Casual staffing marketplace Sidekicker pockets $20 million from SEEK

A temporary  staffing marketplace that’s like Airtasker for casual jobs has raised $20 million from SEEK Investments.

Nine-year-old Sidekicker, which operates in Australia and New Zealand, has more than 12,000 casual workers on its platform, which is used by more than 5,000 businesses.

The funding will be used to accelerate further expansion across ANZ, and platform upgrades to improve the ways businesses and workers interact.

Sidekicker has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland and Wellington, with 133 full-time staff and saw annual gross revenue grow by more than 70% during the pandemic, currently placing an average of 2,500 workers, dubbed sidekicks, into jobs per week.

Sidekicker CEO Thomas Amos co-founded the company with Jacqui Bull and said they’re pleased to have the backing of SEEK Investments.

“This funding round will allow us to continue to invest in expanding our current categories across ANZ whilst delivering new capabilities to our platform that will benefit both our sidekicks and customers,” he said.

“Our continued growth is evidence that we are addressing demand for both employees and workers, and this additional funding will continue to ensure we empower anyone choosing to participate in the casual and temporary employment market; whether they be uni students seeking flexible work around their studies, parents re-entering the workforce, or international Visa holders.”

SEEK Investments CEO Andrew Bassat said: “We are strong believers in Sidekicker’s strategy, innovative solution set, and are excited to support the team as Sidekicker continues its growth journey.”

Sidekicker’s technology has disrupted an out-of-date recruitment model, innovating casual and temporary labour-hire to bring  The Sidekicker platform provides Sidekicks with an easy way to access casual work as and when they choose.

Amos said the platform delivers efficiencies, transparency, choice and control to both workers and businesses, and has a two-way rating and review system drives accountability and reliability of staff.

He said Sidekicker has seen businesses increasingly offering its workers rates above the minimum wage, with casual rates in the hospitality and healthcare sectors  rising between 15-25% and up to 30% for certain roles, compared to six months ago.