The Aviation Recruitment and Consulting Group

What The Aviation Recruitment and Consulting Group does

TARCG (The Aviation Recruitment and Consulting Group Ltd) is a UK-headquartered, international specialist recruitment agency focused on the aviation, aerospace, defence, and space sectors. Founded in 2016 in Exeter by brothers Sam O'Brien and Jack O'Brien, the firm operates from three offices (Exeter, Nashville, and Poland) and serves clients across the UK, Europe, the USA, and the Middle East. Its target customer base spans MROs, airlines and operators, OEMs, airports, rotary operators, logistics companies, VIP and business aviation, military and defence firms, and regulatory authorities such as the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

The company's core offering is a vertically specialised recruitment service delivered through three revenue streams: temporary/contract staffing (B1/B2 licensed engineers, mechanics, SMW, composites, painters, and other technical contract staff), permanent placement, and executive headhunting. These services are supported by a web-based recruitment platform (tarcg.careerupdate.com) that provides candidate registration, job search, application management, and a dedicated recruiter login portal for clients. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; engagements operate on a quote-based model with an optional Fixed Fee Program referenced in client testimonials. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct, supplemented by a content-marketing blog and LinkedIn-driven employer branding. Industry credibility is anchored by REC Corporate Membership (granted June 2021) and the founder's EASA B1/C Licensed Engineer credentials.

TARCG is privately held and family-run, with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity. The senior leadership comprises Sam O'Brien (CEO/Founder), Jack O'Brien (Commercial Director), Victoria Delahaye (Director of Finance and Administration, since 2021), Ross Maclean-Bryant (Business Group Manager), and David Doherty (Non-Executive Director, since 2021). Named enterprise clients include Lufthansa Technik, the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and Volotea. No revenue, ARR, or headcount-growth figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

The Aviation Recruitment and Consulting Group

Legal name

The Aviation Recruitment & Consulting Group Ltd

Website

https://tarcg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

TARCG is a UK-based international specialist recruitment agency serving the aviation, aerospace, defence, and space sectors with temporary, permanent, and executive search staffing for MROs, airlines, defence firms, OEMs, airports, and regulatory authorities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Recruitment Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Executive Search Services (561312), Temporary Help Services (561320)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)

Keywords

• Aviation recruitment
• Aerospace staffing
• Defence sector hiring
• MRO workforce solutions
• Executive search aviation

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Temporary/Contract Recruitment: Provides skilled contract engineers to help MROs and aviation companies manage larger scale projects and seasonal demands. Staff supplied include B1/B2 Licensed Engineers, Mechanics, SMW, Composites, Painters and other short and long term Contract staff.
2. Permanent Placement: Direct hire recruitment services placing candidates in full-time positions within aviation, MRO, Defence and Space organisations.
3. Executive Search/Headhunting: Headhunting solutions for senior and executive level positions in the aviation and aerospace sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TARCG is an international Aviation & Aerospace, Defence and Space recruitment agency providing Temporary, Permanent and Headhunting hiring solutions to MROs, manufacturers, airlines, operators, OEMs, airports, rotary operators, logistics providers, VIP & business aviation, military & defence companies, and regulatory authorities. Services are delivered through a sales-led model supported by a web-based recruitment platform where candidates register, search jobs, and apply, while clients post vacancies and manage hiring workflows.

Product overview

TARCG operates as an international Aviation & Aerospace, Defence and Space recruitment agency providing a web-based recruitment platform combined with specialized hiring solutions. The core offering consists of the Recruitment Solutions Platform for job search and application management, supplemented by Temporary Staffing Services, Permanent Placement Services, and Executive Headhunting Services. These services work together to serve MRO's, manufacturers, airlines, operators, airports, rotary operators, logistics companies, VIP & business aviation operators, military & defence companies, and regulatory authorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Temporary Staffing Services Provides temporary contract recruitment solutions for MROs, manufacturers, airlines, OEMs, airports, defence companies, and regulatory authorities to manage larger-scale projects and seasonal demands. Staff supplied include B1/B2 Licensed Engineers, Mechanics, SMW, Composites, Painters, and other short- and long-term contract staff.
• Permanent Placement Services Full-time permanent recruitment solutions placing candidates in direct hire roles within aviation, aerospace, MRO, defence, and space sector organisations.
• Executive Headhunting Services Specialised executive search and headhunting services for senior and executive-level positions in aviation, MRO, defence, and aerospace organisations.

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• David DohertyminorOthersDavid Doherty joined TARCG as non-executive director and board member in April 2021. While this is his first direct involvement in aviation recruitment, he brings over 25 years of real-world experience in aviation operations, sales, contract management, and business development from roles at Air UK/KLM, ATC Lasham, Marshall Aerospace, Monarch Aircraft Engineering, and Etihad Airways. He provides industry perspective and strategic guidance to TARCG's board.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hays plc: Hays is a global listed recruiter with dedicated aerospace, defence and MRO desks. Competes with TARCG on permanent and contract placements into aviation clients but as part of a much larger multi-sector portfolio.
• Morson Group: Morson is a large UK-headquartered engineering and aerospace recruitment and workforce solutions group. Overlaps with TARCG on aviation and MRO contract staffing but at much greater scale and with broader industrial verticals.

Direct peers

• Carbon60: Carbon60 provides technical and engineering staffing across aerospace, defence, energy and infrastructure, with a strong MRO and aviation desk. Comparable to TARCG on contract temp staffing, B1/B2 engineer focus and enterprise MRO client base.
• Sigma Aviation Services: Sigma Aviation Services recruits flight crew, maintenance and executive aviation personnel globally. Overlaps with TARCG's airline, rotary, business aviation and MRO staffing lines and similar white-collar contract model.
• Mane Contract Services: Mane provides aviation and aerospace contract and permanent recruitment, with deep MRO and licensed-engineer coverage. Closely aligned with TARCG's contract-engineer value proposition and UK-based service model.
• Aeropeople: Aeropeople is an aerospace recruitment specialist serving MROs, airlines, OEMs and defence. Comparable to TARCG on aviation-only vertical, permanent and contract staffing mix and technical-engineer candidate focus.
• Matchtech: Matchtech is a UK engineering and technology recruiter with a dedicated aerospace, defence and MRO practice. Directly comparable on permanent and contract engineering recruitment into UK and European aviation organisations.
• Zenon Recruitment: Zenon is a specialist aviation and aerospace recruitment agency offering contract and permanent staffing to airlines, MROs and OEMs. Directly comparable to TARCG in vertical focus, contract-driven model and technical-engineer candidate pool.
• Aviation Personnel: Aviation Personnel is an aviation-only recruitment agency supplying pilots, engineers and operations staff to airlines and MROs. Directly comparable niche focus and customer base to TARCG, particularly across airlines and operators.
• VHR Technical Recruitment: VHR is a technical recruitment firm specialising in aerospace, aviation and engineering, with a London base and global contractor payroll. Comparable to TARCG on aviation engineering contract supply and international candidate mobilisation.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tarcg
• Xx.com/fastrecruit1

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Aviation Recruitment and Consulting Group