The history of Brunel

First foreign office: Belgium

The development of Brunel enters a new phase with the opening of its first office in a foreign city: Antwerp, Belgium. Brunel still remains true to the formula that had made the company so successful until then: small, highly motivated sales teams and the placement of highly qualified candidates in technical settings. At the same time, the company is aware that the formula for each new region requires adaptation to cultural differences as well as variations in labour market structure and legislation. These lessons learned, Belgium becomes a relatively small but solid business unit within Brunel. 

Multibranding

The history of Brunel is characterised by growth, new steps, and expansion. Recognising the old saying, “Let a thousand flowers bloom”, a number of measures are taken to stimulate the company’s growth even more. Brunel becomes a springboard for young, enterprising people. Ingenuity and creativity play key roles in the company’s success. Besides Multec, new activities such as Grace BV are launched. New foreign adventures are also planned; it becomes evident that the rise of the temporary employment industry is not just a Dutch phenomenon but an international one. 

Overseas offices in Toronto, Canada

After opening its own office in Houston, Texas in 1994, Brunel enlarges its global network of offices in 1996 by acquiring two companies in Toronto, Canada. The demand for the temporary placement of high-grade technical specialists is growing in Canada, and Brunel has the ideal system for this market. These acquisitions serve two purposes: to capture a permanent position in the North American temporary employment market, and to create an important base of operations for Brunel Energy to serve the international oil and gas sector. Brunel Canada has experiencing steady growth since 1996, and is a permanent bastion in Brunel’s network of offices today. 

Brunel starts operations in the Asia-Pacific region

The services that Brunel Energy provides to the international oil and gas sector necessitate the establishment of offices in the Eastern Hemisphere. The acquisition of Oil Tools in Singapore provides the first location, but this is just the first of many offices that are opened in Asia and Oceania. Today, the Singapore entity still plays a leading role in the operations in the Eastern Hemisphere. 

Brunel Germany

In the international labor market, Germany has always been a unique case. Several factors converge to put Germany far behind others in developing a flexible labor market. It is therefore avoided by many major temporary employment companies. Brunel, however, has its own view of the future, and saw in Germany what others did not. In 1996, the first of several Brunel offices opened in Germany. Activities in the all the major industrial segments there generate steadily-rising profits; Brunel Germany becomes another success story, and a strategic cornerstone for Brunel as an international group. 

Restructuring

Brunel’s rapid growth calls for a reassessment of its organisational and management model. The emerging economic recession also affects Brunel. Far-reaching changes in the company have to be taken to ensure that Brunel can look forward to a healthy future. On the 29th of September, Jan Arie van Barneveld was appointed CEO of Brunel, leading Brunel into a new phase of its development.  

It's a people business

The placement of professional specialists will always require the personal touch. Due to the emergence of international job boards, having a candidate database is no longer a unique selling point. The account managers are what make the difference. Their expertise, experience, and mindset are the deciding factors in a candidate’s relationship with Brunel. The importance of these account managers receives even greater emphasis as part of the new strategy. Talent and management development programs are developed. In 2002, Brunel’s training and development activities are brought together under the Brunel Academy.

Working for the leading oil companies

While European markets are still struggling with the aftermath of the economic recession, Brunel Energy is growing by leaps and bounds. Its annual growth in turnover is around thirty percent, and the number of offices is increasing as well. Meanwhile, another development is occurring in the oil and gas sector. Whereas the deployment of personnel used to be a local matter, the larger companies are now tending to appoint partners who can provide a worldwide service. Brunel qualifies as one of the first to satisfy this demand. Large-scale, long-term commitments are new contributors to the development of Brunel Energy. 

Brunel in the Volvo Ocean Race

The challenge, excitement, and teamwork associated with sailing are all elements found in Brunel’s company culture. In 2005, Brunel sponsors the underdog Australian team at the Volvo Ocean Race. Once again, Brunel receives a lot of visibility. The arrival of the Brunel boat at the various stopovers is used to generate on-site publicity aiming at local clients, employees, and press. The arrival in Melbourne is a particularly high point. Apart from the Brunel team being Australian, Brunel has  just landed a number of large assignments in Australia.  

Brunel celebrates its 45-year anniversary

Back in 1975, on July 1st, Jan Brand created Multec. Looking back at the rich and successful history, it should be concluded that being around for 45 years is no small feat and one that strengthens Brunel's reputation amongst current and future clients, specialist and colleagues.

Brunel x Taylor Hopkinson

Towards the end of 2021, Brunel joined forces with Taylor Hopkinson, a trusted recruitment partner to renewable energy leaders. By connecting Brunel’s extensive global footprint with Taylor Hopkinson’s deep sector knowledge, network and track record, Brunel can set a new benchmark for service and quality within the full life cycle of renewables projects.

Brunel x ICE

In 2022, Brunel teamed up with International Commissioning & Engineering Pte Ltd (ICE); a Singapore-based technical service company specialising in large scale project management and delivery. By combining ICE’s expertise and Brunel’s global network of specialists, the alliance is uniquely capable of delivering project solutions while simultaneously supplying the specialist workforces needed to execute them.