What should the mood of Scottish umbrella company contractors be?
The economic recovery in Scotland faltered during the bad weather last December, according to Lloyds TSB’s Scotland Business Monitor.
Has the budget created stability for umbrella contractors?
The FSB claims the Chancellor missed a golden opportunity to boost the creation of jobs when he delivered his budget on Wednesday.
Freelancers need economic stability!
The government needs to concentrate on prioritising economic stability in this month’s budget, according to the Federation of Small Businesses. A call that is also likely to be endorsed by umbrella company contractors.
Employee sickness levels are on the rise
The latest ONS statistics show that levels of staff sickness absence have reverted to pre-recession levels. Before the economic crisis, 2.5% of respondents said they had taken a day off in the 7 days prior to the survey.
Economy is improving, will business confidence follow suit?
The latest ICAEW/Grant Thornton UK Business Confidence monitor shows that business confidence is weakening but the economy is slowly improving.
Private sector unable to absorb public sector job losses
Consumer confidence dipped last month, according to the most recent Expectations and Spending indices from the Nationwide. This could have a knock on effect on umbrella company contractors as businesses rein in spending temporarily.
Employers battle it out to attract top umbrella company contractors
Small businesses may need to re-think their rates if they want to attract highly-skilled talent, according to Badenoch & Clark.
REC joins OTS consultative committee
Umbrella company contractors will be interested to hear that the REC is joining the Office of Tax Simplification. REC officials will now join a number of other legal and tax experts on the small business consultative committee.
HMRC to use debt collectors to bring in overdue taxes
Umbrella company contractors and freelancers beware! HMRC may send debt collectors to your door if you owe taxes.
REC welcomes government plans to reform the tribunal system
The government has confirmed that it will reform the tribunal system in the UK, a decision that has been welcomed by the REC.
Mixed outlook for umbrella company contractors
Only 25% of temporary workers in London saw a decrease in the number of freelancers and umbrella company contractors in the companies they worked with last year.
45,000 job losses in financial institutions predicts CBI
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.
