Contractor group sees glass half full over IR35
It had been hoped that a Conservative government would scrap IR35 but it now appears that this may not be the case. A Tory spokesman said last week that this may not be a viable option.
HMRC urged to go easy on late paying SMEs
According to a new report published by Begbies Traynor, nearly 200,000 small businesses in this country are still struggling financially, even though the UK is now officially out of recession.
Impact of national insurance rise could be exaggerated
According to the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), the proposed hike in employer's national insurance contributions will have a relatively small impact on the permanent employment market in the UK.
It’s bums on seats at most umbrella companies
According to some reports, there are as many as 100,000 umbrella company workers who are predominately based in an office environment, and these are the very people who are set to benefit from a new group established by the REC.
Are banks really lending to small companies again?
According to recent reports in the financial media, Britain’s banks are now approving 80% of small business loan applications, which should come as good news to limited company contractors and sole traders.
IT contractor job market picks up
The market for outsourced IT services is set grow significantly over the coming years, and this should mean good news for small businesses, limited company contractors and umbrella company workers in the UK.
IT contractors eager to head overseas for work
Despite the recession, many freelance professionals and IT contractors want to work abroad to advance their career, according to Hydrogen, the international staffing firm.
The self employed umbrella company
In my world, the term "self employed umbrella company" is a tad paradoxical. After all, a traditional PAYE umbrella employs their workers and provides (or should provide) the various benefits commensurate with employment.
One in five PAYE coding notices could be wrong
According to data published by the Society of Professional Accountants, as many as 1 in 5 PAYE tax code notices issued by HMRC since the start of the year could be wrong.
GDP growth is good news for umbrella companies
Contractors, recruiters and umbrella companies across the country would have been pleased by the official growth rate figures, released yesterday. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 0.2% during the first quarter of 2010.
REC gets ready for the Agency Workers Directive
The REC's 'On The Road' tour has been set-up as part of an on-going plan by the REC to better educate it's members about the issues facing recruitment in this country, and how they can prepare themselves for the challenges that lie ahead.
Has unemployment really peaked?
The FSB recently conducted a survey of more than 1,400 of its members and found that 63% of small businesses, including recruitment agencies and umbrella companies, do not plan to increase their workforce over the coming 3 months.
