[2] The firm has a presence in thirteen countries in Central and Western Europe, operating temporary employment agencies and providing secondment and other HR services.

[3] In 2002 United Services Group acquired a controlling stake in the job agency Start Holding, which had been privatised by the Dutch government six years earlier.

The company acquired smaller Belgian peer Solvus Resource Group for around €585 million[5] in August 2005,[6] after which it again changed its name to USG People N.V.

By far the company's largest business segment is general temporary work agencies, which operate under the unified Start People brand across all countries.

[8] USG also owns several specialist staffing agencies, recruiting into professions such as administration, finance, secretarial work and health care.