As much as I'd love to tell you how good I am, I wouldn't expect that to be overly valuable. So here are some of the people I've worked with, saying it in their own words. Hiring managers first, then people I've placed.
Clients
Simon and I have worked together on well over a dozen searches by now. Nationwide coverage was important for my firm, and Simon's local knowledge impressed; not just the people, but salary nuances and regional practices.
Simon's diligence means he absolutely understands the brief; as a hiring manager, knowing that culture, the role, expectations, and the definition of success are well understood is half the battle. I have no hesitation in continuing to work with Simon in the future.
Working with Simon has never felt transactional. The conversations are always thoughtful, commercially focused and centred on the bigger picture, rather than simply filling a role.
What stands out most is his ability to understand people, team dynamics and culture alongside the technical requirements of a position. He brings genuine market insight, honest challenge and strong judgement, which makes him as much a trusted sounding board as a recruiter.
Over the past year, the hires and conversations we've had have played an important role in strengthening the team and positioning us well for the future. Simon's approach is calm, credible and highly professional, which gives real confidence when making important hiring decisions.
He takes the time to properly understand the business, the people and the long-term objective, and that comes through consistently in the quality of both the conversations and the outcomes.
Parmenion have been working closely with Simon and Clearcut Consulting Ltd for some time now. We consider him a valued partner and always know that candidates will be capable, competent, well-screened and, most importantly, well briefed.
His input and judgement on people matter more widely and is always thoughtful and well considered. I highly recommend him.
Candidates
First reached out to Simon after seeing some content he'd put out, with a "there might be something here" instinct. That instinct was right, even if the first idea for a role didn't quite land. Instead of letting it drop, Simon kept the conversation going, and the role evolved into something that actually fit, both what I could bring and what the client needed.
Through the process he kept the momentum up and gave genuinely useful counsel and constant communication along the way, not just recruiter noise. End result: over the line and into a newly created role I'm excited about.
If you're working with Simon, you're in good hands! He plays the long game and gets it right.
I had the pleasure of working with Simon during a recent search process. From our first conversation, he demonstrated an excellent understanding of both the wealth management sector and the specific requirements of senior leadership roles.
What particularly stood out was the time he invested in understanding my background, motivations and long-term career aspirations, ensuring that the opportunity was genuinely aligned rather than simply another role to consider.
Throughout the process, communication was proactive, transparent and professional, with valuable insight provided at every stage. I would highly recommend Simon to both candidates and firms seeking a thoughtful, well-connected and highly effective search partner.
Simon just gets it! From the minute we first spoke to this day, his understanding of what I was looking for and what really makes a high performing business tick is second to none. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone without hesitation. You'll be lucky to have found him!