What are the clients going to do assuming HMR&C and Osborne get their way?

[LondonManc]

It's not so much upfront cost that would concern clients as long-term risk. They don't want a bunch of contractors on payroll, outside of their main business area, with all associated employment liabilities. I'd assume the path of least resistance, in many cases, would be a FTC.

I'm tempted to go semi-darkside for a couple of years for a sector-specific consulting specialist and get training on the latest versions of the tools I'm using. Stick it out until I'm made redundant because the contract market has gotten back on track and off we go again.

[Danglekt]

That's a bit mean...

I have worked alongside a team from a consultancy and there were some in the team I'd genuinely rate. It was a new product/business change type programme though not IT.

Problem was the assignment bod was never sure who he could get - he knew who he wanted and managed to secure them most of the time, but when he couldn't you'd get any old (or newbie) pair of hands warming a seat.

Still not sure the value proposition is that great though

[LondonManc]

That's a bit mean...

I have worked alongside a team from a consultancy and there were some in the team I'd genuinely rate. It was a new product/business change type programme though not IT.

Problem was the assignment bod was never sure who he could get - he knew who he wanted and managed to secure them most of the time, but when he couldn't you'd get any old (or newbie) pair of hands warming a seat.

Still not sure the value proposition is that great though

I've worked at one client where a consultant suddenly stopped turning up. I asked what had happened and was told by the team lead that he'd taken a full day to write a basic table create script having been sold in as a "SQL guy". Team lead advised that he wouldn't be paying for any of the consultant's days and if he wanted to turn up again, he was happy for the SQL guy to shadow another consultant but not at ClientCo's expense.

The bigger problem is that the more talented consultants are there to sell more days as a priority over getting the job done.

[Danglekt]

The bigger problem is that the more talented consultants are there to sell more days as a priority over getting the job done.

100% agree

[MrMarkyMark]

Couldn't clients offer MSAs (think they are called that). A while ago a client offered me one of these. Basically they ask you to quote for some project based task. You may not win the work every time. Work orders generated each time. You provide the tools (laptop,software) use their system where needed. The hours worked are offsite, project dependant, could be a few hours a week or every day (it is timeline driven so up to you). You are allowed other clients. This client also had bums on seats contractors but was getting IR35 twitchy and did not want to imply MOO.

Surely that could never fail IR35 or be subject to the 1 month then payroll rule?
It would also work well for a lot of clients.

I'm looking at just this now.
I don't believe the rules could apply to fixed price work of this nature.

[MrMarkyMark]

It was a new product/business change type programme though not IT.

LondonManc works in IT, hence his comment.

Consultancies can be good at BA / Business Change work, just don't let them near your technology