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Whilst most contractors would probably like to work direct for their clients rather than through an agency, the fact remains that even in spite of Contract Spy’s success in giving contractors another viable option, many of you reading will still be contracting via an agency. So is it ever possible to negotiate out of an agency contract, leaving you free to contract direct with the client? Contract Spy believes this is possible, as...
One of the most surprising aspects of the latest REC/KPMG Jobs survey* is that the reported rise in temporary roles has been the strongest for over 23 years. Taken at face value this would seem to be great news for Contractors, suggesting that there is a strongly rising demand for their services. But the report also clearly tracks a significant fall off in candidate availability, which could well indicate that the uncertainties in the...
In this article we look at one of the lesser publicised impacts of the “Off payroll” working rules from April 2021. Historically, many large organisations have shied away from taking on contractors direct, preferring to interpose an agency into the equation, in order to distance themselves from potential tax claims from HMRC claiming that contractors were “disguised employees”. We know of many instances where a...
As most contractors will now be aware, smaller companies (as defined by the Companies Acts) will not have the responsibility of determining the IR35 status of contractors they hire after the April 2021 reforms to IR35. This means that contractors engaged with small companies will continue to be responsible for determining their own IR35 status as now, so Contract Spy believes that finding contracts with these companies will be more highly...
As part of Contract Intelligence’s efforts to assist members during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we have launched a beta service gathering together contract opportunities that are advertised as “Remote” or “Home based”, so that our members can take advantage of these contracts if they so choose. Remote Spy beta will be published initially 4 days a week, in the form of a digest of links to Remote IT Contract...
In our last update we discussed the possibility that Contractors who are Directors of their own limited company could take advantage of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This has now been clarified by the government. Salaried individuals who are Directors of their own personal service company are eligible for the scheme as long as they are properly furloughed and do not undertake any revenue generating function during their period...
In the current, very fluid situation we thought it would be useful to summarise what help may exist for contractors and contracting companies during the current Covid-19 crisis.   Help available to Contractor Companies   There is a three month postponement of VAT payments, between 20th March and 30th June 2020. This is automatic, ie it doesn’t have to be claimed for, but it is our understanding that Vat returns...
As most contractors will now be aware, smaller companies (as defined by the Companies Acts) will not have the responsibility of determining the IR35 status of contractors they hire after the April 2020 reforms to IR35. This means that contractors engaged with small companies will continue to be responsible for determining their own IR35 status as now, so Contract Spy believes that finding contracts with these companies will be more highly...
We are thrilled to announce that Contract Spy has been selected as one of the Finalists in the Contracting Awards 2019 in the Best Contractor Innovation Category. The awards, which will be decided in November 2019, will be judged by a panel of industry experts which includes Julia Kermode, the Chief Executive of the Freelancer and Contractor Services Association. Contract Spy provides an innovative service that enables its members to...
Whilst most contractors would probably like to work direct for their clients rather than through an agency, the fact remains that even in spite of Contract Spy’s success in giving contractors another viable option, most of you reading will still be contracting via an agency. So is it ever possible to negotiate out of an agency contract, leaving you free to contract direct with the client? Contract Spy believes this is possible, as...
  Twenty or so years ago, finding a contract was a much more predictable affair. You would likely have found your next contract via an ad on Jobserve, placed by a large recruitment agency, for an end client who would typically be a large company in financial services, or maybe a large energy or oil company or public body. Fast forward to 2019 and the picture is a much more mixed one. Analysis of all 3420 directly advertised...
At Contract Spy we have been aware for some time that many direct contractors and happy to sign up to whatever contract their direct client puts in front of them, however this could be a big mistake and have significant repercussions on your status under IR35. Signing up with your client is your big chance to demonstrate, both to HMRC and to your client, that you are “in business on your own account” a strong pointer away from...