2. Segment reporting

The consolidated entity operates in one business segment, being that of recruitment services, and this is the Group’s primary segment. As a result, no additional business segment information is required to be provided. The Group’s secondary segment is geography. The segment results by geography are shown below:

(a)Revenue, gross profit and operating profit by geographic region

Revenue Gross Profit Operating Profit
2008
£’000		 2007
£’000		 2008
£’000		 2007
£’000		 2008
£’000		 2007
£’000
EMEA 426,436 321,102 258,772 196,421 66,271 63,013
United Kingdom   365,602 360,395 176,685 186,024 46,557 59,412
Asia Pacific Australia and New Zealand 83,643 72,020 40,521 32,855 12,760 9,899
Other 27,800 25,741 26,254 24,366 9,591 10,922
Total 111,443 97,761 66,775 57,221 22,351 20,821
Americas 69,301 52,382 50,470 38,428 5,322 6,186
972,782 831,640 552,702 478,094 140,501 149,432

The above analysis by destination is not materially different to the analysis by origin.

The analysis below is of the carrying amount of segment assets, liabilities and capital expenditure. Segment assets and liabilities include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis. The individual geographic segments exclude income tax assets and liabilities. Capital expenditure comprises additions to property, plant and equipment, motor vehicles and computer hardware/software.

(b)Segment assets, liabilities and capital expenditure by geographic region

Total Assets Total Liabilities Capital Expenditure
2008
£’000		 2007
£’000		 2008
£’000		 2007
£’000		 2008
£’000		 2007
£’000
EMEA 212,004 165,719 79,517 58,325 7,114 5,934
United Kingdom   128,338 89,679 104,697 114,622 15,284 5,043
Asia Pacific Australia and New Zealand 28,129 22,899 6,943 7,103 1,640 436
Other 24,473 15,672 2,680 2,738 717 303
Total 52,602 38,571 9,623 9,841 2,357 739
Americas 29,252 20,575 8,115 6,047 2,678 1,790
Segment assets/liabilities/capital expenditure 422,196 314,544 201,952 188,835 27,433 13,506
           
Income tax   5,358 – 14,938 17,859
427,554 314,544 216,890 206,694

The above table is shown gross of the effect of the multi-currency notional cash pool. Were the cash pool to be shown on a net basis, this would reduce both the total liabilities in the UK and the total assets in EMEA by £62.7m each. Further information on the notional cash pool is provided in Note 21.

(c)Revenue and gross profit by discipline

Revenue Gross Profit
2008
£’000		 2007
£’000		 2008
£’000		 2007
£’000
Finance and Accounting 541,984 496,506 273,017 258,667
Marketing, Sales and Retail 140,599 119,103 103,907 89,910
Legal, Technology, HR, Secretarial and Other 168,167 134,908 93,193 73,835
Engineering, Property & Construction, Procurement & Supply Chain 122,032 81,123 82,585 55,682
972,782 831,640 552,702 478,094

(d)Revenue and gross profit generated from permanent and temporary placements

Revenue Gross Profit
2008
£’000		 2007
£’000		 2008
£’000		 2007
£’000
Permanent 448,403 392,583 425,655 371,998
Temporary 524,379 439,057 127,047 106,096
972,782 831,640 552,702 478,094

The above analyses in notes (a) operating profit by geographic region, (b) segment liabilities by geographic region, (c) revenue and gross profit by discipline (being the professions of candidates placed) and (d) revenue and gross profit generated from permanent and temporary placements have been included as additional disclosure over and above the requirements of IAS14 “Segment Reporting”.