / Dean Purcell

Seventeen years ago, Simon Hull started up a casual workforce business from a rented office in Penrose, Auckland.

That office is now the bathroom at the headquarters of Allied Work Force - New Zealand's largest labour-hire firm - which Hull plans to float on the stock exchange next week.

The company will issue 7.6 million shares at $1.50 each to list on the stock exchange's main board.

The offer is expected to open on June 13, and lead broker ABN Amro Craigs will issue a prospectus on Thursday.

From its 21 branches, seven of which are in Auckland, Allied Work Force daily places up to 2800 workers across a range of industries including construction, factories, transport and food processing.

With New Zealand's unemployment rate below 4 per cent, Hull's crew are in heavy demand.

"The current labour shortage has put pressure on the industry, and in some ways that plays into our hands," he said.

"On any given day we best distribute the resources the country has to match up supply with demand."

Early this year the company boosted its manpower by buying Wellington-based Quin Workforce, following up its acquisition of Far North Labour Hire last year.

Hull, a former dairy farmer, has previously indicated turnover would exceed $70 million this year.

The company employs 90 fulltime staff.