As Smart Computers celebrates 30 years in business, we catch up with Managing Director Will Rendell – our longest-standing team member, approaching three decades with the company.
‘I joined Smart in June 1998, just two years after the business began. Back then, we were purely focused on computer rentals, and it was going really well. Before that, I’d been working as a plumber – quite a different path! But I’d always had a passion for computers. Technology was my hobby long before it became my career, and I knew I wanted to make the leap.
From early on, I could see there was an opportunity to do more for our customers. With Tim’s support, we started expanding beyond computer and laptop rentals. The first big step was providing internet services directly to customers. We were constantly being asked for advice about third-party providers, and it made sense to bring that service in-house so we could offer something more reliable and responsive.
That became a bit of a pattern. Customers would come to us with challenges in other areas of their IT, and instead of sending them elsewhere, we’d look at how we could help. Gradually, we built a broader service offering – keeping everything under one roof and making life simpler for the businesses we worked with.
Over the years, the technology has changed massively. We’ve gone from dial-up connections and on-site fixes to cloud platforms, cybersecurity solutions, remote monitoring and proactive IT support. But our mindset has stayed the same: adapt, learn, and stay ahead so our customers don’t have to worry about their IT.
We also expanded beyond the local area. Today we support customers across the UK – from Scotland to the South Coast – delivering remote technical services wherever they’re based. That growth has been incredibly rewarding to be part of.
In 2006, after eight years with Smart, I became Technical Director. Even now, I enjoy the job as much as I did when I first started. No two days are ever the same. There’s a huge amount that goes on behind the scenes to keep our customers’ businesses running smoothly – often solving problems before they even know they exist. When customers tell us they couldn’t do their jobs without us, or that we’re the backbone of their business, that’s where the real job satisfaction comes from.
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built. We’ve got a loyal, talented team and long-standing customer relationships that mean a lot to us. And we never take any of it for granted. We’re always looking at what’s next and how we can improve.
I’ve always said, “I don’t go to work – I go to play.”
And after 30 years, that’s still true.
William Rendell
Managing Director
