Software for completing corporate tax forms for IT contractors highlighted

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has published a list of software and forms that will allow IT contractors to complete their corporation tax forms.It has assessed those suppliers who have produced offer...

Highly-skilled freelance contractors 'will see demand increase'

The demand for workers, including professional contractors, with high skills levels will intensify during the recovery, it has been predicted. According to a report entitled Ready to grow: Business p...

What the coalition government means for IT contractors

The coalition agreement between the Liberal Democrats and Conservative Party is likely to mean cuts in IT spending, according to an expert, which may be bad news for professional contractors in the s...

Employers 'must help protect workers from stress'

Employers have been urged to take steps to reduce stress among their workers, including freelance contractors. The first move is to educate staff about the symptoms and signs of stress, so they can r...

Freelance contractors 'do not need VAT number for EU work'

Professional contractors have been told that they do not need to have a VAT number when supplying services to a client company in another EU member state.One freelance contractor had asked Contractor...

Gov't 'must focus on job creation'

The new coalition government must focus on job creation and boosting the UK's flexible labour market, moves which would benefit freelance contractors, it has been said. Following the creation of the ...

FPB welcomes scrapping of NI rise

The scrapping of the planned one per cent rise in employer's national insurance (NI) has been welcomed by the Forum of Private Business (FPB). If it had gone ahead as planned in 2011, the change coul...

IT contractors 'not yet seeing industry recovery'

IT contractors are yet to see a full recovery in their industry, it has been said. Further changes in the way the sector works are expected, according to Michael Dean, head of marketing at the Nation...

Tax burden fell in 2009, figures show

Many freelance contractors will have seen their tax and social security burdens on incomes fall last year, according to the latest statistics.In 24 of 30 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and De...

Builders' sustainability efforts 'hindered by admin costs'

Freelance contractors in the building industry are being stopped from achieving sustainability goals because of admin costs, one expert has claimed.Green legislation needs to be simplified and have c...

Professional contractors reminded of networking importance

Freelance contractors must remember that communicating with others in their field is vital, one expert has said."The importance of networking can't be emphasised enough - you never know who coul...

Election result 'fails to give SMEs confidence'

Small firms, such as contractor umbrella companies, are not feeling any more confident following the general election and formation of a new government, according to a survey.A study by the Federatio...

New gov't 'must develop engineering talent'

The coalition government between the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats announced today (Wednesday, May 12th) must help the engineering sector, it has been said.More needs to be done to develop...

Flexible working 'will remain', freelance contractors told

Employers are likely to continue to make the most of flexible working even when the job market improves, it has been suggested, which could be welcome news for professional contractors.Bosses will re...

IT contractors face lower web development payments

IT contractors involved in web development projects are seeing 36 per cent lower average pay rates than at the height of the dotcom bubble, according to new research.Typical freelance web developers ...

Public sector contractors 'have tough times ahead'

Public sector contractors are "facing very tough times", with pay freezes, job cuts and service reductions likely, it has been said."The future doesn't look very bright at the moment,&...

SME investment crucial, gov't told

The government must invest in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they are crucial to the country's future, it has been claimed.SMEs, such as umbrella companies, contribute around 41 per cen...

Freelance contractors 'must not mix business with pleasure'

Professional contractors have been reminded of the importance of keeping their personal and business finances completely separate. Being self employed has certain risks, so the two should not be conf...

Voice: More investment in state schools needed

State schools need more investment, it has been said, which could mean greater opportunities for teaching contractors. Voice, the union for education professionals, pointed out that private schools h...

Quarter of self-employed Brits 'plan to move abroad'

Nearly one in four self-employed Britons, including some freelance contractors, are considering moving abroad in the next five years, according to a new survey. Figures from Foreign Currency Direct r...