How to Scale Without the Overheads: The Smarter FTE Alternative

Why heavy industry businesses are rethinking traditional growth models — and what to do instead.

In Australia's mining, energy and construction sectors, growth is essential — but it's rarely straightforward. As projects ramp up and business demands shift, companies face a familiar dilemma: hire full-time employees with all the associated overheads, or outsource and potentially compromise on quality or control.

At Etcher Solutions, we've seen this challenge play out countless times with our clients. That's why we've developed what we believe is a smarter approach — one that delivers the scalability of contractors, the deep expertise of specialists and the reliability of an internal team, without the cost, complexity, or long-term commitment that comes with adding FTEs.

The Real Cost of Traditional Scaling

In industries where compliance, safety, and technical capability aren't just important — they're critical — adding new team members involves significant risk alongside the expense. Each new hire requires extensive onboarding, creates additional compliance obligations, generates administrative overhead, and locks in ongoing costs.

More concerning is what happens when hiring decisions go wrong. Moving too quickly or selecting the wrong candidate can create skill gaps, compromise safety standards, and trigger inefficiencies that affect entire projects. According to research by ELMO Software in partnership with the Australian HR Institute (2022), the cost to hire an employee has risen dramatically — from $10,500 in 2020 to $23,860 per worker in 2021 — and this figure doesn't account for the additional costs when hiring decisions go wrong, including lost productivity, extended training periods, or potential reputational impact. Independent research by Robert Half (2021) indicates that a poor hire can cost your business → 15–21 % of their annual salary in direct and indirect costs.

For many businesses, this creates a frustrating cycle: growth opportunities require additional capacity, but building that capacity through traditional hiring introduces risks and costs that can undermine the very growth you're trying to achieve.

A Different Approach to Business Support

Rather than forcing businesses into the traditional hire-or-outsource choice, Etcher integrates with client teams like an internal department — but operates without the payroll implications.

We work specifically with mining, construction, energy and infrastructure businesses to support strategic scaling through a modular, demand-responsive approach that aligns with natural business cycles.

Our expertise spans three core areas that typically create bottlenecks during growth phases:

People: Workforce planning, recruitment strategy, onboarding systems, and compliance management

Presence: Brand development, digital strategy, marketing, campaign execution, and website development

Performance: Operational systems, ISO frameworks, quality assurance, audit support, and risk management

The engagement model is designed around flexibility — whether you need support for three weeks during a critical project phase or ongoing assistance over three years, you pay only for the services you actually use, when you need them. This approach provides greater agility, reduces overhead, and maintains quality without sacrificing control.

Why This Model Works in Heavy Industry

Our team brings direct industry experience — we've worked on sites, developed SWMS documentation, created induction programs and guided clients through successful ISO audits. This background means we don't offer generic solutions; instead, we develop industry-specific, business-tailored approaches that:

• Support growth initiatives without overextending existing teams

• Address compliance requirements without creating internal bottlenecks

• Strengthen operational systems while reducing dependence on headcount

• Deliver specialist-level results at a fraction of the cost of building equivalent internal capabilities

  
  

The result is a support model that scales up and down with your business needs, provides access to deep expertise when required, and eliminates the administrative and financial burden of maintaining specialised roles that may not be needed year-round.

Practical Support Without the Overhead

You don’t need a bloated in-house department. You need the right expertise, at the right time, with the right outcomes — and that’s exactly what we deliver.

So, if you’re tired of choosing between capacity and cost, maybe it’s time for a new option.

Etcher Solutions. Everything but the excavator.

References:

ELMO Software and Australian HR Institute (2022). Australian HR Hiring Trends Report 2022.

Robert Half (2021). Cost of a bad hire: How much is a hiring mistake costing your business? Retrieved from https://www.roberthalf.com.au/blog/employers/cost-bad-hire