Final Results

HAYS PLC
13 September 1999



                           PRELIMINARY RESULTS

                           Financial Highlights

Profit before tax, goodwill amortisation and exceptional items has risen to
£235.9m, an increase of 17 per cent, with turnover increasing by 21 per cent
to £1.9bn.  Earnings per share on a similar basis are up by 17 per cent to
19.84p.

Continued development of the Group has required significant capital
expenditure in the year and we have invested a total of £220m on acquisitions
and capital projects.  Interest is covered 24 times by operating profit.
Free cash flow (cash generated after all outgoings other than acquisitions)
was £66m compared to £53m in the previous year.

Dividends

On 28 May 1999 an interim dividend of 2.0p per share was paid.  A final
dividend of 4.15p per share is proposed for the year to 30 June 1999 for
payment on 29 November 1999 to shareholders on the register at 29 October
1999.  The total dividend for the year amounts to 6.15p per share, a rise of
15 per cent.

This increase maintains the Board's policy of providing shareholders with a
steadily rising income, while meeting the reasonable needs of the business
for its growth.  The dividends are covered 3.2 times by earnings.

Key features of the year

The continued growth of the Personnel business and specifically the
outstanding growth achieved in the UK IT market and Australia.   The move
onto the continent has also been pleasing with excellent results from the
French Personnel businesses.

* The successful integration of the French Mail Services acquisitions -
Colirail and France Partner - and the achievement of associated synergy
benefits.  This business now operates under the Hays brand.

* The continued development of our Field Support business, formerly
Partspeed, which now has European potential.   This Mail Services business
now operates joint cross border contracts with Logistics.

* The strong organic growth in our UK Logistics business with both existing
and new customers and the successful implementation of the Shell and BP
supply chain contracts in the UK.

* The impressive list of potential new contracts in Continental Logistics
after a period of internal focus in both France and Germany.   We anticipate
that these will make a contribution to profits primarily from July 2000
onwards.

* The establishment of Hays Customer Solutions, our Call Centre and Data
Processing business, as one of the most effective and innovative operations
of its kind in Europe.

* The creation of the Business Process Support sector.  This business has
potential for substantial organic growth through the provision of outsourced
solutions to handle high volume office processes.

Trading

We have continued to win major new contracts with both existing and new
customers.  These contracts play a key part in the organic growth of the
Group as each of our three core activities moves closer to its customers and
seeks to provide increasingly sophisticated solutions for them.  Our
Distribution activity now provides services for the majority of leading
retailers in the UK and serves many of our major European customers on a
cross-border basis.  The Commercial core activity continues to grow and has
achieved particular success in winning new contracts in the public sector.
Traditional placement of individual candidates by Hays Personnel is now
supplemented by Facilities Management contracts under which a total
recruitment facility is provided for the customer.

Our expectation is that customers will continue to demand an ever broadening
range of integrated services, often in more than one country.  Our strong
management, state of the art technology and sound European base mean that we
are well placed to deliver the right solutions.

Acquisitions

The main focus of our acquisitions has been to develop further our Commercial
and Personnel core activities.  We made twelve acquisitions in the year for
an aggregate consideration of up to £162m (including deferred payments), half
of which was invested outside the UK.

In France we bought businesses to grow both Commercial and Personnel
alongside our well established Distribution core activity.  We now provide a
National Courier and Express service which is a leading specialist in its
segment and has a strong market share in the French medical and optical
sectors.  The acquisition of Ceritex has extended our Call Centre services
throughout France.  Sitinfo, based in Paris, provides IT staff for software
development, maintenance and consultancy projects.

In the UK we have invested £75m (including deferred payments) to develop Hays
Business Process Support.  We acquired companies which, under the umbrella of
a new centralised sales team, enable us to offer a complementary range of IT
based solutions and processing services to our customers.  We believe that
this is an area of our business which has good potential for future growth as
the rapid pace of change compels our customers to focus on their own core
businesses.  Also in the UK we took the opportunity to complete the
geographic coverage of our Packaged Chemical Distribution network by making
two small acquisitions.

We continue to seek acquisitions throughout Europe that will increase our
range of services and expand our geographic coverage.

Group Management and Staff

Our customers are typically the fastest moving companies who have recognised
the rapid pace of change in their own core businesses and who have chosen to
contract out the support services on which they depend.  We believe that
Hays' success has been derived in large part from our ability to react
quickly and effectively to our customers' needs and from our willingness to
embrace the latest IT developments.  We have continued to strengthen the
management below Board level and have been careful to develop strong
management in each country where the Group carries on business.  The
management and staff have risen to the challenge of our customers' increasing
demands by embracing the new technologies upon which modern business depends.
We are committed to maintaining a leading position in the provision of
business services in Europe and recognise the importance of our people in
meeting that challenge.  We thank them for their hard work.

Prospects

We face the current financial year with confidence.  There are a number of
major new contracts to be started up during the year and we are fully
prepared to support our customers through any systems issues at the start of
the new Millennium.  The Board plans to continue to develop the Group
throughout Europe and will make further acquisitions to enhance EPS growth
when suitable opportunities arise.



Hays plc
Consolidated Profit and Loss Account
For the year ended 30 June 1999

(In £'s million)                         1999      1998               
                                                                      
TURNOVER                                                              
    Continuing operations             1,786.8   1,519.1               
    Acquisitions                         89.0         -               
    Discontinued operations                 -      30.0               
                                    _________   _______               
                                      1,875.8   1,549.1   +21 per cent
                                    =========  =======                
                                         
PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS                                                
    Continuing operations               238.2     208.8               
    Acquisitions                          7.8         -               
    Discontinued operations                 -       1.8               
                                    _________   _______               
                                        246.0     210.6               
                                                                      
GOODWILL AMORTISATION                   (3.6)         -
                                                                      
EXCEPTIONAL OPERATING COSTS                                           
    Continuing operations                   -     (2.6)               
    Acquisitions                            -     (3.9)               
                                    _________   _______               
                                            -     (6.5)               
                                    _________   _______               
OPERATING PROFIT                        242.4     204.1               
                                                                      
Exceptional item - profit on                -       2.6               
disposal of businesses
                                                                      
Net interest payable                   (10.1)     (9.4)               
                                    _________   _______               
PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES           232.3     197.3               
BEFORE TAXATION
                                                                      
PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION, GOODWILL        235.9     201.2   +17 per cent
AMORTISATION AND EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS                                    
                                                                      
Tax on profit on ordinary              (65.1)    (56.2)               
activities
                                    _________   _______               
Profit on ordinary activities           167.2     141.1               
after taxation
                                                                      
Equity minority interests               (0.5)     (0.5)               
                                    _________   _______               
PROFIT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR           166.7     140.6               
                                                                      
Dividends                              (52.3)    (45.6)               
                                    _________   _______               
Transferred to reserves                 114.4      95.0               
                                    =========   =======               
                                                                      
                                                                      
Earnings per share before goodwill                                    
amortisation and exceptional items     19.84p    16.95p   +17 per cent
                                                                      
                                                                      
Basic earnings per share               19.42p    16.67p               
                                                                      
Dividend per share                      6.15p     5.35p   +15 per cent
                                                                      
Interest cover                            24x       22x               
Dividend cover                           3.2x      3.1x               





Hays plc
Consolidated Balance Sheet
At 30 June 1999

(In £'s million)                                    30 June        30 June
                                                       1999           1998
FIXED ASSETS                                                              
                                                                          
    Intangible assets                                 139.0              -
    Tangible assets                                   497.9          441.5
    Investments                                        17.7           24.1
                                                     ______         ______
                                                      654.6          465.6
                                                     ______         ______
CURRENT ASSETS                                                            
                                                                          
    Stocks                                             32.5           23.2
    Debtors                                           394.3          318.0
    Cash at bank and in hand                           79.8           94.0
                                                     ______         ______
                                                      506.6          435.2
                                                     ______         ______
CREDITORS:  AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE                                
YEAR
                                                                          
    Borrowings                                        (4.5)         (17.6)
    Other creditors                                 (505.4)        (432.1)
                                                    _______        _______
                                                    (509.9)        (449.7)
                                                    _______        _______
NET CURRENT LIABILITIES                               (3.3)         (14.5)
                                                    _______        _______
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES                 651.3          451.1
                                                                          
CREDITORS:  AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE
THAN ONE YEAR

    Borrowings                                      (241.1)        (190.3)
    Other creditors                                  (68.9)         (44.9)
                                                                          
PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES               (20.0)         (14.5)
                                                    _______        _______
                                                      321.3          201.4
                                                    =======        =======
CAPITAL AND RESERVES                                                      
                                                                          
    Called up share capital                             8.6            4.3
    Share premium account                             356.7          349.1
    Revaluation reserve                                22.6           23.0
    Other reserves                                   (18.5)         (17.5)
    Profit and loss account                          (49.6)        (158.5)
                                                    _______        _______
EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' INTERESTS                        319.8          200.4
                                                                          
EQUITY MINORITY INTERESTS                               1.5            1.0
                                                    _______        _______
                                                      321.3          201.4
                                                    _______        _______
NET DEBT AS  per cent OF SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS    61 per cent    72 per cent
AND MINORITY INTERESTS                                                    


Note: Following the adoption of FRS10, historical goodwill has been netted off
against the profit and loss account in both 1998 and 1999.  Goodwill on
current year acquisitions has been capitalised.



Hays plc
Summarised Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
For the year ended 30 June 1999

(In £'s million)                                     1999           1998
                                                                        
Operating activities                                                    
                                                                        
Operating profit                                    242.4          204.1
Depreciation and amortisation                        52.0           45.0
Other operating items                               (2.2)          (1.2)
Increase in working capital                        (27.3)         (37.3)
                                               __________       ________
Net cash inflow from operating activities           264.9          210.6
                                                                        
Returns on investments and servicing of            (10.1)          (9.5)
finance
                                                                        
Tax paid                                           (53.8)         (50.3)
                                                                        
Capital expenditure (net)                          (87.2)         (56.8)
                                               __________       ________
Net cash inflow before acquisitions and             113.8           94.0
disposals
                                                                        
Acquisitions and disposals (net)                  (106.9)        (118.8)
                                                                        
Equity dividends paid                              (47.7)         (41.1)
                                               __________       ________
Net cash outflow before financing                  (40.8)         (65.9)
                                                                        
Financing                                                               
Issue of ordinary share capital                       7.8           15.2
Disposal / (purchase) of own shares                   7.5          (4.4)
Increase in borrowings                               15.8           68.6
Capital element of finance lease rentals            (4.7)          (6.3)
                                               __________       ________
Net cash inflow from financing                       26.4           73.1
                                               __________       ________
(Decrease) / increase in cash                      (14.4)            7.2
                                               ==========       ========
                                                                        
(In £'s million)                                     1999           1998
                                                                        
Movement in net debt                                                    
For the year ended 30 June 1999                                         
                                                                        
Increase in net borrowing                          (51.0)         (95.7)
Foreign exchange movement                           (0.4)          (0.5)
Opening net debt                                  (145.6)         (49.4)
                                               __________        _______
Closing net debt                                  (197.0)        (145.6)
                                               ==========       ========

Hays plc
Segmental Information
For the year ended 30 June 1999

(In £'s million)            1999          1999        1998        1998
                                                                      
                           Total     Operating       Total   Operating
                        Turnover        Profit    Turnover      Profit
                        ________     _________    ________   _________
BY BUSINESS SECTOR                                                    
       Distribution        895.2          77.1       792.2        73.1
       Commercial          345.0          77.3       265.4        63.1
       Personnel           635.6          91.6       491.5        74.4
                        ________     _________    ________   _________
                         1,875.8         246.0     1,549.1       210.6
                        ========     =========    ========   =========
Goodwill amortisation          -         (3.6)           -       (6.5)
/ exceptional
operating costs
                        ________     _________    ________   _________
                         1,875.8         242.4     1,549.1       204.1
                        ========     =========    ========   =========
BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREA                                                  
       United Kingdom    1,214.5         193.4     1,074.5       170.7
       Other EC            569.6          41.1       404.4        33.1
       Rest of the          91.7          11.5        70.2         6.8
       World
                        ________     _________    ________   _________
                         1,875.8         246.0     1,549.1       210.6
Goodwill amortisation          -         (3.6)           -       (6.5)
/ exceptional
operating costs
                        ________     _________    ________   _________
                         1,875.8         242.4     1,549.1       204.1
                        ========     =========    ========   =========


Reconciliation of movements in equity shareholders' interests
For the year ended 30 June 1999

(In £'s million)                                     1999           1998
                                                                        
Profit for the financial year                       166.7          140.6
Dividends                                          (52.3)         (45.6)
                                                _________        _______
                                                    114.4           95.0
                                                                        
Other recognised gains and losses relating          (1.0)          (1.7)
to the year
New share capital subscribed                          7.8           15.2
Goodwill written off (net)                          (1.8)         (98.8)
                                                _________        _______
Net increase in equity shareholders'                119.4            9.7
interests
                                                                        
                                                                        
Opening equity shareholders' interests              200.4          190.7
                                                _________       ________
Closing equity shareholders' interests              319.8          200.4
                                                =========       ========

The financial information set out above does not constitute the
Company's statutory accounts for the years ended 30 June 1999 or 30 June
1998, but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for the
year ended 30 June 1998 have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies, and those for 1999 will be delivered following the Company's
Annual General Meeting. The auditors have reported on those accounts;
their reports were unqualified and did not contain statements under
Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.