Interim Results

ATA GROUP PLC
26 August 1999

                             
                       ATA Group plc
   Interim results for the six months ended 2 July 1999
                             

ATA Group plc ('ATA') is a human resource support services
group,  which  provides employment solutions and  training
services  to  client  companies in England,  Scotland  and
Wales.   ATA floated on the Alternative Investment  Market
in June 1998.

HIGHLIGHTS

*    Turnover  £3.1m (1998: £3.4m)

*    Pre-tax profit £0.19m (1998: £0.55m)

*    Earnings per share 2.03p (1998: 6.25p)

*    Maintained interim dividend of 2.0p


Commenting on the results Bill Douie, Chairman, said:

'The difficult conditions experienced in manufacturing  in
the  first  half have inevitably impacted on  the  interim
results.  Nonetheless, the Directors are encouraged  by  a
continuing  recovery in operating ratios and look  forward
to a more positive second half.'


ENQUIRIES:

ATA Group plc                         Tel: [phone]
Bill Douie, Chairman
Clive Chapman, Chief Executive

College Hill                          Tel: [phone]
Richard Pearson
Giles Cooper

ATA GROUP PLC
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 2 JULY 1999

                             
I  am pleased to present the interim report of the company
for the period to 2 July 1999.

PROGRESS

As  expected, conditions have been difficult, particularly
in manufacturing, and inevitably there has been a knock on
effect  on the results of our most significant recruitment
business, Engineering Technology.  There can be  no  doubt
that  the  continuing strength of sterling has provided  a
testing  environment for companies who are major exporters
or  who  suffer  from import competition.   Encouragingly,
there  is some evidence that industry is learning to  live
with a strong currency and confidence is returning, helped
by a more robust world economy.

More  importantly, consultant numbers have been maintained
and  significant advances in the development of management
skills  at  all  levels in our company  have  resulted  in
enhanced   performance  in  our  Sales   and   Advertising
selection  recruitment businesses towards the end  of  the
period.   Additionally,  as  recently  reported,  we  have
opened a further location south of London, in Croydon, and
early signs are encouraging.

Development  of  our training business continues  steadily
although  securing Corporate courses has progressed  at  a
slower rate than planned.  There are encouraging signs  of
acceleration  of bookings for the second half  and  beyond
and  expansion of accommodation capacity at The Fairbourne
Hotel is at the planning permission stage.

Since  the  period  end terms have  been  agreed  for  the
acquisition  of  a majority interest in  the  business  of
Sloan  Shrago,  an  occupational  psychology  consultancy.
Services  are provided to Corporate clients to  assist  in
the  establishment  of human resource  tactics  to  ensure
achievement of strategic objectives.  In addition  to  the
existing   provision  of  teambuilding,   leadership   and
personal  development  training,  ATA  Group  intends   to
establish   a   range   of  services   in   organisational
development to provide for the client needs identified  by
Sloan Shrago.

Shareholders  will also have noted our recent announcement
of the appointment of Peter McWeeney as finance director.

TRADING RESULTS

As   previously   announced  difficult   conditions   have
adversely  affected the trading performance in  the  first
half  and  pre  tax profits in the period have  fallen  to
£191,459 (1998 £546,853).  Earnings after corporation  tax
of £60,021 are £131,438 and earnings per share, calculated
on  the  average number of shares in issue in the  period,
are 2.03 (1998  6.25p)

DIVIDENDS

I  am  pleased with the success with which the  Group  has
handled  a  difficult  period  and  the  Directors  remain
confident  that  a  manufacturing recovery  will  continue
during  the second half.  Accordingly a maintained interim
dividend  of  2.0p  per  share net  will  be  paid  on  17
September 1999 to shareholders on the register of  members
on 10 September 1999.


OUTLOOK FOR THE REMAINDER OF 1999

ATA's  predominant  market place  in  recruitment  remains
manufacturing   industry  and,   whilst   confidence   has
recovered  to  an extent, the positive environment  during
recovery  from recession following the departure from  ERM
is unlikely to re-emerge in the near future.  Nonetheless,
the  Directors are encouraged by a continuing recovery  in
operating  ratios  and look forward  to  a  more  positive
second  half.  Although the two training companies are  at
an  early  stage in their development and are unlikely  to
form  a  significant part of 1999 results,  both  expected
performance  in the second half and the accelerating  pace
of  long  term  developments encourage the Board  to  view
their future with confidence.


W.J.C.Douie,  Chairman
26 August 1999.


ATA GROUP PLC
GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT

                            Note     6 Months   6 Months  12 Months
                                           to         to         to
                                       2/7/99     3/7/98   31/12/98
                                   (unaudited)(unaudited) (audited)
                                        £'000      £'000      £'000
                                                         
TURNOVER                      2        3101.4     3404.2     6863.3
                                                         
OPERATING PROFIT                        172.1      538.0     1043.4
                                                         
Net interest receivable                  19.3        9.3       41.8
                                                         
PROFIT ON ORDINARY                                       
ACTIVITIES
BEFORE TAXATION                         191.4      547.3     1085.2
                                                         
Taxation                      3         (60.0)    (175.8)    (333.0)
                                                         
PROFIT ON ORDINARY                                       
ACTIVITIES
AFTER TAXATION                          131.4      371.5     752.2
                                                         
Dividends                     4         129.6      129.6     376.0
                                                         
RETAINED PROFIT                           1.8      241.9     376.2
                                                         
                                                         
EARNINGS PER SHARE (pence)    5          2.03       6.25     12.12



ATA GROUP PLC
GROUP BALANCE

                                   at 2/7/99   at 3/7/98  at 31/12/98
                                 (unaudited) (unaudited)    (audited)
                                      £'000       £'000        £'000
                                                         
FIXED ASSETS                                             
      Tangible assets                 789.4       690.4        779.1
      Intangible assets                89.2        73.6         95.9
                                  
                                      878.6       764.0        875.0
                                                         
CURRENT ASSETS
     Stock                             13.0        11.3         14.6
     Debtors                          805.5       873.3        687.8
     Short term deposits              950.0      1150.0        750.0
     Cash at bank                     110.5        86.3        607.0
                                                         
                                     1879.0      2120.9       2059.4
CREDITORS: Due within one year      (1622.7)    (1831.8)     (1750.4)
                                                         
NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILTIES)       256.3       289.1        309.0
                                                         
TOTAL ASSETS LESS                                        
CURRENT LIABILITIES                  1134.9      1053.1       1184.0
                                                         
CREDITORS: Due after more than       (183.8)     (243.2)      (234.7)
one year
                                                         
NET ASSETS                            951.1       809.9        949.3
                                                         
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
     Called up share capital           64.8        64.8         64.8
     Capital redemption reserve        50.0        50.0         50.0
     Share premium account            433.2       428.7        433.2
     Profit and loss account          403.1       266.4        401.3
                                                         
SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS                   951.1       809.9       949.3


ATA GROUP PLC
GROUP CASH FLOWSTATEMENTS

                                    6 Months    6 Months  12 Months
                                          to          to         to
                                      2/7/99      3/7/98   31/12/98
                                  (unaudited) (unaudited)  (audited)
                                       £'000       £'000      £'000
                                                         
CASH INFLOW FROM                                         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES                    68.3       604.7     1282.5
                                                         
Returns on investments and                               
servicing of finance                    28.7         9.3       30.2
                                                         
Taxation                                   -      (147.1)    (287.6)
                                                         
Capital expenditure                   (119.5)     (140.0)    (328.0)
                                                         
Acquisitions                               -      (461.0)    (473.7)
                                                         
Equity dividends paid                 (246.3)     (176.5)    (306.1)
                                                         
                                                         
Net cash inflow (outflow)                                
before use of liquid resources        (268.8)     (310.6)     (82.7)
and financing
                                                         
(Increase) decrease in short          (200.0)     (425.0)     (25.0)
term deposits
                                                         
Net proceeds from issue of                -        522.7      439.2
share capital
                                                         
Increase (decrease) in medium         (27.7)       293.2      269.5
term loan                                                
                                                         
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH          (496.5)        80.3      601.0
BALANCES
                                                         
                                                         

                             
ATA GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 2 JULY 1999

                             
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 The  accounting policies used in the preparation  of  the
 interim  accounts are consistent with those used  in  the
 preparation of the audited annual accounts for  the  year
 ended  31 December 1998.  The group financial information
 consolidates  the accounts of ATA Group plc  and  all  of
 its    material   subsidiary   undertakings   using   the
 acquisition method.

 The  comparative figures for the year ended  31  December
 1998  do  not  constitute statutory accounts  within  the
 meaning  of  S.240 of the Companies Act  1995,  but  they
 have  been  derived from the audited financial statements
 for  that  year, which have been filed with the Registrar
 of   Companies,  and  on  which  our  auditors  gave   an
 unqualified report.
 
 
2 SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

                             6 Months    6 Months   12 Months
                                   to          to          to
                             2/7/1999    3/7/1998  31/12/1998
                           (unaudited) (unaudited)   (audited)
                                £'000       £'000       £'000
TURNOVER                                                     
                                                             
Recruitment and               2,789.1     3,233.0     6,385.1
consultancy
Training                        312.3       171.2       478.2
                                                             
                              3,101.4     3,404.2     6,863.3
                                                             
                                                             
OPERATING PROFIT                                             
                                                             
Recruitment and                 206.7       529.6     1,053.7
consultancy
Training                       (34.6)         8.4      (10.3)
                                                             
                                172.1       538.0     1,043.4


3 TAXATION ON PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES

 The  taxation  charge for the period to 2 July  1999  has
 been  provided  at the estimated rate applicable  to  the
 group for the year.

4   DIVIDENDS

 An  interim dividend of 2.0p per ordinary share  will  be
 paid  on  17  September  1999  to  shareholders  on   the
 register of members on 10 September 1999.


5    EARNINGS PER SHARE
 The  earnings  per  share  have been  calculated  on  the
 profit  on ordinary activities after taxation and on  the
 weighted  average  number of shares in issue  during  the
 period.   The  fully diluted earnings per share  (arising
 from   the   share   option  schemes  detailed   in   the
 Prospectus) are not materially different from  the  basic
 earnings per share and have not been disclosed.