HAMPSHIRE based specialist technical recruitment company Matchtech Group has unveiled healthy full year figures, with debt slashed and revenue up 4 per cent. The recession hit recruitment market saw pre-tax profits at the Whiteley firm drop to £11.3m from £12.8m last year and staff headcount reduced by 20 per cent. Net debt was cut to £1.2m from £3.1m over the same period and revenue swelled 4 per cent to £269m. George Materna, chairman of Matchtech said: “It is difficult to predict how and when demand for recruitment services will progress from the current subdued level. However, our balance sheet remains strong, with low levels of net debt, the cost base remains tightly managed and our mix of contract and permanent business provides resilience and the necessary scope for accelerated growth in any economic upturn. Add to this the selected growth initiatives we are planning to undertake in the current financial year, and I believe that Matchtech is well placed to deal with short term market conditions and to capitalise on opportunities in the medium term.”