SMEs get Onside with launch of new recruitment service

Pictured above: Troy Turner.

A new recruitment service called Onside aims to “transform” the hiring landscape for New Zealand’s small and medium enterprises.

With SMEs constituting 97 percent of New Zealand businesses, they are crucial to the national economy, yet many face challenges in accessing affordable and flexible recruitment solutions. Onside hopes to address this gap by offering a scalable “plug-and-play” recruitment department model tailored to the specific needs of SMEs.

Founder Troy Turner, who previously launched Inside Recruitment and has spent over 15 years transforming the recruitment landscape, recognised the unique hiring struggles smaller businesses encounter. “With Inside, we cater to medium and large organisations, but I saw a significant need for a recruitment service specifically designed for SMEs,” he says.

Onside allows SMEs to choose the level of recruitment support they need, whether it’s one-off tasks like interviews or fully embedding Onside as a recruitment department. This approach provides businesses the flexibility to scale their recruitment efforts without the complexities and costs associated with traditional agencies.

“Think of us as a department for hire, a team that can manage all or some of the recruitment process,” says Turner.

Dale Clareburt, co-founder of the recruitment software platform Weirdly, has joined Turner to enhance Onside’s mission.

Clareburt emphasised the importance of supporting SMEs. “SMEs are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, and we’re excited to provide them with a recruitment service that’s usually only available to larger companies.”

She adds that Onside allows small business owners to focus on growth while the complexities of hiring are managed by their team.

Onside’s services include tailored recruitment solutions, a cost-effective model that scales with business growth, and customisable pick-and-mix options. “At Onside, we’re not just about filling roles. Our goal is to be a trusted partner to SME owners, building long-term relationships that help them navigate the challenges of talent acquisition,” says Turner.