037 Why We Should Abolish Umbrella Preferred Supplier Lists

Temporary workers and contractors will often be required to be paid via an umbrella company and often recruitment agencies operate a preferred supplier list (PSL) of umbrella companies that their worker can choose from.  In this episode, IWORK’s founder, Julia Kermode, discusses why she thinks umbrella PSLs should be abolished.  She has proposed this as […]

Important Holiday Pay Development

The Court of Appeal has ruled that a worker can only lose the right to take paid leave within the holiday year when: The employer can show it specifically and transparently gave the worker the opportunity to take paid annual leave; The employer encouraged the worker to take paid annual leave; The employer informed the […]

Time To Get Rid Of Umbrella Preferred Supplier Lists?

In the wake of recent cyber-attacks, I was asked by a journalist last week what I would recommend to contractors who are considering changing their umbrella, so I found myself thinking about this properly for the first time in ages.  Whereas previously my answer would have been to look for accreditation, it is clear to […]

HMRC Warns Some Umbrellas Are Actually Tax Avoidance Schemes

According to an announcement issued by HMRC, some umbrellas are non-compliant and operate tax avoidance schemes; workers engaged by such firms risk huge future tax bills (e.g. the Loan Charge), whilst recruitment businesses engaging such umbrellas risk reputational as well as financial damage. According to HMRC, these schemes involve untaxed payments being made to workers […]

Working Through An Umbrella Company? – 10 key phrases to understand

If you are new to umbrella working, you may be hearing lots of new words or phrases for the first time and not know what they mean.  Here, Meredith McCammond from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) explains some of the terminology used and provides you with a few practical tips on the way, […]

Crawford Temple from Professional Passport Discusses Holiday Pay Issues

Earlier this year allegations surfaced that some umbrella firms are wrongly withholding holiday pay from contractors.  The story was highlighted by BBC Radio 4’s Moneybox programme and its impact was felt throughout the entire industry as all umbrellas came under suspicion for duping contractors out of money due to them. Crawford Temple is CEO of […]

030 Should umbrellas be banned? We discuss the TUC’s recent proposal.

The TUC recently proposed that umbrella companies should be banned and published an accompanying report detailing their research and analysis of the umbrella sector.  Today we’re chatting with Matthew Creagh, TUC policy officer, about what led to their position and proposed ban. Join us to find out more about: What led to the TUC’s position that […]

005: What is an “umbrella” and how do I know it is compliant?

Many recruitment agencies require their temporary and contract workers to be paid via an umbrella firm, but what actually is “umbrella”?  We talk to Rob Crossland who founded one of the UK’s first ever umbrella companies, which continues to be one of the largest and most successful umbrellas in the UK today.  Rob used to […]

I’m an agency/umbrella worker. What is my right to a holiday?

Many people think that being a temp who works for a recruitment agency is precarious and that you don’t get any benefits. But your rights as an agency or umbrella worker might actually be much better than you thought.   Did you know that as an agency or umbrella worker you are entitled to 5.6 weeks […]