Contractors can learn the ultimate IR35 strategies from a new white paper
Contractors can download a free white paper published by ContractorCalculator and learn the ultimate IR35 strategies. “In fifteen years IR35 has not changed so now more than ever contractors need to be on their guard against increased compliance activity by HMRC,” warns ContractorCalculator CEO Dave Chaplin. “We’ve created this white paper so that contractors can learn everything they need to know about IR35 including the ultimate strategies they can use to avoid the legislation.” More...
Contractor skills shortages and falling candidate availability improve prospects
Contractor skills shortages alongside ongoing falls in candidate availability are keeping contractor prospects buoyant. October 2014’s Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)/KPMG Report on Jobs also shows that the growth in contractor demand has been sustained for 18 successive months and shows no sign of slowing. “The good news about our jobs market continues,” notes REC chief executive Kevin Green. “The number of vacancies is continuing to rise, with businesses in all sectors of the economy looking to hire more staff.” More...
Financial and IT contractors continue to benefit from financial sector recovery
Financial and IT contractors continued to benefit from the improving fortunes of the UK’s financial sector, shows the latest Morgan McKinley London Employment Monitor. Month-on-month, there were 6% fewer roles available in October 2014 compared to September 2014. But year-on-year the figure is up 6%. “October has been another positive month with employment in the City continuing to remain strong,” highlights Morgan McKinley Financial Services Operations Director Hakan Enver. “The positive trend in hiring across the City paints a rosy picture as the capital carries on strengthening.” More...
Self-employed contractor numbers fall by 88k, but remain up 6.5% year-on-year
The number of self-employed contractors and freelancers was 4.520m in the quarter to end September 2014. This represents a fall of 88,000 when compared to the previous quarter. However, a year ago in September 2013 self-employed numbers were 4.241m, which represents an increase of 6.6% in self-employment numbers in the last 12 months. “The latest ONS figures show the number of people going into self-employment has risen 6.6% compared to this time last year and now a whopping 14.7% of the UK workforce is made up of independent professionals,” explains Chris Bryce, Chief Executive of IPSE. More...
Top ten tech recruiters that contractors can target for new contracts
Contractors seeking to target recruiters that offer contracts in the IT and telecoms space can use the Recruiter’s HOT 100 league table. Contractors who forge strong links with individual recruitment consultants via channels such as LinkedIn increase their chances of winning the best and most lucrative contracts. According to the Recruiter, there are 33 specialist agencies with IT/telecoms as their main area of business that contractors can target. More...
Contractor IR35 resource re-launches with new look and upgraded tools
Contractor IR35 resource IR35 Buddy has been re-launched to allow “for the delivery of information on complex tax legislation in a relaxed and easy to understand fashion”. In addition to a new site design, the website includes new tools. According to IR35 Buddy’s owner Big Cactus Media, the site now features new tools on “IR35 and IR35 investigations [giving] users of the site much more information on the legislation than ever before.” More...
IT contractors anticipating rate rises in the company year, shows new research
IT contractors “expect both earnings and opportunities to increase over the next 12 months”, says a report by Staffing Industry Analysts on new research by Giant Group. According to Giant, 96% of IT contractors predict that rates will increase and 98% forecast a greater number of contracts in the coming 12 months. Infrastructure security and cyber terrorism will be the hot skills in demand during 2015. More...
Big data contracts and jobs set to soar by 160% by 2020
Contractors with big data skills look set to experience a contract bonanza by the end of the decade. According to new research by the Tech Partnership and SAS UK, up to 56,000 new contracts and jobs could be created a year between now and 2020. Recruiters already claim that big data roles are tough to fill, which presents IT contractors with an opportunity to learn new skills with a long-term strategic demand. More...
Construction contractors experience ongoing growth in commercial property
Construction contractors are experiencing continuing contract growth with clients in the commercial property sector. The Savills Commercial Development Activity report for October 2014 shows that growth in the UK commercial property sector has seen unbroken growth for 26 consecutive months. Optimism on the part of contractor clients for future work has increased for 25 consecutive months. More...
Marketing and communications contractors should consider Asian opportunities
Marketing and communications contractors and interims have growing opportunities for contracts in Asia. According to a report by Sally Hooton on the Global Marketing Alliance, research by interim recruiter VMA Group highlights that: “Corporate expansion plans and a focus on staff retention are driving greater demand for niche communications professionals…across Asia.” Internal communications contractors are increasingly in demand as firms recognise the need to engage with workers improve retention. More...