THEY began as three just 11 years ago - now the ranks have swelled to nearly 50. Pictured here are some of the Hampshire-based workers for Tenon Recovery, which claims to be the biggest business recovery unit in the south coast, outside of London.

The salvage section, headed by managing director Carl Jackson, has now taken on two senior specialist managers, Jim Haddow and Edward Head, in a bid to further enhance expertise.

He said: "Businesses don't want an insolvency practitioner that only knows how to implement formal procedures, they want someone who can listen and provide solutions to hopefully save and recover their business, putting it back on a sound basis and providing additional support if required. It is important we remember that the decisions and actions we take affect not only the businesses concerned but also the lives and families of the directors and employees.

"One of the biggest pleasures my team and I enjoy as corporate recovery professionals is seeing a troubled business return to a stable and optimistic outlook, saving jobs and instilling a belief in people that they can succeed."

The recovery unit is part of business adviser group Tenon, which employs 130 people at its offices at Tollgate, Chandler's Ford.