Cutting contractors’ rates will cost clients more and could backfire spectacularly
ContractorCalculator believes their strategy could backfire spectacularly, costing the banks much more
3,400 IT contractors and workers to be axed from government contracts
EDS and Hewlett Packard have announced cuts in contracting and employee posts for workers on government contracts.
Contractor Calculator Market Report October 2008
Despite the financial turmoil and shrinking jobs market, not all is doom and gloom and canny contractors can find opportunities if they are flexible.
Contractors rates could decrease when HMRC withdraws clients’ VAT concessions in 2009
Concerns are growing that contracting rates may be hit when end-user clients in many sectors find their costs rising significantly,
Demand for UK engineering contractors to rise due to new immigration rules
The new points based immigration system is likely to increase demand for UK engineering contractors, say technology recruiters.
Research reveals 1.4 million freelancers and contractors in the UK
Landmark research commissioned by the Professional Contractors Group reveals 1.4 million contractors and freelancers work in the UK.
Contractors to benefit from IT inshoring
An important IT director survey reveals that IT projects are coming back to the UK.
Contractors fill vital skills roles as government announces top worker shortages
As the government announces sectors that need boosting by migrant workers, contractors can take comfort that their skills are not listed.
Contractor Calculator Market Report September 2008
Contractors returning to work after the holiday season are faced with the unwelcome news that the Dragonfly IR35 appeal has been lost.
Contractors resilient to credit crunch
ContractorCalculator’s latest survey of contractors reveals that the credit crunch is having a limited impact on the livelihoods of most. Some respondents fear the worst is yet to come, but most predict a stable future.
ContractorCalculator market report August 2008
No news can be good news so, with holiday season underway, contractors can take comfort that predicted cuts in contracts have not materialised.
Should contractors fear dip in online recruitment?
With June’s Monster Employment Index signalling a continued downturn in online recruitment, should contractors be concerned? Or does this present an opportunity for the low risk, highly skilled and flexible contractors
Contractorcalculator market report July 2008
Despite evidence of a slowdown in some contracting sectors, such as IT, there are still no crystal clear indicators about the direction of the UK economy and the overall market for contractors.
Cutting IT contractors’ rates may backfire on the banks, costing them more
ContractorCalculator asks if the widely reported IT contractor rate cuts by major players in the financial sector are premature and will ultimately leave banks with lower quality development teams.
Firms to use more temps and contractors “to weather the economic storm”
The results of two surveys conducted by the REC suggest that firms are turning to contractors and flexible labour markets to cut costs.
Contractor calculator market report – June 2008
Mixed messages from the marketplace suggest a period of economic and labour market uncertainty.
Demand for contractors highest since January
An REC/KPMG report shows that demand for contractors is at the highest level since January, due to the decline in permanent hires.
Half of the UK workforce wants to go contracting, Ruth Badger says
A recent study by Vodafone UK shows that nearly half the extant UK workforce wants to become contractors. And they want to make the change by 2011.
Contractor calculator market report - May 2008
Stable IT budgets and a recovering economy in the UK should mean steady, if not increasing, contractor demand.
Contractor calculator market report - April 2008
A slight slowdown in job offers due to the Easter holiday, but demand is predicted to remain strong right through the UK economic woes. Engineering saw a slight drop, but electronics and construction experienced no decline.
Credit crunch doesn't bite on contractors
A study released on March 31 by the Confederation of British Industry shows that small business is little affected by the credit crunch.
Scotland contracting market hits three-month high
Despite all the ''crunches'' and ''squeezes,'' you've been reading about, the contracting market in Scotland is at a three-month high.
Contractor calculator market report - March 2008
Some economy-related slowdown noted in February although the picture appears to be stablising.
Contractor calculator market report - February 2008
Strong growth in January for IT, and engineering with construction also increasing demand. The British economy is already seeing daylight as the credit crunch darkness is dissipated.
Demand and pay for contractors in financial services sees sharp rise
Contractors in financial services continue to make hay as pay rates rise 11%.
It contracting rates still average 40 pounds, but some see rises
IT contracting rates in the UK still average around 40 pounds per hour, according to a survey just released by ATSCO/Skillsmarket.
UK IT contractors love their work, JSA survey says
A survey by JSA shows that UK contractors still expect pay rises in 2008.
Contractor calculator market report - January 2008
Demand for contractors fell in December following the usual seasonal pattern. Hi-tech contractors should expect demand in the coming year to be increasingly skills-based.
Parity sees public sector contracting remaining strong
Public sector contracting has been dogged by a series of scandals, but Parity, an agency specialising in the area, believes that it will remain strong thanks to ongoing projects.
IT contracting - steady demand expected for 2008
A series of paradoxical contingencies afflicts IT contracting in the UK. But a close look at the trends shows steady demand will be the overriding move in 2008.