A Birmingham recruitment firm is set for a £27,000 hit from strike action at more than 2,000 schools in the West Midlands tomorrow.

Michaela Powell, managing director of Birmingham-based education recruitment consultancy Aspire People, said the day of industrial action will be a significant blow.

The consultancy, which recruits for every local authority in the Midlands, places around 100 members of staff each day in West Midland schools, with roles varying from supply teachers to admin and support personnel.

With the two biggest teaching unions, the NUT and NASUWT, set to strike in response to government policy on pay, pensions and workloads, Aspire People will effectively be out of business for the day.

By law, supply teachers, who make up the bulk of Aspire People’s client roster, cannot be instructed to replace teachers during strike action.

Ms Powell said: “Working parents will be forced to cover the costs of childcare at a rate of around £40 per child.

“Failing that they will have to take the day off work, which could leave businesses in the region understaffed.

“From our perspective, the business is losing a whole day’s work, yet my staff’s wages still need to be paid.”

The strike action forms part of a series of regional protests in response to planned government reforms which would link teachers’ pay to performance in the classroom. Union bosses also revealed that further national strike action is likely to take place before Christmas.