Are umbrella companies affected by HMRC staff cuts?
Umbrella company contractors might be unsurprised to hear that the Commons Treasury select committee has been told that HMRC is nearly at breaking point due to recent staffing cuts.
umbrella company
Will the Pfizer shutdown affect umbrella company contractors?
Pfizer, the world’s largest drugmaker, announced last week that it intends to shut down its Research and Development facility in Sandwich within the next 2 years.
Don’t understand the Agency Workers Regulations? Time to get help
As implementation gets closer, a recent survey has discovered that 80% of freelancers, including those working through umbrella companies, do not know what the AWR is or whether it will affect them.
Countdown to stronger fines make it a good time to find a reputable umbrella company
Contractors might be interested to learn that HMRC is going to impose penalties of up to 200% on individuals found guilty of tax and capital gains evasion.
HMRC staff still receive high bonuses despite blunders
Despite various blunders by HMRC last year that affected umbrella company contractors, the department still spent nearly £800,000 more on bonus payments to staff than it paid out the previous year.
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.
IT contractors have many reasons for optimism
Confidence amongst IT contractors working in financial services has increased dramatically over the last year as banks carry on ploughing money into IT investment, new research shows.
Will NHS reforms benefit umbrella company contractors?
More than 75% of the top interim managers in the NHS believe the government’s efficiency savings will impact negatively on the delivery of frontline services, according to Interim Partners.
Confidence abounds amongst IT contractors
Umbrella company IT contractors have entered 2011 with increased confidence, according to the most recent IT Employee Confidence Index.
Did bad weather affect umbrella company contractors?
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.
Mixed picture for umbrella company contractors in financial services
December saw a decline of 21% in the number of job offers confirmed in the City, according to Powerchex, the pre-employment screening firm.
Flexible working lowers stress levels
Dr Ken Beaumont from Workforce Logistics has confirmed what umbrella company contractors have long known; flexible working lowers stress levels!
Local councils might outsource to IT umbrella contractors
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.
Would a fuel duty stabiliser help umbrella company contractors?
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.
IT contractors could benefit if SMEs outsource
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.
PM vows to create more opportunities for contractors
David Cameron has vowed that the government will focus on job creation in 2011.