According to the latest research findings from FPS group, the majority of contractors working in the UK use resources such as umbrella service companies and recruitment agencies to find new projects and employers.
More than 7 out of 10 freelancers use at least one type of outside help when it comes to finding new employment opportunities. The survey found that around 42 per cent alone used recruitment agencies when it came to their current position, while three out of ten respondents said that their last job was found through a close contact such as a friend or family member.
However, many contractors are taking their time when it comes to lining up their next project. More than 80 per cent of those surveyed will wait until there’s but two months of less left on their contracts; 36 per cent wait until the project is in its last month, while 15 per cent of those will actually wait until the contract is over and they’re already out of work.
Some contractors were better prepared than others when it came to planning ahead. Freelancers between the ages of 60 and 65 showed the most forethought, according to the survey, with nearly half of them looking for their next role well ahead of the two month point.
FPS Group’s chief financial officer, Matt Huddleston, commented on the findings, remarking that contractors still use recruitment agencies and umbrella companies when it comes to looking for new positions, but too many freelancers are engaging in risky behaviour by leaving it to the last minute to secure their next role.
