Harrison Barratt Group: From Startup to National Coverage in 8 Years

Harrison Barratt Group: From Startup to National Coverage in 8 Years

When I started Harrison Barratt Group in 2018, I had a desk, a phone, and a conviction that the Australian labour hire industry could do better. Eight years later, HBG operates from five offices across Australia, has placed over 128,000 candidates, and services 860+ clients. This is the story of how we got here — and where we are going.

The Beginning

I had spent years working in recruitment and labour hire before starting HBG. What I saw consistently frustrated me: providers who treated workers as commodities, clients who received inconsistent service, and an industry that often prioritised volume over quality.

I believed there was a better way. A model built on genuine relationships, rigorous compliance, and a simple promise: superior people, superior service. That became our tagline, and it has guided every decision we have made since.

HBG launched in Sydney with a focus on construction labour hire. We started small — just a handful of clients and a determination to deliver a level of service that would earn their repeat business. Those early clients took a chance on us, and many of them are still with us today.

Building the Foundation

The first two years were about proving the model. We invested heavily in our induction process, ensuring every worker we placed was properly vetted, qualified, and prepared for site. We built relationships with candidates, treating them as people rather than numbers. And we focused relentlessly on fill rates and reliability — because in labour hire, your reputation lives and dies on whether the right workers show up at the right time.

By the end of 2019, we had established a strong presence in the Sydney construction market. Our client base was growing through referrals — the best endorsement any business can receive.

Growing Through Adversity

Then 2020 happened. COVID-19 hit the economy hard, and the labour hire industry was not spared. Projects were delayed, sites shut down, and uncertainty was everywhere.

But we made a decision early on: we would not retreat. While many providers cut staff and reduced capability, we used the period to strengthen our systems, expand our candidate database, and prepare for the recovery we knew would come.

That decision paid off. When construction activity surged in late 2020 and into 2021, HBG was better positioned than ever. We had the candidates, the systems, and the team to capitalise on the rebound.

Going National

Melbourne was our first expansion, followed by Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Each new office was opened in response to client demand — our existing clients were winning work interstate and wanted HBG to service them nationally.

This organic, client-driven growth meant we were never opening offices speculatively. Every expansion was backed by existing relationships and confirmed demand. It is an approach that has kept our growth sustainable and our service consistent.

Today, our five offices cover the major construction and industrial markets across Australia. We have also registered Harrison Barratt Group Ltd in the United Kingdom, signalling our ambitions beyond Australian shores.

The Numbers

Eight years in, the numbers reflect the scale of what the team has built:

• 128,000+ candidates in our database
• 10,800+ inducted workers ready to deploy
• 860+ active clients across construction, manufacturing, logistics, and civil infrastructure
• 92% client return rate — a metric I am particularly proud of
• 5 offices across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide
• 100+ permanent placements in the last two years alone

But numbers only tell part of the story. Behind every placement is a worker who found consistent employment and a client who delivered their project on time. That is what drives us.

Our Values in Action

From day one, HBG has been built on four principles:

1. Safety first — Every worker goes home safe. No exceptions, no shortcuts.
2. Compliance always — We hold labour hire licences in every required jurisdiction and maintain rigorous compliance systems.
3. Relationships matter — We invest in long-term partnerships with clients and candidates. The transactional approach does not build trust.
4. Continuous improvement — We are never satisfied with good enough. Our systems, processes, and service are constantly evolving.

These are not corporate platitudes. They are the standards we hold ourselves to every day, and the reason our clients keep coming back.

What Comes Next

We are not done growing. The Australian construction and infrastructure market is entering a period of unprecedented activity, and HBG is positioned to play an even bigger role in connecting businesses with the workforce they need.

Our focus for the years ahead includes expanding our permanent recruitment capability, deepening our presence in manufacturing and logistics, and continuing to invest in the technology and systems that make us more effective for our clients and candidates.

Thank You

To our clients who trusted us with their workforce needs, our candidates who chose to work with us, and our team who make it all happen — thank you. The first eight years have been extraordinary, and the best is yet to come.

If you would like to learn more about Harrison Barratt Group, visit harrisonbarratt.com.au or contact me directly at sebastian@harrisonbarratt.com.au. I always enjoy hearing from clients, candidates, and fellow industry professionals.

— Sebastian Harrison-Barratt, Founder and Managing Director