IT and computing sector leads a marked rise in contractor demand in Scotland
IT and computing contractors led the increase in contractor billings and vacancies in the Scottish contract market during August 2012. The Bank of Scotland Report on Jobs for August confirms that not only are clients increasing their demand for contractors, but there are also enough skilled contractors to fulfil demand. This surge in IT contractor demand is consistent with UK video games capital Dundee reporting the fastest growth of short-term appointments. More...
IT developer rates and contract numbers fall in 2012
IT developers have experienced declining rates and contract numbers during 2012, according to ITJobsWatch. In the three months to 20 September 2012, the average daily rate for a developer was £375 per day, 6.25% lower than the same period in 2011 when it was £400 per day. The number of contracts fell from 15,487 in the quarter to 20 September 2011 to 13,665 in the quarter to 20 September 2012, demonstrating that the developer contract market has contracted over the last 12 months. More...
Contractor outlook stable but set to improve, predicts recruiter body
Contractor clients report a general message of ‘no change’ in response to the September 2012 Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) JobsOutlook. Client confidence is described as ‘flat’, but REC research director Roger Tweedy predicts that contract markets will improve. “We know that many employers are poised to hire when confidence returns,” says Tweedy, “and there are signs that the outlook for temporary staffing could be improving. This month we’re looking at a period of stability rather than cuts in worker numbers.”
UK film industry supports 117,000 contracts and jobs, contributing £4.6bn to GDP
The UK’s film industry, a major consumer of IT, media, creative and entertainment contractors, is responsible for over 117,000 direct and indirect contracts and jobs, contributing £4.6bn to the UK economy. These are the main findings of The Economic Impact of the UK Film Industry in 2011 by Oxford Economics. The sector is likely to remain attractive for contractors, as “the overall picture for the UK film industry is of continued long-term growth.” The report was commissioned by the British Film Institute (BFI) and Pinewood Shepperton Plc. More...
Shale gas exploitation may lead to engineering and IT contract bonanza
Engineering and IT contractors will be major beneficiaries of onshore shale gas drilling activities, says the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. It claims that 4,200 high-skill engineering contracts and jobs will be created each year, which in turn could lead to increased exports of onshore shale gas skills and capabilities. The Institution warns that the development of shale gas must be coupled with the development of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology for use with gas-fired power plants, which in turn would create further contracts and jobs.
General Anti Avoidance Rule (GAAR) is too broad, warns CBI
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warns that the proposed General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) could impact on “straightforward tax management”, which could in turn potentially lead to contractors’ legitimate tax affairs being challenged by HMRC. CBI Director-General John Cridland also questions HMRC’s presence on the GAAR panel: “We are also concerned about the independence of the GAAR [advisory] panel which currently has HMRC acting as ‘judge and jury’. We want to see a panel that is made up by a majority of tax experts who are non-HMRC members.” More...
Tax bodies call for GAAR delay, warning of ‘confusion and unfairness’
Contractors may not see the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) come into force until October 2013, if proposals by the Chartered Institute of Taxation and Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) are accepted. According to ATT president Stuart McKinnon, introducing GAAR on 1 April 2013 as currently proposed will result in “confusion and unfairness”, as guidance on the new rules will not be available until some months later. CIOT president Patrick Stevens joins the CBI in warning against HMRC’s involvement in the GAAR’s advisory panel: “We think it is necessary for [the panel] to be genuinely independent, drawing on those with current practical tax experience and with no HMRC representatives.”
Contractors may benefit if plans to implement EU late payment legislation succeed
Contractors may benefit from greater protection against late-paying clients if a European Union directive imposing late-payment rules across all member states is adopted. The directive would impose similar late-payment laws to those currently existing in the UK on public sector clients and businesses across all member states. The result would mean contractors could expect to be paid within 30 days by public sector clients and 60 days by business clients. More...
Streamlining employment law may impact on contractor demand
New proposals by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to streamline employment law may impact on contractor hiring. The proposals include a raft of measures that make it easier to end employment relationships and reduce tribunal costs. If the measures are implemented, those clients who choose to hire contractors principally because they are easier to terminate than employees may instead consider the employment route. More...
London-based lawyers are target for latest HMRC avoidance campaign
The tax affairs of the legal profession in London are under the spotlight in the latest of HMRC’s campaigns to tackle tax dodgers. A new taskforce has been created to target London’s lawyers, now viewed as high risk by HMRC, who are failing to declare their income and evading taxes. HMRC promises to visit the premises of law practitioners and legal practices to carry out its investigations and inspect records.