Government's acceptance of Vickers report could prompt growth of contract opportunities in financial services
IT contractors look set to benefit from increased contract opportunities as a result of the Government’s acceptance of the Vickers report. The process of ring fencing the retail banking arms of banks from riskier operations is to be implemented by 2019 and legislation is expected to be in place by 2015. The implications for the major banks’ IT infrastructure are considerable, and the resulting de-merger and integration projects are likely to require armies of IT contractors to complete. More…
M-commerce IT contractors commanding premium rates
IT contractors with as little as three years m-commerce experience are commanding day rates of £600 a day, according to IT recruiter ReThink Recruitment. Smartphone and tablet developers can expect to receive a 20% premium for their skills compared to colleagues working in ‘traditional’ e-commerce roles. According to ReThink director Iain Blair, the surge in demand is being driven by retailers that failed to react quickly enough to e-commerce opportunities: “Some retailers feel that they missed out on the initial e-commerce land grab and that they are not going to make the same mistake with m-commerce.”
IT contractor demand surges by 61% in pre-Christmas rush
Demand for IT contractors and consultants via online business marketplace PeoplePerHour has increased by 61% over the last month. The largest increase has been experienced in e-commerce assignments, followed by a 95% increase in demand for IT support and a 70% increase in demand for web programming services. “Our figures show that IT consultants are in high demand over the run up to Christmas,” says PeoplePerHour CEO and founder Xenios Thrasyvoulou. “Businesses are able to increase their margins using freelancers and make the most of the extra income to be made over the festive season.”
Interim management contractor assignments increase 22% despite testing economy
Interim management contractor assignments increased by 22% in the period July to September 2011, compared to the previous quarter, reports the Interim Management Association’s (IMA) Quarterly Survey. Client enquiries to IMA member firms rose by 68%, suggesting that this upward trend is set to continue. The IMA’s Jason Atkinson says: “With the summer period historically slow for hiring and the UK economy continuing to struggle, it’s quite remarkable that the uptake in assignments has increased by 22 per cent.”
Scottish contractor market failing contractors despite increased demand
Contractor placements in Scotland fell in November for the first time since September 2009, ending 26 months of unbroken growth in placements and agency billings. However, the Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs also reveals that demand continued to grow for the twenty-fifth consecutive month and reported an increase in the number of available contractors, suggesting that there is a market mismatch. There was sustained growth across all but one of the contract and temporary staff categories, with IT and computing and engineering and construction in second and third places respectively, behind nursing and medical care.
Contractor demand increases year-on-year: AWR has had no impact, says REC
Contractor and temporary staff demand over the last month has been stable, according to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) JobsOutlook report, and has increased compared to the same period in 2010. This is despite the impact of the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), which came into force on 1 October 2011. “The ongoing economic uncertainty has clearly influenced hiring patterns,” says REC Chief Executive Kevin Green. “Using temporary and contract staff is an attractive option and continues to provide a means of bringing in the right skills at very short notice.”
Contractor guide to AWR myths from ARC
Contractors can spend their time off over Christmas this year studying the Association of Recruitment Consultancies’ (ARC) ‘Agency Workers Regulations Advent Calendar’. Created by ARC’s legal partner, Lawspeed, the AWR Advent Calendar aims to dispel common myths and misconceptions about the new legislation, tackling the topic over 24 ‘fact or fiction’ style questions. With the first 12-week qualifying period ending on 24 December, contractors may wish to arm themselves with suitable responses in the event that concerned clients and agencies ask whether they are in the scope of AWR. More…
Contractors should be prepared for AWR as demonstrations are planned against ‘pay apartheid’
Contractors should be prepared to counter questions about the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) from concerned clients or agents as demonstrations by temporary workers against ‘pay apartheid’ gain media attention. Recruiter.co.uk reports that Argos staff are planning action over being asked to sign a Swedish Derogation contract with recruiter Adecco, or face losing their jobs, in a case of what unions are calling ‘pay apartheid’. Genuine contractors in a business undertaking are not in the scope of AWR and should prepare answers to that effect if questioned by clients or agents.
HMRC rejects criticism of ‘sweetheart deals’ with big business
Following scathing criticism by MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), HMRC has hit back at charges that it has been doing ‘sweetheart deals’ with big businesses, branding the PAC’s conclusions as “based on partial information, inaccurate opinion and some misunderstanding of facts”. In a blunt statement from its Press Office, HMRC said “[Our] internal processes are robust and this was confirmed by a recent review by the National Audit Office of large business settlements”. It also claimed that HMRC’s large business strategy is “now being adopted by other tax administrations around the world”.