Question 1

How is this different from using a recruiter?

Accepted Answer

Recruiters fill a gap. We deliver a capability. Our specialists are pre-vetted, deployment-ready, and we oversee the engagement including IR35 compliance. Delivery is our responsibility. Unlike interim recruiters, there's no 6-month commitments, and no weeks of interviews.

Question 2

We already use a consultancy for this.

Accepted Answer

We know. And you're probably paying £1,800 a day for it. Many of our clients came to us after realising they were paying consultancy rates for what was essentially body-shopping. We provide the same calibre of specialist at a fraction of the cost, with full transparency.

Question 3

What if we only need someone for a few weeks?

Accepted Answer

That's exactly what we're built for. No minimum engagement period. If you need two weeks of category support to close a sourcing event, that's a perfect fit. You pay for what you use. Equally if you need a specialist to deliver a more significant cost out project over several months, we can also support.

Question 4

How do you handle IR35?

Accepted Answer

It's our problem, not yours. We are the service provider. SmartBuyer was co-founded by the UK's #1 IR35 expert in Procurement, who has trained over 100 CPOs on the legislation. We take full responsibility for IR35 status — we structure every engagement to be fully compliant from day one. It's not an afterthought. It's built into our model.

Question 5

Can your specialists actually deliver at enterprise level?

Accepted Answer

Our network includes 500+ Procurement professionals, many of whom have held senior roles at blue-chip organisations. We've delivered engagements for FTSE 250 and Fortune 500 companies. This isn't a freelancer marketplace. It's a curated network of proven specialists.