Do you mean "why do some companies insist that you invoice via an agency if you find a direct contract" or "why do they insist on recruiting through agents at all"?
But basically the answer is the same, large companies don't like dealing with lots of piddling little suppliers. They like to deal with a small number of large ones (who will accept their contractual terms). It might seem to cost them more money, but makes their life a bit easier (which saves them some). Trying to change this is like stitting on the beach and commanding the tide to stop.
There is also the misconception that recruiting directly gives them a bigger risk of creating an employee-employer relationship, but I don't see this as the main reason becasue even those companies that understand this risk still prefer to do business via agents.
tim
- Visitors can check out the Forum FAQ by clicking this link. You have to register before you can post: click the REGISTER link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. View our Forum Privacy Policy.
- Want to receive the latest contracting news and advice straight to your inbox? Sign up to the ContractorUK newsletter here. Every sign up will also be entered into a draw to WIN £100 Amazon vouchers!
Reply to: Agencies
Collapse
You are not logged in or you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
- You are not logged in. If you are already registered, fill in the form below to log in, or follow the "Sign Up" link to register a new account.
- You may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else's post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
- If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation.
Logging in...
Previously on "Agencies"
Collapse
- Home
- News & Features
- First Timers
- IR35 / S660 / BN66
- Employee Benefit Trusts
- Agency Workers Regulations
- MSC Legislation
- Limited Companies
- Dividends
- Umbrella Company
- VAT / Flat Rate VAT
- Job News & Guides
- Money News & Guides
- Guide to Contracts
- Successful Contracting
- Contracting Overseas
- Contractor Calculators
- MVL
- Contractor Expenses
Advertisers
Contractor Services
CUK News
- HMRC abandons PGMOL football referees case: Are contractors and IR35 hit? Jul 2 05:09
- Crypto tax and contractors: What HMRC’s new cryptoasset research really means Jul 1 04:03
- Crypto Tax and Contractors: What HMRC's New Cryptoasset Research Really Means Jul 1 04:03
- Profit and loss accounts set for public filing at Companies House from 2028 — what it means for your contractor business Jun 30 03:38
- UK IT Contractors: How to land Forward Deployed Engineer roles beyond Palantir, Anthropic and OpenAI Jun 29 05:52
- The 3 highest-paying software contractor jobs right now, and what they actually pay Jun 25 03:52
- The beginning of the end for Boox ‘MSC’ contractors has begun. Check back in 2031 Jun 24 06:25
- Andy Burnham as prime minister ‘would cut both ways for self-employed contractors’ Jun 23 02:18
- The 3 highest-paying software contractor jobs right now, and what they actually pay Jun 22 15:52
- Taxman tells contractors that only four new tax avoidance schemes needed avoiding in Q2 Jun 22 05:47

Leave a comment: