Headcount at Alpari UK increased by over 40% in 2011, as the retail-focused foreign exchange platform continued its aggressive bid to gain a bigger slice of the lucrative UK market.

In its directors' report for the year, filed at Companies House, the firm said headcount rose 42% over 2011, with most of the hires in sales and marketing and other client-facing roles. The company, which had an average of 138 employees last year, took on new offices with space for a further 160 staff in January.