Cutting out the middle man - Agency

[mykash]

correct me if I'm wrong but BBC don't hire any contractors directly - they have Reed working on site to service all their contractor needs and anything they cant do themselves goes out to a psl of other agencies (the process still being managed by Reed though)

It was the case a few years ago, but last year they were going direct as well.

[contracta]

BBC like to hire contractors directly.

correct me if I'm wrong but BBC don't hire any contractors directly - they have Reed working on site to service all their contractor needs and anything they cant do themselves goes out to a psl of other agencies (the process still being managed by Reed though)

[kevpuk]

As long as the contractor get's the work done the client doesn't really care about trivial arguments between contractor and agent.

This ^^

[northernladuk]

I've seen a lot of contractors here have a negative experience with the agency and when the client subsequently finds out, they help the contractor change the agency.

BBC like to hire contractors directly. Why don't more companys hire contractors direct as they're save double digit percentage of pay going to the agency?

I would argue this does not happen a lot. Although the possibility of a contractor falling out with an agency can be a risk to a client it is pretty minimal. Some people moan a lot about agencies but only in very rare instances do they do something about it and walk. As long as the contractor get's the work done the client doesn't really care about trivial arguments between contractor and agent.

[Wanderer]

Hassle. It's a lot easier to deal with 3-4 agencies on a PSL than 100s of contractors.

Also, the agencies sell them a "managed service" whereby they can do the dirty work of firing contractors and not paying them or cutting their rates if the client wants to.

One of the big things is also that putting an intermediary (agency) between the client and the contractor means that the client is less likely to face legal action from the contractor for workers rights or in a dispute.

[doodab]

BBC like to hire contractors directly. Why don't more companys hire contractors direct as they're save double digit percentage of pay going to the agency?

Hassle. It's a lot easier to deal with 3-4 agencies on a PSL than 100s of contractors.

[mykash]

I've seen a lot of contractors here have a negative experience with the agency and when the client subsequently finds out, they help the contractor change the agency.

BBC like to hire contractors directly. Why don't more companys hire contractors direct as they're save double digit percentage of pay going to the agency?