Troy-based Kelly Services, a large workforce solutions company, today announced it has made an equity investment in Business Talent Group (BTG), a leading market place for on-demand consultants, experts, and executives.
The investment establishes a relationship that promises to advance the next generation of the “gig economy” for the benefit of top companies and skilled talent. As the lead investor in BTG’s Series C funding, Kelly Services will hold a minority stake in BTG. Other terms of the investment were not disclosed.
The investment underscores the rising demand for highly skilled independent talent, a growing segment of the gig economy. McKinsey predicts a global shortfall of 35 million to 40 million high-skill workers by 2020, with 7 percent of senior managers indicating that they will have enough talent — and the right talent — within their organizations to pursue their most promising opportunities.
BTG’s business model blends proprietary technology and talent data with a dedicated in-house team to select and deliver the right specialized independent talent to the Fortune 1000 — a critical area of focus for both companies.
By delivering curated, vetted, and legally compliant talent and by advising firms on how to launch their own on-demand talent programs, BTG helps companies integrate high-end independent talent into their business strategy, planning, and execution.
Kelly’s investment in BTG creates a new synergy in assisting companies to build agile workforces and access hard-to-find skills; it also enables Kelly’s overall specialty strategy.
“With a workforce solution leader like Kelly backing our vision to make on-demand independent talent a seamless and ubiquitous resource for every company, BTG further solidifies its place at the forefront of the next-gen gig economy,” says Jody Greenstone Miller, co-founder and CEO of BTG.
“(We have) already enabled nearly half of the Fortune 100 to access this network to work smarter, faster, and more flexibly. Working with Kelly Services, as well as other partners, will dramatically expedite our efforts to bring those benefits to leading companies.”
With Kelly’s investment, BTG will accelerate the development and growth of its enterprise-wide on-demand talent offerings and its proprietary technology platform. The Kelly-BTG relationship is also aimed at expanding client access to the strong pool of independent professionals, adding specialty skills and expertise to organizations while educating clients on how to leverage emerging talent models. 
“BTG has emerged as a leader in the field and shares Kelly’s passion for empowering the future of independent work,” says George Corona, president and CEO of Kelly Services. “Companies need the experienced talent to compete and win in the market, but they’re faced with a new world of work where the old talent models aren’t effective anymore.
“By providing insight and expertise to help companies navigate the new world of work, BTG and Kelly will bring top talent to organizations. We are committed to transforming the world of work as we did when we founded the staffing industry 72 years ago.”
Kelly and BTG say they will each benefit from their respective expertise under the partnership, even as both firms continue to operate independently and build strong bonds with multiple partners throughout the entire workforce ecosystem.
Business Talent Group connects independent management consultants, subject matter experts, and executives with top companies to solve their biggest business problems.
Kelly Services and its subsidiaries directly employs nearly 500,000 people around the world in addition to having a role in connecting thousands more with work through its global network of talent suppliers and strategic partners. Revenue in 2017 was $5.4 billion. 
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