Smart Solutions Recruitment, the fast-growing recruitment consultancy headquartered in Newport, has appointed a new HR director to head up all internal and external recruitment.

Gareth Beynon has joined Smart Solutions Recruitment (Smart) following 12 years with a global high tech manufacturer where he had HR responsibilities for both UK and European sites.

Gareth has over 25 years of industry experience in both the public and private sector and has previously worked for the former Gwent TEC as a business advisor and Hawker Siddeley as HR manager.

On talking about his appointment, Gareth said: “It’s great to be working for an independent company which is carving out a niche for itself in the recruitment sector.

“There is a fantastic group of people here at Smart, all pulling in the same direction, and I’m pleased to be a part of that.

“On a day-to-day basis, I will be implementing and maintaining permanent staff systems and processes, ensuring there is consistency across all the Smart sites, as well as looking after the 1,500 flexible workers on our books.

Smart was set up in 2008 by CEO Nathan Bowles as an alternative to the way many recruitment agencies are run, and offers a number of value added services not offered by traditional recruitment agencies, including on-site recruitment support and management.

The company employs nearly 60 people at 12 sites around the UK, and aims to open a number of new locations in 2010.

Nathan Bowles, CEO of Smart, said: “A recruitment consultancy has people at its very heart, and having an experienced HR director like Gareth is essential to achieving an efficient and motivated workforce for ourselves and our clients.

“We directly employ our flexible workers, allowing us to offer a number of the benefits that permanent workers would expect to receive.

“All our workers are employed via a contract of employment and we also pay a number of benefits including paternity and maternity pay, stake holder pension and 28 days holiday as well as accident and life insurance. Staff are the life blood of our organisation and it is important to ensure they are well looked after and made to feel valued, and we will only take contracts where we can ensure that our employees are best served.

“As a result we attract skilled, professional workers who are happier and more motivated as a result. In turn, our clients also benefit as we take all liability for the workers while they are not tied into long-term employment contracts, a factor which has become of increasing importance during the downturn. It’s a win-win situation all round.

“Gareth will provide guidance and advice from both a strategic and operational perspective and will develop HR strategy, processes and applications for the company as we continue to expand.”