Reply to: Employing Other Contractors

[thunderlizard]

It's how Logica CMG got started.

And yes, forget about agencies unless you can really find a special one because they are simple folk and CAN'T COPE as soon as you want to do anything but have ONE PERSON per contract and BILL BY THE HOUR/DAY. Because that would actually mean the poor souls would be CARRYING SOME RISK FOR THEIR MONEY rather than just having a simple regular flow of cash through their books and taking their % for DOING KNACK ALL.

[DodgyAgent]

Initially, you'd be better off working closely with a trusted agency. I have such a relationship with an agency, such that they have passed some short requirements through to me directly, and I have recommended them (successfully) to other contacts of mine. I have considered doing the sort of thing 1YearLater suggests, although the opportunity to jump in with both feet has yet to present itself.
The key thing is to start small, get a foot in the door with a few clients and gain credibility slowly - it's way too easy to take on a big project with great potential and then fall down because you don't have the resources in place to manage it properly.

I can discuss this off-board if you wish, just PM me.

Mordac is dodgyagent and I claim my fiver

[Mordac]

Best bet might be just to set up an agency, possibly a specialist one.

Initially, you'd be better off working closely with a trusted agency. I have such a relationship with an agency, such that they have passed some short requirements through to me directly, and I have recommended them (successfully) to other contacts of mine. I have considered doing the sort of thing 1YearLater suggests, although the opportunity to jump in with both feet has yet to present itself.
The key thing is to start small, get a foot in the door with a few clients and gain credibility slowly - it's way too easy to take on a big project with great potential and then fall down because you don't have the resources in place to manage it properly.

I can discuss this off-board if you wish, just PM me.

[errorista]

Cheers Guys,

Do you think theres any mileage in this? in theory i could have anything between 6-12 Security cleared engineers at the readies every month.

?

Hmm, I think that 6-12 defence tenders a month would advance the idea far more quickly.



error

[DodgyAgent]

Cheers Guys,

All of your views have been great so far.

I certainly like the idea of dealing with the client direct, obviously theres more cash to be made there aswel!

I have done some training contracts recently. Training MOD bods who are ust about to leave to go into the real world, do you think it would be worth working as an inbetween type of guy and offering them to another agent.

These guys have worked in IT and Comms while being in the MOD. The course I was deleivering them was an MCSA/MCSE. On average each have took and passed 2 exams with a view to doing the rest over the next year.

Do you think theres any mileage in this? in theory i could have anything between 6-12 Security cleared engineers at the readies every month.

?

try computacentre and similar businesses

[1yearlater]

Cheers Guys,

All of your views have been great so far.

I certainly like the idea of dealing with the client direct, obviously theres more cash to be made there aswel!

I have done some training contracts recently. Training MOD bods who are ust about to leave to go into the real world, do you think it would be worth working as an inbetween type of guy and offering them to another agent.

These guys have worked in IT and Comms while being in the MOD. The course I was deleivering them was an MCSA/MCSE. On average each have took and passed 2 exams with a view to doing the rest over the next year.

Do you think theres any mileage in this? in theory i could have anything between 6-12 Security cleared engineers at the readies every month.

?

[DodgyAgent]

[QUOTE=errorista]

Havent really got a Contract in mind, just like the idea of getting a group together and moving betwwen contracts with each other.

Its not a bad idea if you could sell confidence in a group of contractors who can effectively create focused teams to deliver completed projects.

A vehicle to bring it to the clients is needed.



Me thinking 'mission impossible' type specialists lol. Most contractors have the motivation so pulling a team together should be possible. Also it should be possible to create a contractor only database, maybe start by using only fully legit IT contractors with limited companies? Companies House gives you the first credibility point. ;o)

I like the thinking though, with good branding who knows?

error

You should concentrate on gaining influence with clients, seeing problems and putting forward solutions. Most clients have many opportunities and end up going to EDS or CapGemini warts and all. Forget branding, forget the means of delivery, if the client likes you and trusts you, finding the resources to fill the need will not be a problem.

There is little point in using contractors unless you/the client really want their level of skill, better off employing some cheap Hungarians, and using the extra profits to get your message accross to other potential customers.

[errorista]

[QUOTE=1yearlater]Havent really got a Contract in mind, just like the idea of getting a group together and moving betwwen contracts with each other.

Its not a bad idea if you could sell confidence in a group of contractors who can effectively create focused teams to deliver completed projects.

A vehicle to bring it to the clients is needed.



Me thinking 'mission impossible' type specialists lol. Most contractors have the motivation so pulling a team together should be possible. Also it should be possible to create a contractor only database, maybe start by using only fully legit IT contractors with limited companies? Companies House gives you the first credibility point. ;o)

I like the thinking though, with good branding who knows?

error

[1yearlater]

Havent really got a Contract in mind, just like the idea of getting a group together and moving betwwen contracts with each other.

Just an idea at this stage really, like Lucifer says i'd probably be acting as an agency. Dont really know how I would feel about that!

[errorista]

Hi all, has any of you ever thought of employing your own team of contractors? And then applying for contracts as a team?

Could it work or would you end up falling out?

I'd like to hear your views.
Cheers,

You would need to put the team together to meet the requirements of the tender. Perfect really but you need to engage the contractors AFTER you secure the contract? Its more sales than IT but IT needs sales these days.



You have a contract in mind?

:P

error

[ratewhore]

I've used suncontractors for primarily direct work with my clients. I've had no problems but then I've only used subbys I know and have worked with previously.

Where I have used subbys for agency work, I have found the agents can't handle the relationship very well, accounting systems not set up for multiple contractors through the same Ltd etc. In fact I dropped an agency because of their ineptitude and lost around £30K per year because of it. But, it meant less stress to me overall and was therefore a good move.

If what you're suggesting is going to the agencies as a team, I don't think they'll care. It works better for direct relationships (in my humble experience).

[1yearlater]

So you mean, applying for jobs on behalf of someone elsesthat an agent is advertising. I suppose this is just like using a substitute like you can agree in your contract.

[expat]

Cheers Lucifer,

so you reckon setting up as an agency and tendering would be the way to go, so that would obviously be direct with the client. Have you had any experience in cold calling for work. The contracts that i have worked on have always been setup via an agent.

Agents can go through agents. More agents, more rake-off, less for the grunts, but hey....

[1yearlater]

Cheers Lucifer,

so you reckon setting up as an agency and tendering would be the way to go, so that would obviously be direct with the client. Have you had any experience in cold calling for work. The contracts that i have worked on have always been setup via an agent.

[Lucifer Box]

Hi all, has any of you ever thought of employing your own team of contractors?
Yes

And then applying for contracts as a team?
Yes, but you are tendering for projects, not applying for contracts.

Could it work
Yes

Would you end up falling out?
Possibly, depending on how business-oriented you are and how professional your gimps are.

Best bet might be just to set up an agency, possibly a specialist one.