Exponent Private Equity today announces its investment in Group GTI, the graduate recruitment publisher and online application systems provider in Europe.

GTI provides high quality careers information to graduates and postgraduates through sector-specific printed titles, online products and events in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Malaysia and Singapore. The company publishes over 90 paper titles a year, including the market leading TARGET family of careers publications, the doctorjob magazines and the gradireland titles. In Germany GTI trades under the highly respected Staufenbiel brand. Websites include http://www.doctorjob.com, http://www.gradireland.com and http://www.staufenbiel.de. The worktools division provides online application systems to aid the recruitment process for many leading organisations.

The company was launched 18 years ago by founders Mark Blythe and Adrian Wood, and currently employs 120 people.

John Weeks will join the firm as chairman and will work alongside Mark and Adrian to grow the business. John was formerly chief executive and is currently chairman at Mintel International Group, the information publisher, where he has overseen very significant growth in recent years.

The initial investment from Exponent and Barclays Bank will be used to help fund the growth of the business into broader UK, Irish, French and German markets.

The Exponent team commented, “The graduate recruitment sector will continue to grow as employers compete for the best graduates. GTI has been the market leader in targeted careers information and we believe this sector will show considerable growth. The company has a strong business model and the combination of the founders and their management team together with the appointment of John Weeks provides an excellent opportunity for the company to capitalise on the considerable market opportunity”

Adrian Wood and Mark Blythe, joint managing directors Group GTI, said, “This partnership is the next step in our 2010 goal of becoming the dominant graduate recruitment publisher and services provider internationally. We are really looking forward to further growing Group GTI with Exponent. The greater resources and financial expertise will enable us to maximise the potential of the business.”

John Weeks, chairman, Group GTI, said, “GTI is poised for significant growth in the UK and internationally, and I am very excited to be a part of this great business.”