16 Years of Talk Staff

Our Story

From Day One… Building a People-focused Business

Talk Staff was born in 2009, in the shadow of one of the most challenging economic periods in modern history, the Great Recession of 2008–2013. Founders David Orange and Gary Parsons made a bold move to launch a people-focused consultancy focused on relationships, results, and real business impact.

Armed with extensive recruitment experience, they adopted a unique approach, working from the inside out. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, they engaged directly with businesses to understand their short, medium, and long-term goals. This emphasis on deep relationships and strategic alignment quickly became the cornerstone of the company’s ethos: inspiring people and delivering results.

Expanding Horizons: Recruitment to Payroll

In 2010, Talk Staff was formally introduced, and Talk Staff Group was born, establishing an umbrella for multiple specialist divisions. That same year saw the launch of Talk Staff Payroll, enabling the business to expand beyond recruitment and into Payroll Outsourcing services. This diversification marked the start of Talk Staff’s evolution into a multi-service people consultancy.

Pioneering Positive Disruption

By 2013, innovation was embedded into the business model. Talk Staff Recruitment led a positive disruption within the industry, harnessing technology to better support in-house recruitment teams and reduce dependency on traditional agency models. Consultants began working closely with businesses as partners, not just providers, leading to nearly 50% of clients opting to stop using external agencies altogether.

This shift underscored the growing reputation of Talk Staff as a trusted consultancy that empowers internal teams, offering tools, insights, and tailored support rather than simply filling vacancies.

Talent at the Core

2017 marked another key milestone with the launch of the Talk Staff Talent Academy, a programme developed to nurture new entrants into the recruitment sector. This investment in people and progression further solidified the company’s commitment to personal and professional growth.

That same year, Talk Staff was recognised with the East Midlands Chamber’s “Commitment to People Development” Award, a testament to its values-driven approach and the impact of the Talent Academy. It was clear: Talk Staff was becoming more than just a recruitment company, it was transforming into the UK’s go-to people consultancy.

 

Resilience Through Adversity

With growth on the horizon, Talk Staff moved into a purpose-designed office space to support its expanding team and services. However, like so many businesses, the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought unprecedented disruption. While many companies were forced to close their doors, Talk Staff adapted quickly, prioritising staff wellbeing and client continuity through remote working and digital transformation.

As restrictions eased, Talk Staff bounced back with resilience, regrowing its team and resuming operations from both Belper and Nottingham, serving a broad cross-section of the East Midlands business community.

Leadership for the Future

In 2022, Richard Stokes joined the senior leadership team as Operations Director, bringing strategic oversight to the Group’s operations and supporting both the Payroll and HR departments. His appointment marked a new chapter in Talk Staff’s journey, supporting the business through continued growth and modernisation.

New Divisions, New Directions

In 2023, the company expanded its offering further with the introduction of Talk Staff Legal. With a specialist team now four strong, this division serves law firms across the East and West Midlands, offering expert recruitment support tailored to the legal profession.

In 2024, co-founder and CEO Gary Parsons resigned as CEO, and started his advocacy journey of better support for the mental health and wellbeing for business leaders. This is inspired by Gary’s own journey, whilst growing Talk Staff and silently battling depression, he now uses his platform to show that poor mental health and success can co-exist.  Gary’s work now sees him work as a Keynote Speaker, Mentor, and working with leaders across the UK to support sustainable growth – including his flagship Selfish Leadership methodology, and SELF framework.

Today and Tomorrow

Now in its 16th year, Talk Staff Group is led by David Orange and Richard Stokes, who continue to steer the business into a bold new chapter. With a reputation built on trust, innovation, and people-focused thinking, Talk Staff is proud to be one of the UK’s most progressive People Consultancies, supporting organisations whether they use agencies, build in-house teams, or require payroll and HR solutions.

And we’re just getting started….