Scale & quality
The model that guarantees elite quality
Seasoned experts AI-fluent, rigorously vetted, ready to go
An average Engineer tenure of 26 months and an NPS of 75 don’t happen by luck. There’s a reason why our clients keep coming back to us to build their tech teams – our guarantee of elite quality, end-to-end talent lifecycle management and continuous AI training. And we’re able to guarantee this because of the system we’ve designed – giving you exactly the talent you need on time, every time.
The Smart Working vetting system
built for scale, calibrated for quality,
designed for the AI era.
Clients don’t come to us for CVs. They pay us for certainty – that the Engineer they interview has been stress-tested, perfectly calibrated to the brief and proven authentic before introduction. This is the system behind that guarantee, running behind every placement at CAVU, Tiller, JupiterOne, i6, Kroo Bank, Howden, and dozens of others.
1M
candidates in database
251K
applicants processed every quarter
4-stage
ruthless filtering: technical, logic, comms, live interview
<1%
Reach a client interview
Trusted by 100+ leading teams across the UK & USA
We've built real trust over time
How we find the Top 1%
1.
Quality at the base starts with volume at the top. Our sourcing engine processes tens of thousands of candidates every month through a ruthless, standardised, instrumented funnel.
Here’s what a typical quarter looks like for us (actual numbers from Q1 2026):
| Stage | Volume | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Applications received | 251,622 | Top of funnel |
| Passed minimum fit screening | 69,047 | 27% pass rate - automated relevance filter |
| Invited to technical assessment | 34,833 | Only qualified profiles with relevant skills |
| Passed technical assessment | 7,116 | 20% pass rate |
| Passed English assessment + video reviews | 1,950 | Communication bar enforced |
| Passed live technical interview | 600 | Dual-evaluator agreement required |
| Added to active Marketplace | 303 | Top ~0.12% - ready for client shortlist |
2.
The 4 filters
What each stage actually does
Every stage is intentionally designed to catch a different type of misalignment. Together, they form a real-time, layered defence against bad hires – not a checklist.
AI-assisted CV & minimum fit screening
AI-powered filter
Every application runs through our AI screening layer, which scores CVs and minimum fit answers against the specific role brief. Candidates are ranked into multiple segments. Only top ranked candidates proceed.
73%of applications are removed here
DAY 1
Timed technical assessment
Proctored assessment platform
Time-pressured, proctored assessments calibrated so knowledge must be internalised, not looked up. 42% who attempt it fail. Every flag – tab-switching, paste anomalies, camera and timing irregularities – is manually reviewed before a candidate advances.
~42%of applications are removed here
DAY 2
English language + video review
Structured call + async video
A structured recruiter call validates verbal answers to ensure they are consistent with CV, minimum fit and role expectations. Paired with an async video reviewed by a second assessor. Candidates who cannot communicate clearly in English do not progress, regardless of technical ability.
2independent reviewers vaidate at this stage
DAY 3
Live technical interview + independent audit
Live interview platform
One-to-one interview with a subject-matter specialist, including live coding. A second independent evaluator then audits the recording and interviewer notes. A candidate only reaches the client when two separate assessors agree.
2independent sign-offs required to proceed
DAY 4
3.
Anti-cheating
Authenticity by design
Candidate authenticity is not a trust exercise. Three layers protect every placement:
01
Proctored assessment platform
Behavioural detection during technical assessments. All flags reviewed manually, never auto-waved.
02
Live interview monitoring
Tab-switching and session anomalies flagged in real time during live technical interviews.
03
Independent audit layer
A second evaluator reviews every recording and interviewer notes before any profile is submitted.
4.
Calibration
Quality starts before sourcing does
The single biggest predictor of a successful hire is not the candidate — it is the quality of the brief. We operate a 7-step calibration protocol that’s mandatory and non-negotiable on every new role we take on.
Standardised brief template
Every role uses the same intake format. Skills fully confirmed right down to the last detail — no assumptions whatsoever.
Intake call with tech support
Must-haves vs. nice-to-haves, seniority, AI depth, architecture ownership, and communication bar – all discussed live, not via email.
Day 2: Point of contact introduced by day 2
Talent/Delivery Owner is assigned and introduced to the client. No POC, no feedback loop.
3-day calibration with real profiles
A working session with live profiles and a structured question set. Market reality is communicated upfront to set the right expectations.
Feedback translated into system changes
Client feedback is incorporated directly into JD, minimum fit, screening questions, technical assessments and interview rubrics.
Day 5: Internal quality check
Pipeline alignment, rejection patterns and screening depth are reviewed. Problems get fixed on day 5, not day 10.
Day 10: SLA submission
Our commitment to clients. Everything above exists to deliver it with quality, not just speed.
26 months
Average Engineer tenure
10 days
Average time-to-hire
50% savings
vs. local hires and contractors
We do it right
or we don’t do it at all
Our ‘pipeline pause’ policy ensures we get it right every single time.
If, for any reason, the brief template is skipped, the intake call didn’t happen, the POC isn’t in place, or the 3-day calibration wasn’t announced, we pause sourcing entirely. This is a control mechanism, not a formality. We are fully committed to quality – and we mean it.
We’d rather send you 3 top Engineers who are fully vetted and ready to go than a shortlist to filter.
The Smart Working model guarantees you speed and quality
Keep your roadmap on track.
Get exactly the right talent – on time, every time.
