Being a Contractor

How to set up in business as an IT contractor, find contract work and deal with the world of recruiters and clients.

Here are our key guides to starting up, and enjoying a long and successful career as a professional contractor:

How to become an IT contractor – key steps to follow to make sure that contracting is the right fit for you.
Which factors determine how much contractors earn? – your ability to learn relies on your own skills, as well as the current state of the market and general economy.
Dealing with recruitment agencies – most contractors work via agencies. How to deal with the murky world of recruitment.
Contracing advantages and disadvantages – the pros and cons of life as a contractor, compared to working as a traditional employee.
Interviews – why preparation is the key to success – why people skills are still important in the insular world of IT contracting.
How to write the killer contractor CV – make sure your CV stands out and isn’t one of the majority that go straight in the bin.
How to avoid potential conflict with ‘permies’ – there is a natural divide between the two groups, but one which can easily be conquered with care.

Contracting in 2021: how to survive the new normal

Following a traumatic 2020 for contractors, here are four things to consider to help maximise your contract job opportunities during 2021. Read more

What COVID-19 support is available for professional contractors?

Owner/employees of small limited companies will only be able to access minimal help from the Government’s COVID-19 support packages. Here we look at the key measures the Treasury has announced to shore up the nation’s finances. Read more

Key Information Documents – what contractors need to know

As the 2020/21 tax year approaches, a number of changes are being introduced by the government to help ensure there is more transparency between those seeking work and employment businesses or agencies. Read more

How to deal with recruitment agents as a contractor

Most contractors work via recruitment agencies – they are a key part of the contracting lifecycle. In this article, we explore how the recruitment process works, and how to successfully work with agents. Read more

Start-Up Guide :: How to become an IT contractor

Once you have decided that IT contracting is something that you would like to do, there are a number of stages you will need to negotiate before starting work on your first contract. Read more

The advantages of contracting direct with clients

During your contracting career, you may have the opportunity to work for a client directly, without the involvement of a recruitment agency. Here we look at the benefits of working direct, and address some of the pitfalls. Read more

Why ‘contractors’ and ‘freelancers’ are not the same

The terms ‘contractor’ and ‘freelancer’ are often used interchangeably, however although both words are used to describe non-traditional professional workers, they represent quite different ways of working when it comes to tax, business structure and regulation. Read more