The latest news affecting umbrella companies in the UK. Featuring HMRC, the Agency Workers Directive, the 2003 Agency Regulations, and IR35.
The Cranfield School of Management thinks the implementation of AWR will cause small business owners to think more carefully about using workers from umbrella companies.
Will umbrella companies suffer from AWR? » Read the full story
Umbrella contractors may be interested to learn that the September Job Index from Reed showed falling job demand in a range of sectors. The index fell back one index point compared to the previous month, although demand is still up 16% year-on-year.
Demand drops for contractors with banking experience » Read the full story
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said recently that the government will be unable to cut taxes this parliament due to the global economic crisis.
Umbrella contractors will not get tax cuts for Christmas » Read the full story
The Bank of England says that the quantitative easing programme that was rolled out after the credit crunch boosted the UK’s economy by 2%, adding weight to demands for the Bank to print more money.
Would a second round of QE benefit the UK economy? » Read the full story
Vince Cable, the business secretary, says that the suggestion to set up a new government funded bank to lend to SMEs, would not be effective in tackling the crisis those businesses face when trying to obtain credit.
Small businesses urgently need to access credit » Read the full story
While a large number of the UK’s young people remain unemployed, there is a shortage of junior talent with experience in media and creatives, according to the chairman of Aspire Global Network.
Despite the slow growth in the UK economy, contractors such as those working through umbrella companies are doing surprisingly well, according to a new survey by the PCG.
Contractors are doing well despite the slow growing economy » Read the full story
Umbrella contractors might be interested to learn that the REC’s legal helpline has been swamped with calls from members querying the implementation of the Agency Workers Regulations, which come into force today (Saturday, October 1st).
REC phone lines have been swamped with AWR calls » Read the full story
The FSB has called on politicians to stop playing politics when it comes to the economic recovery and formulate a realistic plan to help small businesses grow.
Reversing VAT rate would damage recovery says FSB » Read the full story
People Per Hour recently surveyed 9,000 businesses about their usage of freelancers and discovered that the number of businesses using flexible workers has risen by 68% in the last 12 months.
How many umbrella company contractors are there in the UK workforce? » Read the full story
Umbrella company contractors may be interested to learn that HMRC only yielded slightly over £200,000 last year from their enquiries into the IR35 status of self-employed workers.
IR35 enquiries don’t seem to be bringing in the cash » Read the full story
Red tape is putting a lot of organisations off investing in the UK, according to recent research from BDO.
Overseas investors deterred by excessive UK bureaucracy » Read the full story
The private sector is now using nearly as many interims as it did before the recession, according to the Interim Management Association.
Umbrella company contractor uses increases » Read the full story
Umbrella contractors might like to know that Danny Alexander, the chief secretary to the Treasury, has said HMRC is to strengthen the size of its team tackling tax avoidance and evasion by adding more than 2,000 additional tax inspectors this autumn.
HMRC to add 2,250 anti-avoidance tax inspectors » Read the full story
After last week’s disappointing jobs statistics showed that youth unemployment is still increasing, the REC has called on the business community to become involved in proactive initiatives such as the Youth Employment Charter.
REC says something must be done about youth unemployment » Read the full story
Results from the latest Manpower Employment Outlook survey suggest that there is a North/South divide among UK employers when it comes to hiring confidence.
Do freelancers think a North/South divide really exists? » Read the full story
