Guide to the latest IT Contractor Rates

Interim Managers are enjoying the first sustained improvement in market conditions since 2008, according to the latest Interim Management Survey findings.

The 6th Annual Survey was carried out by the Institute of Interim Management, and used feedback from over 1,500 members of the interim community to produce a comprehensive overview of the market for interim managers in 2011.

The Survey shows that interim managers are experiencing an upturn in rates and billed days, and a reduction in the length of gaps between assignments, compared to 2010.

The past year marks the first period of sustained improvement since the recession took hold in 2008.

Findings from IIM Survey

At the end of June 2011, 60% of respondents said they were currently working - compared to 53% and 51% in each half of 2010 respectively.

Encouraging, the gap between assignments has fallen, with the average gap down to 2.6 months compared to 4.1 months in the final half of 2010.

LinkedIn is seen by interims as the leading online site for assignments, with 1,426 votes, followed some way behind by Exec Appointments, Jobsite, Jobserve and Monster.

The average 'headline' day-rate is now £638, which is a higher figure than 2009 (£627), with the average number of days billed over a year (158) also returning to pre-recession levels.

There is a gap between the genders - with female interims receiving on average 13% less - £580 compared to £654 for their male counterparts.

In terms of business structures, 92% of those surveyed operated via their own limited companies, with 5% using an umbrella company, and a mere 3% working as sole traders or via an LLP.

Most interims are VAT-registered, with 64% on the 'standard' VAT scheme, and 25% on the Flat Rate scheme.

You can download the full 68 page Survey here (PDF).