Feb / 14
How re-mortgaging could save you money
In our lifetime, a mortgage is generally the biggest financial commitment anyone will make, so it’s important to understand how to get the best rate and ensure your repayments are cost-effective and manageable. By remortgaging at the right time, you can save money, as well as take advantage of benefits you may not have known
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Feb / 7
Time to Talk 2019: How contractors can get involved in the discussion
Around one in every four people will experience a mental health problem this year, but the chances are that people are so used to hearing random statistics that another one won’t mean very much. In reality, it means that whatever group of people you’re sat with right now, the chances are that one of them
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Jan / 29
AI, Blockchain and The 4th Industrial Revolution: What’s in store for contracting?
Tech experts are predicting that by 2020 the impact of new technologies, such as AI and blockchain, will be felt like never before. Although these so-called ‘disruptive technologies’ have been around for a few years now, their combined capabilities are beginning to be felt across all industries. In this article, Contracting Scout takes a look
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Jan / 22
10 predictions on the future of contracting
As the shape of the global workforce changes to reflect business evolution and lifestyle aspirations, the contracting world is set for change. From a number of studies, what’s clearly corroborated is that contracting has an increasingly fundamental role to play, both in facilitating economic growth and in giving people the freedom to prioritise what they
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Jan / 16
Should contractors include a right of substitution clause in their contracts?
‘Right of substitution’ is one of three primary concepts, along with ‘control’ and ‘mutuality of obligation’, which is used to determine a worker’s employment status. Recent controversy surrounding IR35 and the off-payroll reforms has seen these theoretical concepts scrutinised and put to the test in tax tribunals. In this article, Contracting Scout looks at the
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Jan / 8
Why limited company contractors should consider writing a confirmation of arrangements letter
For limited company contractors, the debate surrounding how their employment status is determined is a complicated area. The government’s recently published Good Work Plan seeks to address current issues within Britain’s independent labour market. In this report, the government acknowledges that their tax self-assessment tool is inadequate, while the surrounding legislation on employment status requires
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Jan / 2
What is mutuality of obligation and why do contractors need to know about it?
Mutuality of Obligation or ‘MoO’ is one of the key tests of employment status. Alongside the concepts of ‘control’ and ‘right of substitution’, it is used to determine whether or not IR35 should be applied to a contract. Recent changes to the off-payroll rules have resulted in tighter IR35 legislation, with MoO and the other
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Dec / 27
How contractors can get ahead in the New Year
A successful contractor understands that contracting is all about keeping yourself competitive. The contracting sector grew from the need for businesses to access specialist skills or extra manpower as and when needed. This meant that they could quickly respond to the demands of their market, keeping them agile and enabling growth. It’s this agility in
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Dec / 18
Make the most of your downtime this Christmas
As many businesses wind down for the Christmas break, contracts can be thin on the ground. This gives contractors the perfect opportunity to get their affairs in order and prepare for the year ahead. It’s easy for contractors to get stuck in the same pattern of searching for work, completing a project and getting paid,
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Dec / 17
An overview of Brexit for UK contractors
The effects of Brexit on UK business is one of the key areas of debate, but the impact of changing employment laws, immigration rules and Britain’s single market status will have particular significance for contractors, who are always more exposed to market fluctuations. Here at Contracting Scout, we consider the long and short-term implications of
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