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At Trial By Fire Recruitment, we’re on a mission to raise the bar in the trades. We connect workshops and job sites across Australia with skilled, reliable, and affordable workers in joinery, shopfitting, carpentry, upholstery and metal fabrication with no upfront costs!

From The Industry, For The Industry

Trial By Fire Recruitment was founded by Luke, a workforce solutions expert, and James, a seasoned tradesman with deep roots in the joinery and carpentry world. Between them, you've got decades of hands-on experience, both on the tools and in running businesses. This isn't some corporate spin. It's real recruitment from people who understand what makes a job site tick.
James has successfully run his own joinery workshop in Seven Hills for years, working across high-end residential builds, commercial shopfitting, and detailed custom joinery. He's led crews, trained apprentices, and delivered top-shelf work that clients rave about.
Luke brings the recruitment brains. He knows workforce strategy inside out and has built a track record for placing solid workers into real roles without charging clients like it’s their firstborn. He understands how to find the right people, manage costs, and keep placements smooth from day one.
Trial By Fire was born out of frustration. Too many agencies are run by people who’ve never worn steel caps or stepped foot in a factory. Too many charge premium rates and deliver average results. We’re not here for that. We’re here to bring honesty back into recruitment.
We offer practical, affordable staffing solutions for joinery, shopfitting, carpentry, upholstery, and metal trades. Whether you're chasing a full-time cabinet maker, a reliable site installer, or a casual factory hand, we’ve got the network to make it happen.
This industry deserves better. We’re here to deliver it.

Experienced Leadership

With over 15 years of boots-on-the-ground experience across the joinery, shopfitting, carpentry, upholstery and metal trades, the founders of Trial By Fire Recruitment know what it takes to build high-performing teams. We’ve run workshops, managed installs, and placed tradies across Sydney who can actually do the job. No guessing. Just real industry leadership.

Customer Satisfaction

We back our clients with proper service. No ghosting, no empty promises. Just honest, consistent communication and candidates who are ready to get stuck in. Our goal is simple, match the right tradie to the right job, first time around. That’s why our clients keep coming back.

Tailored Solutions

Every business is different, so we don’t shove one-size-fits-all down your throat. Whether you’re chasing a permanent hire, a short-term gun for a fitout, or a full crew for a project, we tailor your recruitment to suit the site, the role and the budget. We’re flexible, fast, and we get the brief right.

Industry Insight

We come from the trades, and it shows. Our recruitment isn’t based on guesswork or fancy buzzwords — it’s built on real-world knowledge. We understand the pressures of deadlines, the chaos of site work, and the difference between a bloke who talks a big game and one who actually delivers.

Our Values

Honesty - No Bull
We keep things simple and concise so even the busiest business owner can read and understand what we’re saying. We do not dress things up to sound good. We tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. When we make mistakes, we own them and communicate them clearly.
Respect — From the Workshop to the World
We came from the trades. We built things with our hands and know what it means to get our hands dirty. That experience keeps us humble, grounded, and always respectful of the people who build our world. We champion them fiercely and expect the same from everyone on our team.
Trust — Forge Real Bonds
Deals come and go but trust lasts. We build relationships that last because every person we work with deserves respect, honesty, and follow-up. We never burn bridges and always back our word.
Excellence — Quality over Quantity
We do not flood inboxes with maybes. Every candidate we put forward is someone we would hire ourselves here in our factory. We set the bar high because quality is the backbone of our reputation.
Loyalty — Like Steel
We stand by our team, our clients, and the tradespeople we serve. Loyalty is earned and we give it back every single day. We believe loyalty means sticking by people when times are tough, showing up when it matters, and always doing the right thing.
Thoroughness — Measure Twice, Cut Once
We know that details matter. We believe in thoroughness by checking and double-checking before we act. We do not just react, we plan. Whether it is preparing a shortlist of candidates or drafting an offer, we make sure it is right the first time.

Our Partnerships