SThree plc 07 December 2005 Embargoed until 0700 7 December 2005 SThree plc ("SThree" or the "Group") Pre-Close Period Trading Update SThree, one of the UK's leading information, communication and technology ("ICT") staffing businesses, is today issuing an update on trading for the year ended 30 November 2005, prior to entering its close period. Today's announcement is the first update from the Group since its shares were admitted to trading on the Official List on 16 November 2005. In the prospectus dated 11 November 2005, SThree announced that its results for the 10 months ended 30 September 2005 had been in line with its historical, seasonal profile and that both its contract and permanent businesses were showing good growth. SThree is pleased to report that this strong performance has continued in the last two months of the financial year and that it expects its results for the full 2005 financial year to be in line with the Board's expectations. The Group made 6,023 permanent placements during the year, representing an increase of 35.0% over the 4,460 made in the prior year. During the same period, the Group's average fees from permanent recruitment also grew to record levels. At 30 November 2005, SThree had 4,365 active contractors, its highest number ever, representing an increase of 16.9% over the prior year (2004: 3,735). Contractor gross profit per day rates also increased during the year and this momentum continued into the final quarter. Russell Clements, Chief Executive of SThree commented: "Robust trading in the last two months of the year underpins our confidence that the Group will deliver results for the 2005 financial year in line with our expectations. "Our core UK ICT market remains strong and is evidenced by good growth in our key performance indicators in both our contract and permanent businesses. Our clear focus on servicing the SME market has also enabled us to maintain our margins. Our expanding European operations and our non-ICT businesses also continue to perform well." SThree will be announcing its preliminary results for the year ended 30 November 2005 on Wednesday 8 February 2006. - Ends - Enquiries: SThree plc 020 7292 3838 Russell Clements, Chief Executive Officer Sunil Wickremeratne, Chief Operating Officer Michael Nelson, Chief Financial Officer Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700 Kevin Smith / Susanne Walker Notes to editors SThree, founded in 1986, is one of the leading ICT staffing businesses in the UK based on turnover. SThree provides both permanent and contract specialist staffing services in the UK and Europe, primarily in the ICT sector and, to an increasing extent in the UK, the banking and finance, accountancy, human resources and engineering sectors. SThree currently operates under 12 brands, the 3 largest by turnover being Computer Futures, Progressive and Huxley, and has 30 offices in the UK and 8 offices in Europe, in Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Germany and Ireland. SThree has a selective approach to clients and focuses on high margin opportunities, predominantly within the small to medium-sized enterprises ("SME") market, which SThree defines as including autonomous divisions of large corporates. SThree does not pursue a high volume/low margin model. SThree has a diverse, international client list of over 4,000 clients, comprising primarily SMEs. Following the establishment of its first brand, Computer Futures, in 1986, SThree adopted a multi-brand strategy, establishing new operations to address growth opportunities. These new brands have typically been created out of one of SThree's existing businesses and are an important means of retaining high performing key employees who are often given the opportunity to acquire a minority equity stake in the new business. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange