Reply to: A choice of agencies...

[malvolio]

Still happy to take feedback on specific agencies...

Cheers

B

Sanderson were among the best, but now run by bean counters and have lost their way a little. Of the rest, they must be doing something right to be on the PSL. However, since you will be dictating terms, it doesn't really matter that much.

[bracken]

Thanks for the (mostly) sensible suggestions.

Client is a major financial and for contingent labour insists on a PSL agency only and their agreed contract to ensure the flow-through of terms. I've ended up sending something out to all of them setting out the rate I've agreed with the end client and asking for a share of their commission, not to be Opted out and payment terms...I do like the suggestion of a photo so I'll follow up on that one!

I've had one response so far (Recruitment zone) - very polite and professional but not prepared to play ball...they did however contact me within an hour for an alternative role!

Still happy to take feedback on specific agencies...

Cheers

B

[Old Greg]

I had a similar situation last year. I'd agreed the inclusive rate and then found the agency who would work at 5%.

[TheFaQQer]

A little help please...I've just landed a role () and the client has rather kindly given me a choice of agencies. Any views on them especially concerning the IR35 friendliness of their contract and their payment terms / previous payment issues?

1. Project Partners
2. Sandersons
3. Recruitment Zone
4. Campion Willcocks
5. Head Resourcing
6. IMS worldwide
7. Investigo

B

Get them to send a photo of the person you'll be dealing with, and base your selection on that.

When I had a client give me the choice, first one to go were all the male agents, obviously.

[Wanderer]

Bracken, it's quite possible that you will negotiate the rate with the client and the client will negotiate a markup with the agency and that would be between them and the agency so you would stay out of it. It's also possible that you will have to negotiate the agency's cut out of your money. Of course, it's better if the client negotiates with the agency because they have much more clout than you will.

What for? the agent's job is to source a resource for the position at hand. If the company does not already have any relationship with any of the agencies listed they will have to be setup as a new company in the finance system anyway so why not go direct???

Some clients simply won't allow it. It sounds stupid to me too, but I've had clients that would rather pay 5% on top of my day rate to an agency to deal with the admin or the perceived risks involved. I think the other concern is that you might stay for a year and then start a claim for employment rights or some such crap. Putting an agency in between isolates them from that possibility (rightly or wrongly). The other thing is that the agency will do their dirty work when they want to implement a 10% rate cut across the board.

Also, from the contractor's point of view, you will probably get better payment terms out of an agency because they will factor the payments from the client for you. It may also give you the protection of the agency conduct regulations so if it goes a bit nasty with the client then the agency may still be obliged to pay you. PCG also offers some protection against agencies defaulting on payments too.

Try and find one that has other contractors on site so knows the score and also has reduced admin overheads so more likely to take a smaller cut.

Failing that remember you are introducing the agent to a new client and he will be all over him like a rash for more business. Try opening the conversation with the agent you have a new lead for him and you want a preferential rates to introduce him. Play it hard.

I went direct to a client and we settled on a rate. The client then went and made a deal with the agency to do the needful in exchange for a fixed mark up on my day rate - this was negotiated by the client, not me and I later found out it was 5% mark up. Difficult to know which way this particular one will go.

[northernladuk]

Try and find one that has other contractors on site so knows the score and also has reduced admin overheads so more likely to take a smaller cut.

Failing that remember you are introducing the agent to a new client and he will be all over him like a rash for more business. Try opening the conversation with the agent you have a new lead for him and you want a preferential rates to introduce him. Play it hard.

[andyg]

I worked through Sanderson in the past and they were very good.

[malvolio]

What for? the agent's job is to source a resource for the position at hand. If the company does not already have any relationship with any of the agencies listed they will have to be setup as a new company in the finance system anyway so why not go direct???

Has this person even asked the client for a direct contract?

Almost certainly down to some senior Human Remains wonk believing that having an agency protects the client form any employment claims the independent contractor might want to make. It won't, of course, but people don't get into HR by knowing what the hell they're doing with respect to contractors; to them everyone is an employee or an employee in waiting.

[badger7579]

I think you will find that the client won't engage a contractor direct and wants an agency there as the middle man.

Choose the one with the best payment terms and most reasonable contract. Make sure that they don't insist that you opt out too.

What for? the agent's job is to source a resource for the position at hand. If the company does not already have any relationship with any of the agencies listed they will have to be setup as a new company in the finance system anyway so why not go direct???

Has this person even asked the client for a direct contract?

[SeekingIT]

Nice One!

I think you will find that the client won't engage a contractor direct and wants an agency there as the middle man.

Choose the one with the best payment terms and most reasonable contract. Make sure that they don't insist that you opt out too.

You in Driving seat, so send 3 or 4 of them your terms and see who bites....

1. 5% or less Margin
2. Opt in
3. Weekly pay
4. Optional - they take you out to lunch

[Wanderer]

Why have an agent? go direct and cut out the middle man. Simple..

I think you will find that the client won't engage a contractor direct and wants an agency there as the middle man.

Choose the one with the best payment terms and most reasonable contract. Make sure that they don't insist that you opt out too.

[Dominic Connor]

For what its worth, my interactions with Project Partners have been positive.

[Antman]

WMS +1

[malvolio]

Have heard of all of them and know of most but never worked with any of them. Is this a record?

However, if you have a choice of agencies, presumably you found the work and the client is merely outsourcing the admin. In which case you are setting the terms of the engagement, not the agency.

Pick one or two, send them the standard PCG contract and tell them you will allow them a 5% margin, then see who bites.

[badger7579]

Why have an agent? go direct and cut out the middle man. Simple..