For Martin Turner, recruitment has never been just about filling roles. It’s about helping people find opportunity, guiding careers, and building connections that can genuinely change lives.
As one of the founders of TTG, Martin has spent more than three decades helping businesses find the right people and supporting individuals to step into roles where they can thrive.
Along the way, he’s navigated economic downturns, industry challenges, and delivered some of Australia’s largest recruitment projects.
His journey into business wasn’t part of a grand plan. After building a career in human resources and recruitment consultancy, Martin and a group of colleagues saw an opportunity to do things differently.
In 1991, four founders took a leap of faith and launched TTG. More than 30 years later, that decision has grown into a trusted recruitment business that has helped thousands of people and organisations find the right fit.
Riding out the storms
Like many long-standing businesses, TTG has weathered its share of challenges.
From the Global Financial Crisis to COVID-19, there were times when hiring slowed, projects paused, and confidence in the market dropped. As Martin explains, recruitment is closely linked to business activity. When clients slow down, hiring slows too. When confidence returns, recruitment picks up again.
One constant challenge throughout the years has been cash flow, particularly when working with large organisations that come with complex processes and longer payment cycles.
Despite this, Martin credits the team’s resilience and adaptability for the business’s continued growth.
A project close to home
While TTG has partnered with major organisations across Australia, one project stands out.
When Brisbane’s public transport network changed from Go Card to contactless payments, Translink asked TTG to help with the rollout. The team was tasked with recruiting 140 employees for a large customer engagement campaign.
For a relatively small team, it was a major undertaking. They interviewed hundreds of candidates, onboarded successful applicants, coordinated training programs, and provided ongoing performance management throughout the project.
What began as a single recruitment assignment grew into a trusted three-year partnership, a clear reflection of the team’s ability to deliver great results.
Helping people find their place
While large projects are rewarding, what keeps Martin motivated is simple: helping people find work they truly enjoy.
Many young professionals come to him unsure of what they want to do. Sometimes, they only know what they don’t want.
Martin enjoys helping them discover opportunities they may not have thought about and guiding them towards careers that suit their skills, goals, and personality.
For him, helping people build a career they love is the most rewarding part of the job.
Lessons learned along the way
After more than 30 years in business, Martin has learned plenty but one lesson stands out: don’t do it alone.
Building strong relationships with mentors, advisers, and trusted partners can make all the difference when challenges arise.
He also believes in the importance of delegation; surrounding yourself with capable people and trusting them to do what they do best, so he can focus on growing the business.
Life beyond recruitment
Outside of work, Martin has discovered a new passion: winemaking.
What started as a hobby is slowly growing into a business. He plans to obtain a wine licence and one day sell his own wines, with the profits going towards charitable causes that are close to his heart.
When he’s not in the vineyard, you’ll likely find him watching rugby on TV. A proud Welsh rugby fan, he rarely misses a match.
After decades spent helping others build their careers, Martin continues to explore new passions of his own. And if his journey has shown anything, it’s that great opportunities often begin with a willingness to take a chance.
