Trading Statement

9 January 2003

TRADING UPDATE

Hays plc will announce its interim results on 4 March and today issues the following trading update.

Group pre-tax profit before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation for the first half and the full year to 30 June
2003 is expected overall to be in line with our previous guidance.

Hays Personnel continues to perform well compared with many other staffing businesses and trading in the first half of
the year is slightly ahead of our expectations. There has been no material change in month-on-month performance since
the last update.

We were pleased to be awarded a long term licence by Postcomm on 23 December. The award of the licence provides Hays
with the opportunity to address new markets over the medium term but does not affect our expectations for Mail and
Express for the current financial year.

Trading in the Commercial division remains difficult. The archive storage and offshore processing businesses remain on
track. However, continuing poor volumes and pricing pressure in the contact centre operations will leave the division
below our expectations.

The results for Logistics are expected to be in line with our expectations.

The review of Group strategy announced at the Annual General Meeting is progressing well and we will provide an update,
as previously announced, in March.

                                                        -ends-                                                         

Enquiries:

Colin Matthews            Chief Executive Officer    [phone]       
                         Hays plc                                           

Jon Coles                 Brunswick                  [phone]      
Conference call:

Colin Matthews of Hays plc will conduct a conference call for analysts and investors at
11:00 am UK time on 9 January 2003. The dial-in details are as follows:

Call in number:                        [phone]                   
Password:                              Hays / Colin Matthews                  
The call will be recorded and available for playback for 10 working days as follows:

UK/European replay dial-in number:      [phone]                  
UK Freephone number:                    0500 637 880                          
UK/European access code:                476422                                
USA dial-in number:                     [phone]                        
USA access code:                        476422                                
The Instant Replay will be available until 19 January 2003.