Smart 1 Recruitment

Business Details

11 Years

experience

Your Trusted Recruitment Partner in Redditch

Established in 2015, Smart 1 Recruitment has dedicated itself to transforming the recruitment landscape by prioritising both employer needs and candidate development. Our approach combines over 25 years of collective recruitment expertise with business management and HR insights to deliver tailored staffing solutions. We specialise in matching temporary and permanent roles across industrial and commercial sectors, supported by rigorous candidate screening and a deep understanding of local market dynamics. Our unique Temp of the Month initiative exemplifies our commitment to recognising workforce excellence, while our face-to-face consultations ensure bespoke service delivery. With a proven track record of placing over 20 staff for long-term clients and maintaining transparent communication, we've built lasting partnerships with businesses in Redditch, Alcester, Bromsgrove, and beyond.

Our CIPD-qualified leadership team ensures ethical practices, while our payroll specialists guarantee seamless administrative support. By focusing on quality over quantity, we've cultivated a reputation for delivering candidates who consistently exceed expectations, evidenced by our 8-year partnership with Constellation Cold Logistics and 7-year relationships with multiple employers. Our client-centric philosophy extends to ongoing post-placement monitoring, ensuring both organisational success and candidate satisfaction. As a locally rooted agency, we combine national standards with regional market intelligence to provide staffing solutions that drive business growth and career progression.

Services

Temporary Staffing Permanent Recruitment Candidate Screening Interview Management Induction Process Payroll Services Accounts Management Workforce Development Employer Consultation Candidate Support

Details

Year established: 2015

Highlights and features

We offer 24/7 candidate support and post-placement monitoring
Our Temp of the Month scheme rewards workforce excellence at no extra cost
We provide face-to-face consultations for bespoke recruitment strategies
Our team includes CIPD-qualified HR professionals and payroll specialists
We maintain 8+ year partnerships with major local employers

What people say

Excellent staff First class service Outstanding candidates Quick responses Value for money

Website

Update Listing

Services

Temporary Staffing

We provide pre-screened temporary workers across industrial and commercial sectors. Our rigorous selection process includes reference checks and skills assessments to ensure candidates meet specific job requirements. Employers benefit from our Temp of the Month reward scheme, which recognises outstanding temporary staff without additional costs. Our payroll team ensures seamless payment processing for temporary workers.

Permanent Recruitment

Our permanent recruitment service matches candidates with long-term opportunities through comprehensive interviews and skills evaluations. We conduct face-to-face consultations with employers to understand specific requirements and company culture. The process includes candidate background checks, reference verification, and post-placement follow-up to ensure successful integration into permanent roles.

Candidate Screening

We implement thorough candidate screening including reference verification, skills assessments, and employment history validation. Our process identifies candidates who demonstrate reliability, punctuality, and industry-specific competencies. This ensures employers receive candidates who consistently meet performance expectations, as evidenced by our long-term client relationships and positive employer feedback.

Interview Management

Our team coordinates the entire interview process from scheduling to candidate preparation. We provide employers with pre-screened shortlists and facilitate both in-person and virtual interviews. The service includes feedback collection and negotiation support to streamline hiring decisions while maintaining professional communication throughout the recruitment pipeline.

Payroll Services

We manage payroll processing for temporary and permanent staff with accuracy and efficiency. Our dedicated payroll team ensures timely payments, tax compliance, and resolution of payment queries. The service includes detailed reporting and year-end documentation, supported by our accounts specialists who maintain transparent financial records for both employers and candidates.

People

Mike Harper

Director

With 12 years' recruitment experience, Mike established Smart 1 Recruitment to address local employment needs. He leverages extensive industry contacts and operational expertise to ensure quality candidate matching.

Cathy Strain

Director

Cathy contributes 20+ years' small business management experience and CIPD HR qualifications. She shapes our ethical recruitment practices and client-focused service delivery approach.

Stuart Grant

Branch Manager

Stuart oversees daily operations with a finance and training background. His strategic leadership ensures efficient recruitment processes and client satisfaction across all service areas.

Emma Jackson

Senior Recruitment Advisor

Emma manages temporary recruitment with exceptional customer service skills. She ensures seamless candidate placement and maintains high satisfaction rates among both employers and workers.

Chloe Sargeant

Permanent Recruitment Advisor

Chloe specialises in permanent placements with a balanced focus on candidate aspirations and employer requirements. Her professional approach ensures successful long-term employment matches across various industries.

Questions

What recruitment services do you offer?

We provide temporary staffing, permanent recruitment, candidate screening, interview coordination, and payroll administration across industrial and commercial sectors.

How do you ensure quality candidates?

Our process includes reference checks, skills assessments, and face-to-face interviews to verify reliability, punctuality, and industry-specific competencies.

Which areas do you cover?

We operate throughout Warwickshire and Worcestershire, including Redditch, Alcester, Bromsgrove, and Stratford-upon-Avon, with nationwide capabilities.

What makes you different from other agencies?

Our CIPD-qualified team offers face-to-face consultations, Temp of the Month recognition, and 24/7 candidate support with 7-8 year client partnerships.

How quickly can you fill positions?

We typically arrange interviews within 48 hours using our extensive candidate network and proactive recruitment strategies.

Do you offer ongoing support after placement?

Yes, we provide post-placement monitoring and payroll administration to ensure continued satisfaction for both employers and candidates.

Reviews (7)

Write a Review

Susan Darby

Dec 02, 2021 Report

Would totally recommend smart 1 recruitment.Totally professional,friendly,and helpful many thanks to Mike and the team for all your help. First place I’d ring if I ever needed your help again . Thanks Vic darby ,wootton wawen

Thomas Fay

Nov 08, 2021 Report

I called Smart 1 with a shortfall in staff for a huge stock delivery. They helped us through the process and enabled us to off-load our containers with ease. Mike, Stuart and the team have gone above and beyond. Highly recommended.

Nathan Evans

Oct 23, 2020 Report

The guys at Smart 1 are brilliant they go the extra mile to help a lot of people
i would always advise people looking for work to try smart 1 first as they will always treat you with respect and help if they can
5 Star service

Tendai Shana

Aug 22, 2020 Report

I strongly recommend Cathy and her team from Smart1 Recruitment, they are just brilliant and always show impeccable professionalism and support that made the whole process painless and made me feel at ease. I worked with Cathy and I can confirm that the support I received was second to none, it was exceptional and she really cared about doing the best for me. Cathy was very supportive all the way and she was always there to answer any questions and returned phone calls in a timely manner. I cannot thank Cathy and her team enough. Thank you so much Cathy and Smart1 team for your support and professionalism

Bedford Family

Jun 24, 2020 Report

I worked with Cathy some time ago trying to secure me a new role. She was nothing short of exceptional and the support and advice she offered was amazing. The highest compliment I can pay is that when I recently decided to look for another role she was literally the first person I contacted having not spoken with her at all from the previous time! Really great person to deal with. This is my daughters account so please ignore profile name!

Nick Woodger

Jan 17, 2020 Report

The team at Smart1 are the best hands down! Mike and Nathan have done a lot for me true legends top guys! there's not a better Agency out there that can beat Smart 1! Thanks for all the help you have done for me.

Luke Hopkins

Dec 22, 2019 Report

I can only speak highly of Smart1 and unlike past experiences are always quick to be helpful and supportive. A great agency which I can only recommend. Have the utmost confidence in Smart1 Recruitment. Thanks for everything.