Affinity Workforce brings The Protocol Group into its growing education recruitment network

Esme Bianchi Barry, CEO Affinity Workforce

Affinity Workforce Solutions Ltd has acquired the trade and assets of Protocol National Limited, which trades as Protocol Group, adding further education expertise and digital safeguarding services to its expanding national portfolio.

The deal sees three established brands join the Affinity group:

• Protocol FE, a recruitment partner to colleges, prisons and training providers

• Bookmark, supplying staff across nurseries and schools

• eSafeguarding, a secure platform for processing and managing DBS checks

The Protocol Group will continue to trade under its own name, with teams now operating as part of Affinity’s national network. The move strengthens Affinity’s presence in the East Midlands and adds an additional compliance service offering for existing clients and enhances its managed service offer to the FE sector.

As a Crown Commercial Service-approved supplier under the RM6238 framework, Affinity delivers managed recruitment solutions to schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts across the UK. The integration of Protocol’s services and eSafeguarding platform strengthens that offer further — particularly for public sector clients looking for joined-up recruitment and safeguarding support.

Esme Bianchi-Barry, CEO of Affinity Workforce, said: “Protocol strengthens our presence in further education and brings a digital compliance offer that’s already trusted across the sector. It’s a considered step that supports our growth and the high standards our clients expect.”

Bill Williams, Interim CEO of the Protocol Group, said: “We’ve built our reputation on sector knowledge and trust. Affinity brings national scale and infrastructure that will help us do more of what we do best — for the clients and settings we know.”

This is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Affinity, following the addition of Career Teachers, Monarch Education, CER Education and Sugarman Education. Each has added strength in specific sectors, while continuing to operate with its own identity and leadership.

Clients of all brands will continue to work with the same teams, supported by Affinity’s national resources and systems.

The combined group will support almost 28,000 candidates placed in schools, colleges and training providers each year.

Terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

By Reeves PR Birmingham & Newcastle.