The APSCo Codes of Conduct were designed to promote excellence and quality assurance throughout the recruitment market and have been extended to encompass third party intermediaries such as umbrella companies.
A recent communication from APSCo indicated that they are very aware of the issues that surround the industry and that they are determined to maintain best practise amongst their members.
Since the initial launch of All Umbrella Companies Are Equal, the website aimed at providing a level playing field within the contracting industry, the Best Practice Charter has attracted significant attention despite initial skepticism. Although several companies have previously tried to engage with the industry and failed, the concept seems to have captured the imagination of many of the industry’s major players, with 26 companies adopting the ‘Straight Talking’ logo.
HMRC Guidance: Tax on income and gains outside the UK
Are you working as a contractor in the UK but have your permanent home in another country? Then you may have to decide how you want to pay tax on the income and 'gains' (such as taxable profits from the sale of property or investments) that you earn abroad.
HMRC tell us that there are two choices available:
Umbrella company contractors will be delighted to hear that after months of speculation, the latest Office for National Statistics report has revealed that the UK will indeed avoid a triple-dip recession.
The ONS report found that Britain’s economy has in fact grown by 0.3% in Q1 of 2013, which is a much better figure than experts were predicting.
Umbrella company contractors might be interested to hear that a new survey has shown that engineering contractors are optimistic with regards to finding new job opportunities within the automotive sector.
The research, carried out by Giant Group, has found that contractors working in the engineering industry predict that they will find further automotive opportunities over the next 12 months.
Umbrella company contractors will be interested to learn that the latest APSCo report has shown that the contracting market has continued to grow from strength to strength.
The recent Association of Professional Staffing Companies report found that engineering contractors in particular might have seen a rise in demand, as continued infrastructure investment has created more opportunities.
Thanks to ceaseless campaigning from a group of contractors affected by Section 58 of the 2008 Finance Bill an amendment to the 2013 Finance Bill has been tabled which will remove the retrospective nature of the original legislation.
The proposal states that the phrase “always having had effect” should be removed and be replaced with “having effect from 12 March 2008” (view complete document).
The latest REC JobsOutlook survey has revealed great news for contractors, as results have found that the majority of UK employers are still planning on hiring, despite speculation of another recession.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s monthly JobsOutlook surveyed 600 employers across the country, from the public, private and non-profit sectors, questioning them about their hiring intentions.
HMR&C do not give money away... In fact they are known for quite the reverse so why do some umbrella companies advise their employees that they can claim a daily amount for subsistence without the need for receipts or, in some cases, expenditure.
All Umbrella Companies Are Equal are pleased to announce the sign up of another 3 companies to the 'best practice charter'. This week sees the addition of Dynamic Umbrella, Backoffice UK and GoUmbrella.
It seems as though the constant pressure from campaign group ‘No to Retro Tax’ may have paid off as 18 MP’s from 5 political parties call on the Government to repeal the retrospective element of section 58 of the 2008 Finance Act.
A new survey has revealed that the demand for interim managers is certainly on the rise, with results showing that there has been an increase in the number of assignments started, in progress and completed.
The Ipsos MORI survey, which was commissioned by the Interim Management Association (IMA), found that during Q4 of 2012, the number of interim management assignments rose by 18% compared to the previous quarter, from 324 to 382. The assignments already in progress increased quite significantly, going from 1,307 to 1,433.
IT contractors will be interested to learn that according to industry experts, the industry is looking more and more to flexible IT professionals than ever before.
The original article by Recruiter magazine, interviewed several IT industry specialists, all of whom seemed unanimous with the fact that keeping permanent employment models and contracting work separate, can be extremely counter productive.
The latest Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs has revealed that umbrella company and freelance placements have continued to grow within the region.
The report found that both the contracting and permanent sectors have seen continued growth during March, with recruiters based in Edinburgh seeing the strongest rise in contractor billings.
According to the Report on Jobs, temp staff billings increased for the ninth consecutive month and hourly pay rates rose moderately.
FPS, EAS, EPS... what does it all mean, what button should I push now and why are they on strike today? ContractorUmbrella look at the impact that the introduction of RTI is having on businesses in the UK.
According to a new report, the public sector has seen the number of its engineering contractors almost double for the first time in two years.
The latest research, carried out by Giant, surveyed a number of engineering contractors across the UK, which revealed positive news for the industry.
Of those engineering contractors surveyed, 39% said that they were working in the public sector between October 2012 and March 2013. This is an 18% increase compared to a similar survey carried out two years previously.
This week sees the launch of a new industry website which has been designed to create a level playing field for umbrella companies who want to work under a common charter and for a common purpose.
A recent report carried out by Barclay’s, has revealed great news for contractors working in the IT sector, as results showed that more UK technology firms plan to create new job opportunities.
The Barclay’s Job Creation Survey found that of the 700 UK businesses surveyed, the technology sector was the area that stood out the most, as it was this sector that had the highest percentages in terms of hiring and new job creations.
A recent REC report has shown that umbrella company contractor, freelancer and permanent placements have all grown, although at a slightly slower rate.
The latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s Report on Jobs, has found that although jobs growth has slowed, umbrella service contractor and freelancer pay rates have in fact increased at moderate rates during March.
A recent study has shown that although many IT professionals are keen to pursue a career in cloud computing, a large number are not sure on how to gain the skills in order to do so.
The latest research from online IT recruitment company, CWJobs.co.uk, found that of those surveyed, almost three quarters (71%) did not know how to go about acquiring these skills, although 61% indicated that they have every intention of adding cloud computing to their list of specialist skills.
The 2013 Scottish Technology Industry Survey has revealed that many of the region’s technology businesses are having to look for workers outside of Scotland due to an IT skills shortage.
The report, which was commissioned by ScotlandIS and technology specialist 9-20 recruitment, surveyed Scottish technology businesses, and found that 70% of respondents were looking for more staff. This a 10% increase compares to last year.
As reported by ContractorUK on Apr 12, 2013.
A limited company whose dividends were ruled to be emoluments chargeable to PAYE and NICs has folded its appeal against the ruling, paving the way for the taxman to approach other firms who use a similar ‘dividends-based reward’ strategy.
The recent Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs, has revealed excellent news for umbrella company contractors, with it’s latest figures showing that contractor vacancies have continued to grow for 40 successive months, while permanent placements have fallen.
According to the Bank of Scotland findings, the only region not to see a growth in temp billings was Glasgow.
Permanent placements fell during February, while temp staff billings continued to grow within this month, marking an impressive 40 successive month of growth.
A recent study by the IT and Technical job site, Techno Jobs, has highlighted the fact that although demand for jobs in this sector are on the rise, the number of skilled IT workers are not…
According to Techno Job’s findings, it is without a doubt an extremely good time to become an IT contractor, as demand for these skilled workers are high.
The latest economic survey carried out by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), has shown that the UK will avoid a triple-dip recession.
Umbrella company contractors will be interested to hear that earlier reports in the year, such as the Business Confidence Index from ICAEW/Grant Thornton, have predicted similar outcomes, showing that despite previous concerns, the UK is set to avoid falling into a third recession.
According to the BCC’s quarterly economic survey, the economy will continue to improve, although growth may be subdued.
The latest REC survey has revealed that despite UK businesses continuing to face a challenging economic climate, many are still planning to increase their use of umbrella company contractors and other temporary workers.
The recent Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s (REC) JobsOutLook report, surveyed 600 employers across the UK and questioned a range of respondents from different industries across the public, private and non-profit sector. The survey focuses on asking these employers about their hiring intentions over the next quarter and the next year.
New research has shown that Europe’s growing digital economy has the potential to create as many as 1.5 million new job opportunities within the next few years.
Umbrella company contractors working within the sector will be interested to hear that the study, which was carried out by Vlerick Business School in Belgium on behalf of IAB Europe, shows that the EU online sector already employs 3.4 million people, but experts have said there is still more room for growth and job creation.
Claiming Expenses through an Umbrella Company
We are asked time and time again about contractor expenses - what can you claim, what can't you claim? Admittedly it appears to be a confusing subject, however to assist our contractors we have put together a quick snapshot of the common expenses contractors' could claim.
What common expenses could you claim?
New study predicts 34,000 new oil & gas jobs could be created over next two years
A recent report has suggested that thousands of new jobs could be created within UK oil and gas firms over the next two years, however, many companies are concerned that skill shortages could affect this development.
The ‘Oil & Gas: Rising Fortunes 2’ study, carried out by Lloyds Banking Group, revealed that just over three-quarters (77%) of all UK oil and gas companies are planning growth in 2013-14.
Change to IR35 legislation to cover office-holders from 6 April 2013.
IR35 tax legislation is being extended to office-holders for the 2013-14 tax year onwards. This change applies where an individual supplies their services via an intermediary to perform the duties of an office from and including 6 April 2013. The IR35 rules for National Insurance contributions already apply in these circumstances and will continue to do so. Further details can be found in frequently asked questions under 'Offices and office-holders eg directors' questions 3 and 4.
