The latest locum and contractor news

Oct / 26

What is a Second Charge mortgage and should it be my first choice?

Once considered as a last resort option for raising funds, Second Charge Mortgages are quickly becoming part of mainstream lending, as more homeowners than ever before look for an alternative to remortgaging or taking out a personal loan. Contracting Scout’s mortgage partner, CMME, has put together this helpful post which outlines everything that you need

Oct / 25

Budget Update: What can contractors expect?

At the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Philip Hammond stated: “The Conservative Party is, and always will be, the party of business”. Looking ahead to next week’s budget announcement, this assertion could be put to the test. In June Theresa May pledged £20 billion in additional funding for the NHS by 2023. Earlier this month

Oct / 23

7 ways contractors can make the most of LinkedIn

With approximately 3 billion users, LinkedIn is the world’s number one business networking site, that’s why creating a LinkedIn profile should be at the top of any contractor’s ‘to do’ list. Here at Contracting Scout, we look at five ways that contractors can make the most of LinkedIn’s features to network, market themselves and win

Oct / 10

Six time management tips for contractors

Timing, so they say, is everything, and using your time effectively isn’t just the key to a more productive life, it’s also the secret to a happier one. With October 10th marking World Mental Health Day, Contracting Scout takes a timely look at 6 ways you can make better use of your time in order

Oct / 9

Employment rights for contractors?

Mathew Taylor’s independent 2017 review into Modern Working Practices in Britain drew attention to an insecure ‘gig’ economy where many workers are at risk of exploitation. This led to Prime Minister Theresa May responding to the findings earlier this year by promising millions of workers better holiday and sick pay rights, in addition to stronger

Why it’s best for the agency the contractor and the client to work together | Contracting Scout

Oct / 2

IR35: Why it’s best for the agency, the contractor and the client to work together

According to IPSE’s latest Freelancer Confidence Index, 59% of contractors are wary of the economic conditions ahead. Much of the concern has arisen from recent changes to IR35 (off-payroll working rules) in the public sector, which are also set to apply to the private sector in the near future. The changes place the responsibility for

Sep / 24

Contractor Marketing: How Blogging Could Help You

The benefits of blogging for contractors Marketing yourself as a professional contractor is an important consideration as you start to grow and expand your network. And if you’ve got a website for your contracting work, a blog could be a vital tool to market your services. In this post, Contracting Scout looks at the benefits

Sep / 11

5 Things You Need to Know About Contracting Directly

As a contractor you can obtain contracts by either using an agency, or contracting directly with the end client. Direct contracting is considered the ideal option if you want to truly ‘be your own boss’. But what exactly does it entail? And it is right for you? Read on as we discuss the

Aug / 2

The Strength of Social Media and How to use it as a Contractor

Scoring the best contracts isn’t all CVs and interviews. To really get your name out there in the modern digital age, you need to be active online. However, it’s not just a case of logging on, making a profile and sit back to wait for business enquiries to roll in. Like any offline transaction you