The latest news affecting umbrella companies in the UK. Featuring HMRC, the Agency Workers Directive, the 2003 Agency Regulations, and IR35.
The National Audit Office is to investigate the way tax inspectors from HMRC reach settlements with multinational companies after Vodafone’s £1.2 billion settlement caused uproar.
Should large companies pay their full tax liability? » Read the full story
Umbrella company IT contractors have entered 2011 with increased confidence, according to the most recent IT Employee Confidence Index.
Confidence abounds amongst IT contractors » Read the full story
The CBI has warned that financial services companies in the UK could cut around 15,000 jobs over the next three months as the focus sharpens on lowering costs.
45,000 job losses in financial institutions predicts CBI » Read the full story
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.
ARC warns government not to reduce HMRC budget further » Read the full story
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.
Did bad weather affect umbrella company contractors? » Read the full story
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.
There are more female interims now than ever before » Read the full story
The Institute of Employment Rights is concerned about the government’s proposed “employer’s charter”, currently under consideration.
Do employees have too many rights? » Read the full story
December saw a decline of 21% in the number of job offers confirmed in the City, according to Powerchex, the pre-employment screening firm.
Mixed picture for umbrella company contractors in financial services » Read the full story
Umbrella company contractors will be pleased to learn that the number of vacancies for temporary staff continued to increase last month.
Opportunities for contractors continue to rise » Read the full story
Dr Ken Beaumont from Workforce Logistics has confirmed what umbrella company contractors have long known; flexible working lowers stress levels!
Flexible working lowers stress levels » Read the full story
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.
Local councils might outsource to IT umbrella contractors » Read the full story
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.
Would a fuel duty stabiliser help umbrella company contractors? » Read the full story
IT contractors will no doubt be interested to learn some of the predictions that have been made for the industry in 2011.
Will we see call centres moving back to the UK this year? » Read the full story
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.
IT contractors could benefit if SMEs outsource » Read the full story
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.
Government plans new initiatives to help new enterprises » Read the full story
Amendments to the National Minimum Wage Regulations came into force on the 1st of January this year and umbrella company contractors should be aware of their implications.
HMRC crack down on unscrupulous umbrella companies » Read the full story
