S3 Group

[arrowone]

After a long career in permanent roles, I am fairly new to contracting having just completed my first contract and looking for my next.

Noticed quite a few references to S3 Group on this site but I have the impression that I am missing the starting thread which would give me the full story.

I have actually applied to a couple of the agencies on the list before realising that there was such a thing as the S3 Group.

What is this group? Is it a single organisation? Is there a thread I should be reading which will explain more?

[malvolio]

The fact they are invisible is a bit of a clue (althogh they turn occassionlly, as in http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/subframe5.html). They own some of the big national agencies, trading under a range of names, and their business plan - basically to commodotise us contractors by presenting themselves as a staffing consultancy rather than a body shop - is totally against the way most of us want to work. They have also sold to some bigger clients the idea that they will be protected from employment claims and taxman visits: to acheive that they have effectively the worst commercial contracts going, and will refuse to treat you as an independent contractor with your own business. There are also some claims made (not by me!) that the contract they sign with you does not align to the one they sign with the end-client, so even if you get good clauses they may not stand up to scrutiny.

Basically, use them if you have to, but avoid if you value your IR3 status, or indeed your position as a self-determining freelance.

[arrowone]

So if I was:

1. happy with the rate
2. happy with the contract

Is there anything else I should look for?

Is there a definitive list, I am sure I found one but have now lost it and not possible to search on S3 because too short!

[Mordac]

http://forums.contractoruk.com/thread11183.html

There's a list about halfway down the page.

[malvolio]

[QUOTE=arrowone]So if I was:

1. happy with the rate
2. happy with the contract

Is there anything else I should look for?

[QUOTE]

3. Happy to be misled over the rate on offer (I know, their margin is not your business, but sometimes...)
4. Happy to have your IR35 status severely compromised
5. Happy to be presented to the client as a temporary employee belonging to which ever agency
6. Happy to accept over restrictive contract terms
7. Happy to be pestered for references and detailed ID checks before you even get to the interview stage
8. Happy for an enquiry about a given role to be answered with (a) no response about that role and (b) a "thanks you for your CV, you are now on our system" form letter too quickly for anyone to have actually considered your original application

Then again, I never use them myself... Can't imagine why.

[errorista]

So if I was:

Is there a definitive list, I am sure I found one but have now lost it and not possible to search on S3 because too short!

I try to keep the 'Jobjock' S3 filter up to date.

You can list them all by clicking on the word 'S3' in the control panel to the right of the search results window. (If you look at the top of the search window you will get an idea of how many postings have been filtered out)

(You can see all the agents and their previous postings if you 'drill down')

If anyone notices a 'stray' S3 then please let me know and I can make sure it gets listed.

If you check the tickbox next to 'S3' you will not see any of their postings. This removes a great deal of 'clutter' in your search.

Hope this helps.

Do post feedback to the forum.

Jobjock only covers contracts in the London area for the time being.

Best regds
error
(jobster)

PS Welcome to all my contracting colleagues (and agents lol) who have registered. I hope you have found it useful and informative.

[DaveB]

The only time I go near them is if they approach me directly about a role. I've never knowingly sent my CV to them in repsonce to a job ad. Even then I tread very carefully around them and they are definately the agents of last resort when it comes to getting jobs.

[arrowone]

Thanks for all the helpful advice, I will watch out in future.

[tim123]

So if I was:

1. happy with the rate
2. happy with the contract

Is there anything else I should look for?

Is there a definitive list, I am sure I found one but have now lost it and not possible to search on S3 because too short!

IME the chance of (1) is so slim that the rest is irrelevent.

(Some people must work for them, so not all are so choosy).

tim

[Mordac]

I try to keep the 'Jobjock' S3 filter up to date.

There's a stray "Real IT - London Corporate Accounts" in there today.
Give it a spank would you.