The latest news affecting umbrella companies in the UK. Featuring HMRC, the Agency Workers Directive, the 2003 Agency Regulations, and IR35.
The festive season can be a quiet time for many umbrella company contractors; companies close down for a long break, and in the case of IT contractors, most of the major banks have told them to take a mandatory two-week break.
Long festive break? It’s the ideal time to rehash your CV! » Read the full story
Contractors are no doubt aware that the government recently changed the rules on the amount of money people can put aside in a pension scheme and still benefit from tax relief. It used to be £225,000, but earlier this year chancellor Osborne reduced that to a mere £50,000 per year.
How much can contractors put in their pension fund this year? » Read the full story
Umbrella company contractors with international skills could find themselves in demand after Vince Cable said people with such skills were in short supply.
Umbrella company contractors with international skills could be in demand » Read the full story
The Forum of Private Business is warning companies that they could alienate their workers, including umbrella contractors, if they scrap this year’s office Christmas party.
Are scrooge employers alienating their staff this Christmas? » Read the full story
Umbrella company contractors who receive tax credits or other financial assistance may be interested to learn that HMRC recently signed a deal with Experian to help it catch people who fraudulently claim tax credits and other benefits.
HMRC signs deal with Experian to catch tax credit fraudsters » Read the full story
Never mind the year of the dragon, 2012 will be the year of the cloud for IT contractors.
Umbrella company contractors should prepare for the year of the Cloud » Read the full story
Umbrella company contractors might be interested to learn that despite the continuing economic turmoil at home and abroad this year, experts predict that more than 470,000 new businesses will have been created before the end of 2011.
Nearly half a million new UK businesses launched in 2011 » Read the full story
Interim managers are back in demand according to the latest quarterly survey from the IMA.
Demand for interim managers increases by 22% in third quarter » Read the full story
The latest JobsOutlook from the REC contained some seasonal cheer for umbrella company contractors.
Outlook for 2012 looks promising for umbrella company contractors » Read the full story
Umbrella contractors working in the public sector have had a roller coaster year so far and they will probably be relieved to learn that demand for IT contractors in the sector rose sharply in September.
Public sector regains confidence in IT contractors » Read the full story
IT umbrella company contractors may be interested to learn that computing could become the new Latin unless the UK education system places more emphasis on teaching IT skills.
IT must not become a dead subject like Latin » Read the full story
Despite all the publicity surrounding Project Merlin, umbrella company contractors might be surprised to learn that a large proportion of businesses in the UK are unaware of its existence.
Well over 50% of UK firms do not know about Project Merlin » Read the full story
A new survey by international office space supplier, Regus, suggests that the UK’s SMEs are turning to contractors to help them through the uncertain economic times.
Are SMEs relying more and more on umbrella company contractors? » Read the full story
Umbrella company contractors were probably relieved to hear Vince Cable announce that the government intends to review the administrative effects of AWR within the next 18 months.
Government confirms AWR review within 18 months » Read the full story
A survey by Intuit suggests that a lot of UK entrepreneurs do not have the financial expertise to enable them to get the best out of their enterprise.
UK entrepreneurs need expert financial guidance » Read the full story
Contractors working through an umbrella company may be interested to learn that small firms have been given an extra year to comply with pensions auto-enrolment.
Pensions auto-enrolment delayed for UK’s smallest firms » Read the full story
