The organisation that’s increased net headcount by 3,175%. And other big hirers in London this year

Who were the big net financial services hirers in London in 2011?

We can’t say for the full year, but we can say for the first 10 months. During this time, the big hirers were not the usual suspects.

Figures from IMAS, a data company which monitors FSA registered entities, suggest there was a bit of hiring his year, albeit not a lot.

IMAS tracks net changes in FSA approved persons (working in controlled functions) by organization. In the 10 months to October, one place stands out: Newedge. Newedge’s net number of approved persons inLondon increased by 3,175%.

Before anyone gets too excited, however, Newedge tells us its figures are deceptive. “We changed our status from a branch of the French business to a full registeredUKsubsidiary regulated by the FSA,” explains a spokesman.  In other words, these were just existing employees transferred to the new entity.

Instead, it appears that the big net hirer of FSA approved persons until the end of October 2011 was…UBS. Followed by RBC.

Here’s the ranking. Needless to say, all this hiring could have been undone in November or could yet be undone in January.

1. UBS: 133 people
2. RBC*: 119 people
3. Citigroup**: 107 people
4. BNP Paribas: 95 people
5. Merrill Lynch International: 82 people
6. SocGen: 76 people
7. Jefferies: 54 people
8. ICAP: 34 people
9. Investec: 20 people
10. Goldman Sachs Asset Management: 17 people

*Royal Bank of Canada and Royal Bank of Canada Europe

**Citigroup Global Markets and Citibank (of which 57 people were added at Citigroup Global Markets)