You know you like your gig when..

[NickFitz]

Sounds very much like employment to me - do they invite all their suppliers, or just the IR35 caught ones?

Oh, I'm slap bang in the middle of IR35. They sought me out personally because of my expertise; I told them I didn't want a perm job so they took me on as a contractor. I don't know what the situation is with the other contractors (who are legion in all roles, many from the States).

If, for example, I tried to suggest right of substitution, they'd just laugh. Most of the people who could do the work at the required level already work there anyway. If I found somebody who could substitute for me, they'd hire them to work there as well as, not instead of, me.

Furthermore I haven't been hired for any specific project, but work as directed. Once the project I'm currently on no longer needs me, I'll be moved over to another project, or maybe go into maintenance mode for a while.

I don't know what they pay their permies but I doubt I'm costing much more than them. The main advantage I have over being a permie is flexibility over time off (not that I ever take any). Most importantly, I can ignore all the internal politics and just do what I enjoy: coding

(In fact this month I didn't bother going to the picnic as work seemed more interesting than lying about in the sun.)