Umbrella Companies | Latest News

Are we set to see more female umbrella company contractors?

By UCHQ Team March 11, 2011

Female IT workers thinking about becoming contractors have some food for thought after the MD of Women in Technology, Maggie Berry, commented that the sector was still very much male dominated.

Will Enterprise Zones work now when they failed before?

By UCHQ Team March 10, 2011

During the Conservative Party’s spring conference last weekend, George Osborne said the government planned to reintroduce Enterprise Zones.

Do contractors use ISAs to save tax?

By UCHQ Team March 9, 2011

Contractors may want to take the advice of the Nationwide and use their ISA tax relief allowance for this year before it runs out.

Do HMRC provide umbrella companies with a poor service?

By UCHQ Team March 8, 2011

It will probably come as no surprise to umbrella company contractors to learn that complaints against HMRC have increased dramatically over the last couple of years.

47 tax reliefs should be axed says the OTS

By UCHQ Team March 7, 2011

The OTS has now identified 47 out of 1,042 tax reliefs that could be abolished and a further 17 that could be simplified. It’s long awaited report was published last Thursday.

Freelancers need economic stability!

By UCHQ Team March 5, 2011

The government needs to concentrate on prioritising economic stability in this month’s budget, according to the Federation of Small Businesses. A call that is also likely to be endorsed by umbrella company contractors.

Opportunities galore for IT contractors

By UCHQ Team March 4, 2011

IT umbrella company contractors should have been amongst those to benefit from an upsurge in demand for their services in recent months.

Do umbrella company contractors need language lessons?

By UCHQ Team March 3, 2011

Contractors who have been used to public sector working will need to learn private sector language if they become victims of the government spending cuts.

HMRC should rethink its Business Records Check programme

By UCHQ Team March 2, 2011

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland has claimed that HMRC’s proposals to check SME and umbrella company record keeping are flawed.

Nearly £24bn over 4 years to implement new employment laws

By UCHQ Team March 1, 2011

The next four years will see employers paying out an additional £23.87 billion due to new employment laws, according to the British Chambers of Commerce.

Do umbrella company contractors name God as a referee?

By UCHQ Team February 28, 2011

You may think God is on your side but he doesn’t give job references!

Employee sickness levels are on the rise

By UCHQ Team February 26, 2011

The latest ONS statistics show that levels of staff sickness absence have reverted to pre-recession levels. Before the economic crisis, 2.5% of respondents said they had taken a day off in the 7 days prior to the survey.