The Clever Team

We are a friendly team of recruitment professionals passionate about the Financial Services market and the part we play in helping our clients grow and develop their businesses.

Our experience spans across various facets of the Financial Services industry. We are consistently looking to build relationships with IFA's, Wealth Managers, Investment Managers, and non-regulated personnel such as Paraplanners, IFA Administration and Sales Support.

With clients ranging from small to national firms and a team of consultants who understand the industry, we are well placed to support your business and its recruitment requirements.

To discuss drop us a line e: hello@clever-hr.uk or give us a call on t: 01173 790818

Contact James

James Rendell

Founder and Director

James has a wealth of experience working within Financial Services recruitment. He has worked on a number of projects for a variant of businesses, from small niche Financial Planning firms to large national organisations. James is still very much hands on, working on various recruitment assignments for his clients, as well as the day to day running of the business.

In his spare time, besides travel, James is a keen sports fan. His early days was spent on cricket grounds across the country, where he represented Gloucestershire CCC from an early age through to adulthood and he had the honour of representing England Schools in the mid ‘90s. He supports grass roots football and plays the occasional round of golf.

He can often be found grazing the nearby Cotswold countryside with his family and Donkey-like Chocolate Lab, Monster.

In 2016, James was a nominee for the South West 42 under 42, an initiative where business owners across the region are recognised under the age of 42. Further information can be found by following the link: https://www.insidermedia.com/42-under-42-members/southwest/2016 .

He is currently joint Chairman of business networking group, Sodbury & Yate Business Association, a community group designed to offer support and opportunities for business owners in the local area.

Likes: The sound of leather on willow, Everton, travelling and Jaffa Cakes

Dislikes: Arrogance and a fuzzy radio signal

Favourite Movie: A toss up between Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Big Trouble in Little China

James Rendell

Founder and Director

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Contact Tom

Tom Brown

Career Consultant

Since starting with CleverHR in 2015, Tom has developed strong experience of working closely with high profile businesses in regards to their recruitment needs. Alongside his work with Clever, Tom has also successfully passed his Master of Science in Psychology with a dissertation on Confidence and Well-Being within a Business Settings. Tom is highly passionate about Sport, and is a member of a number of local sporting associations; Even when Tom has a full schedule, he will still find time to cram in some exercise somehow. Among his sporting achievements, Tom has played for the Bristol Rugby Academy.

Naturally, as a keen sportsman and salesman, Tom is highly competitive with a burning desire to succeed in every task that he completes; This occasionally upsets his colleagues and friends. At heart, Tom is still a kid and he has a keen interest in superhero and science fiction media. Tom also has a tendency to make jokes and provide humour in the majority of situations that he faces; This is best described by a t-shirt that he owns saying "I am not normal".

Likes: Sport, Liverpool Football Club and Having a Good ol' Rest.

Dislikes: Losing, People who Dawdle in the middle of the Pathway, and Overtaking Lorries

Favourite Movie: Anything with Jim Carrey from the 90's, Star Wars and Marvel

Tom Brown

Career Consultant

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Contact Cat

Cat Rendell

Career Consultant

Catherine comes from a Training and Development background and is a qualified teacher by trade. She has a vast amount of experience working within the Insurance industry where she has coached and developed a wide range of personnel. She is passionate about sourcing and developing individuals to match our clients requirements and is a real asset to the team.

As a dedicated follower of fitness, Catherine enjoys rustling up super healthy dishes and taking part in runs and various charity events.

Likes: Learning (especially about nutrition and wellbeing), Exploring the World, and Minimalism

Dislikes: Slow Walkers, Arrogance and Animal Cruelty

Favourite Movie: That's a toughy! Let me think on this one...

Cat Rendell

Career Consultant

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Contact Sam

Sam Kotadia

Career Consultant

Sam has over a decade of experience working with organisations in high-performance environments. Qualified with a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Psychology Sam’s work has been translated into half-a-dozen world-languages. His recent manuscript ‘Win the Day’ attracted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo; who wrote the foreword for the book. His friends and colleagues are sick of hearing this by the way!

Sam has an unmoving passion to bring the best out of everyone he works with in a variety of professional spaces. His mother believes that watching too many Rocky films from a young age explains Sam’s love for the underdog rising to the challenge.

Despite being immersed in the world of Positive Psychology Sam is a terrible loser. Avoid him at all costs if you happen to find him on the golf course in a bunker. Sam loves film and on occasion is known to produce an oil painting. Music is another one of Sam’s keen passions; but he cannot sing to save his life!

Sam Kotadia

Career Consultant

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Contact Brenda

Brenda Willmott

Career Consultant

I’ve been in the Financial Services industry for over 30 years in a variety of roles – starting in DB pension administration, SSAS Administration, a broker consultant for a major pension provider and more recently as a paraplanner. Due to my extensive financial services experience, I decided to join the Clever team so that I can use my knowledge in helping our clients attract new clients and candidates find their next career move.

I have visited lots of interesting places over the years, including Bora Bora, Tahiti, Tokyo, and The Gambia. For my 50^th birthday, I also slept in an ice room at minus 28 at The Ice Hotel, Sweden. I spend much of my free time in campsites around the UK utilising my beloved camper van or on the back of Rich’s BMW motorbike participating in charity events, including Santa’s on a Bike and Hoggin the Bridge. I have also been known to combine motorbiking and traveling, spending 10 days in Norway touring, and in March I will be off to Phuket, Thailand. I have created so many memories, including running around and around Vienna airport trying to get to my connecting flight, flying a plane, and never-ending journeys to countries.

I currently help to walk an elderly couple’s beloved dog, Star, a Cavalier KC Spaniel as part of the Cinnamon Trust. This is a great way to combine my love of dogs and helping the community.

Likes: Dogs, Maltesers, and Champagne

Dislikes: Needles, Blood, and Spiders

Favourite Movie: The Jazz Singer - Neil Diamond version - Naff Acting, Fab Singing

Brenda Willmott

Career Consultant

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Contact Ben

Ben Cooling

Marketing Assistant

Inducted into the world of Clever HR during the winter of ’19. Ben has spent the last 10 years in bands as a lead vocalist and guitarist as well as producing solo music. He also created, hosted and produced a podcast for over 100 episodes. He has now moved that show onto FM Radio and is on air once a week.

Ben also enjoys visiting America and would make a half decent NYC of California tour guide.

As well as Clever's Social Media, Ben will be working on a new local job portal named Jobopoly. Where CleverHR focuses on the Wealth Management sector, Jobopoly will be much more broad and cover many different sectors.

Likes: Music, Jack Daniels, creativity & a decent laugh!

Dislikes: Politicians & nobody’s who claim to be celebrities.….the ‘Love Island’ crew for example.

Favourite Movie: Goodfellas or Casino

Ben Cooling

Marketing Assistant

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Contact Monte

Monte Moo

A Clever Boy

A good boy who comes in occasionally for a snooze, some treats and a lot of love.

Likes: Cheese, Cucumber and Ear Scratches

Dislikes: Being Ignored, Non-Food Sharers and Being dressed up in silly T-Shirts

Favourite Movie: Marley & Me, Turner & Hooch and Beethoven

Monte Moo

A Clever Boy

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About us

The Clever Team

We are a friendly team of recruitment professionals passionate about the Financial Services market and the part we play in helping our clients grow and develop their businesses.

James Rendell

Tom Brown

Cat Rendell

Sam Kotadia

Brenda Willmott

Ben Cooling

Monte Moo