I do love to reflect and think about the past but also project to the future. A milestone such as 20 years needs to be recognised, celebrated and enjoyed. What does it mean to me.
How it all began…
To help you understand what this means I need to give you a bit of a prequel… In 2005 I was working with a global manufacturing business Albany International, and I thought I could work the career ladder at this great employer and find success. However, Amy and I had just become parents and the draw to move home from the Central Coast was too strong. So, I applied for a role, was successful and we moved to Maitland.
That role I landed was an OK role managing and building a labour hire crew of Diesel Fitters into the Hunter Valley open cut mines. The issue was that I did not fit the values of the business owner and I quickly became frustrated. Had I blown my career leaving such a great company and am I stuck?
I met with numerous local recruiters and if I am being honest I did not find the support I was seeking, until I met with Jane and Judy from Hunter Executive Recruitment. They were different in how they listened to me and after discussing my long term vision of potentially starting a recruitment agency myself, they approached me and backed me to give it a go.
20 years on and I still know I would never have started this venture without there guidance, acceptance but most importantly just belief in me.
Timing as always is everything and if I am being honest it was a silly time for such a venture. Building a new home, one young baby at home and one on the way and therefore being a one income family. A mantra of living a life without regret is what pushed me. I did not want to get to age 50 and think what if.
But timing in this instance was also extremely positive as Jane and Judy being the entrepreneurs they are had also struck a deal to partner with a fresh up and comer in the relatively new space of background screening. I got to share an office with Summa McCosker as she started her journey. I didn’t feel alone and lunch time was shared with conversations about the challenges of taking our businesses to the world.
After a couple of years working out of Newcastle, I made the decision to move the business closer to home and establish a base in East Maitland. As part of this move I felt confident to continue on my own and worked to part ways with my original partners, thanking them for their service and forge what would truly be my own path.
As we hit this massive 20 year milestone on the 5th of September 2026 I reflect on living my life through this business my way, staying true to who I am in the business and always driving it with the premise of how can we help individuals and business in the world of work.
It has been amazing shifting the focus of the business with the market. Establishing our temp2perm product, growing how we work with business in the perm placement space, becoming local experts in career transition and now innovating in the RaaS space and staring a new segment of the industry.
The people that helped shape HRG
We have had some extremely special people help our business to thrive over 20 years. Kathryn, Olivia, Laney, Sue and Katrina all played amazing roles in making me a better recruiter and business owner.
Sheridan was our first employee and holds a special place in our hearts. I joking tell anyone that wants to listen she became my 4th daughter and having her play such a big role in making the business more than a one man band was critical. Sheridan came back to work part time in-between roles in her return to the Hunter Valley and even that small period still influences how we work everyday.
Kristie has become more than an employee at HRG. After moving on from the safety of having partners in Jane & Judy I have been searching for that person that shares how I think and what is important. Kristie is becoming the face of HRG through her work and through our marketing. HRG is no longer defined by Craig McGregor and this brings me such happiness.
Liv who is our latest employee (the one young baby at home mentioned early in this blog) has brought a different skill set to the mix and is doing a magnificent job promoting who we are and what we do to the social channels. It is pretty cool to have Liv as part of our family business, to be in a position to give her an opportunity to showcase her talent and for this to have such a positive impact on our business.
Finally to the unsung hero of HRG. The person who has been an employee, been an unpaid supporter and has given me the capacity to take the plunge, continue to work on my path, Amy. Without Amy this doesn’t happen. Like all business owners Amy has ridden the waves and held my hand when needed. I will be forever grateful that I have Amy in my corner and love living life with her everyday.
Outside of the internal staff that have influenced HRG there is countless clients and suppliers whose finger prints are all over what has shaped our business. I have loved working with such a diverse picture of our region from manufacturing, accounting, community housing, NDIS, employment services, travel, professional services, mining and yes at one time an adult store.
What we have become and moving forward
HRG is so much more than a transactional recruiter and those business owners and managers that embrace how effective employment can be when you put time into understanding the entire fit have shared in our success.
I started this business on the back of a felling that the candidate side of the employment equation needed a bit more focus. I hope that everyone that has walked through our door or entered via a screen has left with the knowing that we will help where we can and also that they have left our meeting feeling like they are in a better place to secure the right role for their future.
HRG turning 20 is to time to celebrate, reflect and be grateful for the success and personal growth achieved. I have loved every moment, even the tough times like covid when I was not sure this venture would be able to continue. Thank you to every person that touched HRG and been apart of the journey. Meeting new people, building relationships and growing has been the best part of operating this business.
Now that we hit 20 years we won’t be stopping as there are still so many businesses we can support and individuals to assist with career change. There is also growth in Kristie to enjoy watching and to future staff that have yet to walk through the door.
That is the story of HRG over 20 years and I can’t wait to have a career conversation with you soon.
