For years, Matrix has fine-tuned a turn-key suite of services specifically designed to address labour shortages (Temporary and Permanent Recruitment), access to short-term capital (Payroll Funding) to expand bandwidth, and fully managed back office support (Employer of Record). Accessed independently and in tandem, Matrix has been supporting and empowering clients by finding the right people for the right positions while managing the full administrative function so that that focus can be put on growth and core competencies.
EXPERIENCED. INNOVATIVE. SCALABLE.
Over the past two decades, we’ve developed incredible relationships and had the opportunity to grow together with many of our clients. We are approaching an era of rapid progress and development. Matrix has created a tested infrastructure that will allow limitless elasticity for growth with proven and cost-effective staffing and financial and administrative tools. We have overlaid this with strong partnerships and certifications that both remove barriers and create opportunities.
Tell us about yourself?
I worked in the trade as an apprentice carpenter. After three years of working in the industry, I had an opportunity to start my own business supplying carpenters hourly.
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Really watch your receivables and overhead. Also, invest in you and your business and not other random investments that come across your desk. Most times, I lost in external investments when I should have invested in my own business more.
What problem does your business solve?
The labour shortage that Canada and North America are experiencing currently. With the trade labour shortage, we are a full-service trade staffing agency operating across Canada.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
The inspiration came when I was working in the industry and not being treated very well, with no overtime being paid, no benefits or RRSPs, and a few times not being paid at all. I wanted to create an agency that really looked after our people, as our people are the real asset of the business. We do not build buildings. We build relationships with both our employees and our clients. We make sure everyone is paid on time every time, and we offer full benefits and RRSP. We also offer paid training, safety tickets, and tuition reimbursement for apprenticeship training. We solve two problems. We offer full-time, long-term employment for our employees, and we help our clients fill in any gaps in their labour force across Canada so that they can stay on time and on budget.
What is your magic sauce?
Our magic sauce is our partnerships with our First Nation partner Gitga’at from Prince Rupert, B.C., for the LNGC project in Kitimat, B.C. Also, P2.0 our backend/payroll provider. They do over three billion annually and are Global, so they keep us in compliance and offer risk management services. We are also COR certified in B.C., A.B., and S.K. with Energy Safety Canada, and we are on ComplyWorks, ISNetWorld, and Avetta. We also have Online Industrial Security Services (OLISS). We have over 20 years of experience in the trade staffing industry, with over 100,000 trades in our internal database.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
We have experienced tremendous growth over the last few years, so we want to continue on that path with some M&A transactions in the future. We want to have more of a national presence across Canada and work with like-minded business owners who want to take it to the next level.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
The biggest challenge I have experienced is the very long downturn we experienced here in Alberta when oil dropped in 2014. It was a very long downturn for us in the staffing industry in Alberta. When things picked up in 2019, Covid-19 started and took the wind from our sails. It was the hardest three or four years of my life, and we were on life support. We had to push through, and we came out on the other side stronger than ever. We are debt free, running lean with the biggest revenues we have ever seen in my 20 years at Matrix. I am very grateful to my team for helping me push through those hard times and for us to get through it together. It made us stronger and closer as a team.
How can people get involved?
You can reach us at 1-866-666-9520 or www.matrixlabourleasing.com