Is the tide turning?

**rootsnall** · 11 January 2010, 13:19

Originally posted by scooterscot View Post

Recently I've been contacted for a quotation. It was not until the conversation took off I realised I was talking with the client directly and not an agent. All seems promising so far. Fixed price job etc.

After the conversation I check the company out, their website, companies house etc. Solid looking company and have been establish since the early 90's.

Their contact page made me smile.

"Strictly no agencies please"

This will be the 2nd job in the row were the client have voiced their distaste of agents towards me. Has anyone else noticed this? In my current gig the client does not hide their views and I'm given a high degree of autonomy to get on with the job.

Agents, whatever you're doing, keep up the good work!

Lots of people out there so it's easier than normal times for them to find people directly. 18 months ago they might have struggled and hence gone to an agent to do the ringing around.

**Not So Wise** · 11 January 2010, 14:00

From my experience most clients hate agencies but in most cases (in big corp) they have no choice but to use them as it is "company policy"

Think it's mainly accounts departments that don't want to be chased by 100's if not 1000's of contractors at the start/end of each month

**BrilloPad** · 11 January 2010, 14:01

Alot of companies think there must be an agency or they might be taking on employees. Its a great shame.

**d000hg** · 11 January 2010, 20:21

Originally posted by scooterscot View Post

I was talking with the client directly and not an agent. All seems promising so far. Fixed price job etc.

So you'd not really be a contractor in the way many are here, more like a freelancing model (or big consultancy model)?
I wish I could find more companies happy to work that way, pushing projects out rather than bringing contractors in.

**Fred Bloggs** · 11 January 2010, 20:56

Good luck I wish I could pull off more of that. I've been pushed through agents even when I've landed the job direct.

**TFour** · 11 January 2010, 21:02

Me too - go the contract through my own contacts then agency appointed to do the contract administration. Now clienco has appointed another agency in a blanket agreement between then and the agency administering my contract. This resulted in a 10% pay cut for me...so another party in the chain could take their cut!

**scooterscot** · 12 January 2010, 08:54

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

So you'd not really be a contractor in the way many are here, more like a freelancing model (or big consultancy model)?

I suppose I am.

However I'm wondering if the reason for this course of action is partly through the quality of persons agencies are supplying to clients. I've came across some spectacular examples of work where nothing has been achieved and the client is £££ worse off.

The result of this is I get no trust. However in the past year I've been trying to prove myself, which has resulted in those enquiries.

Is the tide turning?