ARC warns government not to reduce HMRC budget further
Union officials have warned that cuts to HMRC’s budget will lead to an increase in tax evasion and widen the gap between the revenue recovered and the amount actually due.
Did bad weather affect umbrella company contractors?
The freezing December weather caused 38% of small businesses to close and a further 41% to operate without their full complement of staff. The cost to the small business sector was in the region of £2.1bn.
There are more female interims now than ever before
The number of women taking on interim assignments, some through umbrella companies, has risen to an all time high, according to the latest market audit from the IMA.
Do employees have too many rights?
The Institute of Employment Rights is concerned about the government’s proposed “employer’s charter”, currently under consideration.
Mixed picture for umbrella company contractors in financial services
December saw a decline of 21% in the number of job offers confirmed in the City, according to Powerchex, the pre-employment screening firm.
Opportunities for contractors continue to rise
Umbrella company contractors will be pleased to learn that the number of vacancies for temporary staff continued to increase last month.
Flexible working lowers stress levels
Dr Ken Beaumont from Workforce Logistics has confirmed what umbrella company contractors have long known; flexible working lowers stress levels!
Local councils might outsource to IT umbrella contractors
2011 could be a busy year for the UK’s small business technology sector as councils struggle to cope with the public sector spending cuts.
Would a fuel duty stabiliser help umbrella company contractors?
In its election manifesto, the Conservative party promised to implement a fuel duty stabiliser and the FSB is urging them put it in place as soon as possible.
Will we see call centres moving back to the UK this year?
IT contractors will no doubt be interested to learn some of the predictions that have been made for the industry in 2011.
IT contractors could benefit if SMEs outsource
Advice website Smarta.com has predicted that small businesses could increasingly outsource some of their workloads this year and this could benefit umbrella company contractors.
Government plans new initiatives to help new enterprises
The government is keen to see small businesses grow and to help this happen it has launched some new initiatives. It has also been announced that the New Enterprise Allowance scheme is to be extended in the hope of creating up to 40,000 new companies by 2013.
