Company Overview

1. Company Overview

Axis Consulting <9344> operates as a single segment of the Human Capital business, providing talent introduction services in the high-end talent sector and skill-sharing services by freelance consultants. In the talent introduction services, they primarily support the recruitment of consultants for consulting firms, while Cambridge Research Institute, which was merged in July 2024, supports the recruitment of executives such as CxOs for business companies and managers above through staffing permanent employees, both of which are characterized by high-end talent. In the skill-sharing services, they offer 'FreelanceConsulBiz' and 'CompassShare', where FreelanceConsulBiz provides project resolutions by freelance consultants tailored to the needs of companies, and CompassShare operates a digital platform that allows easy access to spot consultations regarding management and business challenges.

In the company, they define high-priced talent with 'consulting', 'DX/IT', and 'CxO' skills that are sought after by consulting firms and business companies as having 'extensive experience'.

They strive to deepen, strengthen, and expand their network.

2. History

For approximately 20 years since its establishment, the company has been supporting the recruitment of managers and above for consulting firms, while Cambridge Research Institute has a track record of supporting the recruitment of executive-level personnel for business companies over 60 years, both having strong brand power. Established in 2002 as a subsidiary of IT solution business Amcos <6888>, they became independent through an MBO in 2009. As their share in the consulting firm market expanded in 2016, they expanded their business and started FreelanceConsulBiz as a new business, simultaneously entering the business of introducing personnel to business companies by acquiring Cambridge Research Institute as a subsidiary. Furthermore, they launched CompassShare in 2022, went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market in 2023, and strengthened their business structure by absorbing Cambridge Research Institute aiming for efficient operation in 2024. Additionally, the company aims to deepen, strengthen, and expand its network through regular information exchange meetings with consulting firm partners and business executives.

There is a growing trend in optimal placement of high-end talent.

3. Industry Environment In recent years, amid intensifying global competition, advancing technology, population decline, and other environmental changes, solving societal issues and creating new value and innovations are being sought. Therefore, it is necessary to view talents as capital rather than just resources, and strategically allocate highly specialized and capable high-end talents such as consultants, CxOs, and DX managers, in order to sustainably create value by resolving business and societal challenges. As a result of these factors, the demand for high-end talents is strong, with the consulting market continuing to grow, particularly in the DX field where the demand for talents above managers remains robust. While the hiring interest for young consultants soared immediately after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a trend towards reverting to pre-pandemic levels due to recent sufficient recruitment of young professionals. For businesses, many are keen on strengthening the recruitment of talents in the DX field, but are facing challenges due to labor shortages. Amid these tough hiring conditions, there is a high demand for talents related to DX at Freeconsulting Biz, and it seems that Private Equity (PE) funds have seen an increase in the number of introduced value-added talents, including CxOs to their investee companies. Companies similar to this one include J A C Recruitment<2124> in terms of talent introduction, and in terms of leveraging freelancers, companies like Mirai Works<6563> and INTLOOP<9556> exist. However, it can be said that only this company provides both talent introduction and skill-sharing services at a considerable scale.

In recent years, amid intensifying global competition, advancing technology, population decline, and other environmental changes, solving societal issues and creating new value and innovations are being sought. Therefore, it is necessary to view talents as capital rather than just resources, and strategically allocate highly specialized and capable high-end talents such as consultants, CxOs, and DX managers, in order to sustainably create value by resolving business and societal challenges. As a result of these factors, the demand for high-end talents is strong, with the consulting market continuing to grow, particularly in the DX field where the demand for talents above managers remains robust. While the hiring interest for young consultants soared immediately after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a trend towards reverting to pre-pandemic levels due to recent sufficient recruitment of young professionals. For businesses, many are keen on strengthening the recruitment of talents in the DX field, but are facing challenges due to labor shortages. Amid these tough hiring conditions, there is a high demand for talents related to DX at Freeconsulting Biz, and it seems that Private Equity (PE) funds have seen an increase in the number of introduced value-added talents, including CxOs to their investee companies. Companies similar to this one include J A C Recruitment<2124> in terms of talent introduction, and in terms of leveraging freelancers, companies like Mirai Works<6563> and INTLOOP<9556> exist. However, it can be said that only this company provides both talent introduction and skill-sharing services at a considerable scale.

(Author: FISCO guest analyst Nobumitsu Miyata)