The latest news affecting umbrella companies in the UK. Featuring HMRC, the Agency Workers Directive, the 2003 Agency Regulations, and IR35.
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.
It’s bums on seats at most umbrella companies » Read the full story
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.
Are banks really lending to small companies again? » Read the full story
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 contractor job market picks up » Read the full story
Despite the recession, many freelance professionals and IT contractors want to work abroad to advance their career, according to Hydrogen, the international staffing firm.
IT contractors eager to head overseas for work » Read the full story
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.
The self employed umbrella company » Read the full story
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.
One in five PAYE coding notices could be wrong » Read the full story
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.
GDP growth is good news for umbrella companies » Read the full story
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.
REC gets ready for the Agency Workers Directive » Read the full story
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.
Has unemployment really peaked? » Read the full story
The REC has had to postpone an upcoming workshop about improved recruitment practices in the public sector due to the flight disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajökull.
Contractors and recruiters affected by travel disruption » Read the full story
The CIPD has predicted that half a million jobs could be cut in the public sector over the next 5 years. This could be potentially damaging to the umbrella company industry, since many workers reside in this sector.
Public sector cuts could impact umbrella companies » Read the full story
According to new research by reThink Recruitment, pay rates for IT contractors in the north of the country are increasing more than three times quicker than the rates for equivalent contractors in the south.
IT contractor pay rates increase in the north » Read the full story
Limited company contractors, recruitment agencies and umbrella companies could be in line for a series of new PAYE penalties, which have been introduced by HMRC from the start of this tax year.
New PAYE fines introduced by HMRC » Read the full story
According to recent research by BACS, the payment of invoices to UK SMEs, including limited company contractors and umbrella companies, is being delayed by an average of more than 40 days longer than the original invoice date.
Late payment trends could affect umbrella companies » Read the full story
The Liberal Democrats released their election manifesto yesterday and pledged among other things to crackdown on tax avoidance. They also want to scrap income tax below a threshold of £10,000, costing the UK exchequer around £16.7bn a year.
Lib Dems pledge to target tax avoidance » Read the full story
According to the Conservatives, the proposed 1% increase in National Insurance Contributions will result in the loss of nearly 60,000 jobs from the UK economy. This figure was cited in their election manifesto, published on Tuesday.
Further doubt over Tory National Insurance claims » Read the full story
