Which agency?

[b0redom]

Hi,
I've been approached by an end client out of the blue (I've previously worked with them before). I've been told I can pick my own agency from the following list, but I have to pick one.

Anyone have any views on the IR35ness of the contract and/or their flexibility?

• CERTES COMPUTING LTD
• L.A. INTERNATIONAL COMPUTER CONSULTANTS LTD
• MAGNETIC IT LTD
• PARITY GROUP PLC
• BADENOCH AND CLARK LTD
• CAPITA RESOURCING LTD
• HAYS SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT LTD
• NETWORKERS INTERNATIONAL (UK) LTD
• SPRING TECHNOLOGY STAFFING SERVICES LTD

Cheers....

b0redom

[Damon]

I have contracted through Spring and they were reliable weekly payers.

Capita I have used to source contractors, they charged me £35/day for any contractor we sent their way regardless of the source. That way we got non-PSL agency resources in.

[northernladuk]

Pick the one that is going to take the least commission and possibly give you a kick back for you landing your business on their doorstep IMO. Also maybe see which one you can push weekly billing/pay schedule rather than a month.

Hays had a problem with their contracts being particularly IR35 unfriendly. The search below returns quite a few threads on this topic. It could have changed now though.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ha...ntractoruk.com

I also worked through Sping and from what I remember they did everything they should have without a problem.

Couple of names on there I don't recognise so I would personally try the big names first. Saying that there is the argument a smaller set up might look after you better.

HTH

[b0redom]

Thanks for that. Were they both amenable to contract review changes from QDOS/B&C?

[b0redom]

Pick the one that is going to take the least commission and possibly give you a kick back for you landing your business on their doorstep IMO. Also maybe see which one you can push weekly billing/pay schedule rather than a month.

Hays had a problem with their contracts being particularly IR35 unfriendly. The search below returns quite a few threads on this topic. It could have changed now though.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ha...ntractoruk.com

I also worked through Sping and from what I remember they did everything they should have without a problem.

Couple of names on there I don't recognise so I would personally try the big names first. Saying that there is the argument a smaller set up might look after you better.

HTH

OK, who are you, and what have you done with the real NLUK? I expected at least an 'Are you sure you're cut out for this?' comment.

[DirtyDog]

I had the same kind of list a few years back.

Crossed out all the male name of the agents first, obviously.

Rang B&C and got such a rude response that I gave up on them - client had asked me to apply, and re-opened the role specially for me. Rang B&C and was told "we haven't got the role yet, we may have farmed it out to a third party if it was a low payer" - client rate was £600 a day.

Rang Parity and the agent was out. She rang me back within 5 minutes, we chatted, she explained their margin. Negotiated on that a bit, and I ended up working through them for another 18 months. She took me to lunch the first week as well, to check that I was settling in OK.

Hopefully, they have improved their systems a bit - the timesheet was on paper, in triplicate that I had to send over to them by post every month. They paid quickly though, and were nice enough to deal with.

[DirtyDog]

Thanks for that. Were they both amenable to contract review changes from QDOS/B&C?

I should add to my post that Parity modified the contract slightly based on a Qdos review - it was about reciprocal notice periods which at the time Qdos were suggesting they should be reciprocal.

[northernladuk]

Rang Parity and the agent was out. She rang me back within 5 minutes, we chatted, she explained their margin. Negotiated on that a bit, and I ended up working through them for another 18 months. She took me to lunch the first week as well, to check that I was settling in OK.

Wasn't a 'hot lunch' was it

[Old Greg]

I had a similar position last year. I had negotiated a rate inclusive of margin. Ended up with Hays who charged 5% (which was the Framework cost). They were pretty good to deal with. I understand some aren't happy with Hays contracts and perhaps they can comment.

[quackhandle]

Hays contracts not IR35 friendly, right hassle to get them to alter it. They do pay weekly though.

qh