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<title>Helix Management Ltd</title> 
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/rss.xml</link> 
<description>The Helix Management Blog</description> 
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<title>HMRC launches new IR35 business tests</title>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 May 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_26.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[As part of its efforts to simplify the IR35 guidance provided to taxpayers (particularly limited company contractors), HMRC has published a business entity test to help establish the risk an individual or business has to being the target of an IR35 investigation.The test, and an accompanying set of six typical IR35 scenarios have been released as part of the ongoing process to overhaul the way IR35 has been administered in the past.The IR35 legislation has not changed in any way, nor have the methods used to work out if someone is caught by the rules or not. The test, and related guidance are aimed purely at showing how HMRC assesses risk.The business entity testsContaining a total of 12 questions, the test aims to establish how much the participant acts as a &lsquo;business&rsquo;, rather than as an &lsquo;employee&rsquo;.The questions, summarised below, are scored according to the importance of each answer.You should read the full HMRC guidance for the full questions &ndash; you can download the document in PDF format at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ir35/guidance.pdf.1.    Do you use premises for work purposes that are separate from your home or client&rsquo;s premises? (10 points for a &lsquo;yes&rsquo; answer).2.    Do you have to take out professional indemnity insurance? (2)3.    Have you had the opportunity over the past 24 months to be paid in full for a project you finished earlier than planned? (10)4.    Do you employ workers who, between them, contribute at least 25% of your annual turnover? (35)5.    Have you spent at least &pound;1,200 on advertising over the past 24 months? (2)6.    Were you previously employed on a PAYE basis by your current client? (-15 points)7.    Do you have a business plan and a business bank account? (1)8.    Are you liable for fixing any mistakes you make on a project? (4)9.    Have you suffered late payment for invoices totalling 10% of turnover or more over the past 24 months? (10)10.    Do you create invoices before being paid, and can you negotiate your payment terms? (2)11.    Do you have the right to use a substitute worker? (2)12.    Have you actually used a substitute over the past 24 months? (20)When you add up your scores from each the answers, if you score 20 points or more, you are at a &lsquo;low risk&rsquo; of an IR35 investigation. Between 10 and 20 points is a &lsquo;medium risk&rsquo;, and less than 10 is a &lsquo;high risk&rsquo;.Business tests widely criticisedUnfortunately, the guidance has been widely criticised, particularly by members of the IR35 Forum &ndash; the body tasked with producing the guidance in the first place.  The business groups that attended the Forum disagree with the way HMRC have scored the answers to the test questions, as they say this will lead to the majority of contractors being deemed to be at a medium or high risk of an IR35 investigation.The whole point of the tax simplification exercise was to provide more certainty to contractors over their IR35 status.Martin Hesketh, MD of Brookson, and IR35 Forum attendee commented:&ldquo;The business tests add complexity and further lack of clarity to this area and this can only be justified if they also deliver some genuine benefit in return - and no such return is delivered.&rdquo;Chris Bryce, chairman of contractors&rsquo; organization, PCG, was equally scathing: &ldquo;HMRC&rsquo;s new guidance demonstrates their fundamental lack of courage and commitment to improve the operation of IR35.&rdquo;  New approach to policing IR35It is important to note that the new guidance merely outlines HMRC&rsquo;s new approach to enforcing IR35, and the way an individual&rsquo;s &lsquo;employment status&rsquo; is established has not changed.This new approach is expected to be trialled over the next 12 months, and several new specialist HMRC teams have been set up specifically for this purpose.  ]]></description> 
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<title>Demand for IT contractors up over 20 percent</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 May 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_25.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[The latest quarterly report on the state of the UK&rsquo;s IT jobs market shows that the number of contract vacancies has risen by 6.6% over last quarter, and by an impressive 21.2% since April 2011.The data, released by jobsadwatch.co.uk, is collated from IT jobs posted on the UK&rsquo;s leading recruitment job boards.Contract skills in demandAccording to the survey, the average contract rates commanded by IT developers has risen by 4% over the past year.Some of the most in-demand contract skills include C#, which has recorded a 7% increase over the past 12 months, with SAP, Java and Oracle skills also recording increased demand of a similar amount.Other widely held skills, such as SQL, C and .NET unsurprisingly continue to be in high demand by clients &ndash; for both permanent and contract staff. Of course, these skills are essential components of most developers&rsquo; skill sets.Over the past year, the skills that have seen the biggest jump in demand, according to the content of contract job advertisements posted online, are SAP (up over 29%), and Agile (up 27.2%).Demand for contractors up in all regionsAs has been shown in previous editions of this, and similar industry surveys, the vast majority (over 80%) of contract roles are based in the South of the country.As an example of the heavy regional bias towards the capital, there were around 9,000 contract roles advertised in London alone between January and March; almost as many roles as the rest of the country combined. Encouragingly, all regions recorded an increase in contract roles advertised over the past three months, although the North East and North West have seen an overall annual decrease in overall contract numbers.Interestingly, having suffered in previous quarters, the demand for IT contractors in Scotland has seen resurgence in the first quarter of 2012, with a 9% increase in demand &ndash; the highest recorded by any region. Has public sector demand started to recover?Once again, software houses and financial services companies are the main users of contract workers &ndash; consuming over 80% of the market between them.Following a period of savage cost cutting, there has been a 10.5% increase in public sector contracts advertised compared to the final quarter of 2011, albeit from a relatively small base. Over the past twelve months, demand in the finance, software, retail and media industry sectors have all registered growth of 20% or thereabouts, with the electronics / telecoms and manufacturing industries increasing their demand for contractor workers by 4.8% and 9% respectively. ]]></description> 
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<title>The problem with security cleared IT contract roles</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_24.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[Some IT contract roles require applicants to hold valid security clearance if they are doing to be dealing with &lsquo;sensitive&rsquo; Government material.However, a &lsquo;Catch 22&rsquo; position exists whereby agencies often require contractors to be security cleared before applying for certain roles, despite the publication of Cabinet Office guidance which states that all Government contracts should be open to all applicants.In this article, we look what the security clearance application process involves, and why many contractors find it hard to secure this type of work.What is security clearance?In order to protect the UK against a variety of threats, candidates for jobs which will have access to sensitive Government information and resources are vetted to ensure their suitability for the role.Many organisations require vetting, including parts of Central Government, the Ministry of Defence, and companies providing services to the Government (such as defence contractors).What levels of security clearance are there?1. Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) &ndash; a limited check used to confirm the identity of job applicants (such as employment references).2. Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) &ndash; This level includes criminal and security record checks, but is not designed to screen applicants for jobs which will involve access to sensitive information.3. Security Check (SC) &ndash; Most contractors will require this type of clearance, where the candidate will regularly access &lsquo;sensitive&rsquo; information, or some overseas posts.4. Developed Vetting (DV) &ndash; The most stringent checks are reserved for applicants to roles that may access &lsquo;top secret&rsquo; material. This type of clearance will involve an interview with a vetting officer, checks into the individual&rsquo;s personal finances, and references will also be interviewed.How to become security clearedYou cannot apply for clearance on their own account, as all individual and business applicants must have a sponsor &ndash; which will be the client in the majority of cases.Clearance is granted for a fixed period of time, according to the clearance level, and whether or not the client is a trusted body (known as a &lsquo;List X&rsquo; supplier). Once a contractor leaves a project, their security clearance can usually be carried over to fresh role (subject to further basic vetting), which is why many agencies prefer to source contractors with existing clearance in place, as the SC application process can take some time.Contractors can usually start work in a sensitive role once their application is underway, subject to further safeguards.Problems with the current systemThe Cabinet Office has published clear guidance stating:&ldquo;It is government policy that individuals should not be expected to hold an existing security clearance in order to apply for posts or contracts that require vetting, except in exceptional circumstances where such posts are short term and need to be filled urgently.&rdquo;Unfortunately, the Government advice is not legally binding, and many contractors find that the world of Government-based contracts is kept out of reach unless they already hold the correct level of clearance at the time.If you search any of the major contract job boards, you will still find hundreds of roles advertising positions for &lsquo;security cleared&rsquo; contractors, such as &lsquo;SC Cleared Security Analyst&rsquo;, or &lsquo;Security cleared requirement &ndash; DV&rsquo;.Contractors&rsquo; group, PCG, has been vocal in pushing for further action to be taken against hirers who ignore this guidance, and as a result, the Government has encouraged employment industry bodies to increase awareness of the guidance amongst their member firms. However, security cleared contract roles are still hard to access for many contractors.This is backed up by the latest research into the subject, published by BUCSIS in 2011, suggesting that the problem does not lie with the vetting process itself, but in the &ldquo;culture and behaviour of those who operate the process.&rdquo;]]></description> 
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<title>Market for contract interim managers continues to grow</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_23.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[According to the Interim Management Association, the amount of business generated by UK-based contract interims has almost doubled over the past five years, and the demand for interims is set to grow further in 2012.What are interim managers?Interim managers are contracted into short-term leadership roles across a wide range of industries.  As they can be hired at short notice, interims are an increasingly popular resource for organisations that are unable or unwilling to increase the number of permanent staff on the payroll.According to the latest IMA survey, which covers the final quarter of 2011, the main reason for hiring contract interim managers is to undertake programme or project management (40% of all vacancies filled). A further 20% of positions are for change or transition management roles. To be successful in the industry, candidates will have worked at board level, or have been senior managers, and will be experts in their specialist fields. They are hired as expert problem solvers, and will be expected to deliver results rapidly.Increased demand for interimsThe estimated revenue generated by interims has almost doubled over the past five years, from &pound;102m in 2006 to almost &pound;200m in 2011.The length of assignments has also increased significantly over the same period, from an average of 108 days in 2006 to 166 last year.The demand for interim managers from the private sector continues to rise &ndash; accounting for 66% of roles currently. Of course, a drop in demand from the public sector due to cost cutting will influence the split between private and public sector roles filled.Jason Atkinson, chairman of the IMA, commented, &ldquo;The UK has the most established interim management sector in the world and it is becoming the norm for organisations to hire interim managers. I believe that in 2012 &ndash; and beyond &ndash; interims will continue to play a valuable role as we work towards economic recovery.&rdquo;How much can you earn as an interim?The average daily rate for a contract manager in the private sector is currently around &pound;640, compared to &pound;540 in the public sector.The highest paid industry to work in is the utilities sector, in which successful interims can command rates of &pound;705 per day.Overseas demand for UK interimsAccording to another report, from Russam GMS, almost 80% of the 500 managers surveyed said that demand from overseas organisations had grown significantly over the past few years.The British brand is respected overseas, as are UK qualifications. Additionally, international firms often find that they cannot source the right calibre of candidates locally.Currently, the markets with the greatest demand for UK interims are the Europe, the USA and Canada. Asia is expected to be the next growth market.A spokesman for Russam Interim said that international firms &ldquo;want people with proven international business experience, and a &lsquo;global outlook&rsquo; who can integrate into their business and culture and deliver the goods. This is the key to a successful assignment in the UK or overseas.&rdquo; ]]></description> 
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<title>How LinkedIn can benefit IT contractors</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_22.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[With over 150 million users, and over 9 million in the UK alone, LinkedIn is the leading professional social networking site in the world.In a challenging economic environment, successful contractors will use every tool they can to gain a competitive advantage over other applicants, and LinkedIn does appear to be an increasingly popular way of sourcing new contract opportunities, and keeping in touch with colleagues and recruiters.How does LinkedIn Work?LinkedIn is primarily a social networking site, which enables you to create a personal profile outlining your skills, achievements, and ambitions.As with other social networks, you build up your network by contacting former and current colleagues, and can create new relationships with people in similar business or industry areas.Marketing benefits for contractorsLinkedIn provides the tools professionals need to market themselves online.Alongside a well-constructed online resume (which is the main function of the site), there are also opportunities for becoming a visible expert in your field.You can also join and create specialist groups, contribute to discussions, upload specialist articles, and ask or answer questions.Make sure you also provide links to any websites or other social networking accounts you hold, or upload your own RSS feed to provide news updates.Finding new sources of contract workFor many years, providing contract job postings was the preserve of dedicated job search boards.  With the rise in popularity of social media sites, there are now more and more ingenious ways of finding new contract openings.By joining specialist IT, recruitment, or company groups, you will have access to contract ads as soon as they are posted (even quicker if you receive email alerts). The LinkedIn &lsquo;Jobs&rsquo; function itself works well, but is does not provide anywhere near the number of contract roles as one of the established job boards, such as Jobserve.James Leckie from business site Company Bug (http://www.companybug.co.uk)explained that the single main benefit of LinkedIn is more subtle: &ldquo;Perhaps the most significant benefit for contractors is that LinkedIn allows you to maintain contact with contractors on other projects who will often be the first to hear about fresh openings on their client sites.&rdquo;&ldquo;This benefit cannot be underestimated. By treating your contracting career as a business, and marketing yourself successfully, you will be ahead of the pack when new contract opportunities come around.&rdquo;Other social networksAlthough LinkedIn is clearly the network of choice for IT contractors, for the reasons discussed in this article, it is worth spending time making your mark on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter so that you have covered all bases.Earlier in 2012, social recruitment firm Bullhorn Reach published the results of a groundbreaking survey into the behaviour of job applicants online, with some surprising results.A Twitter follower is far more likely to submit an application than LinkedIn connections or Facebook friends &ndash; three times more than the former, and eight times more than the latter.As a result, recruiters are rapidly turning to Twitter as a potential good source of leads, so make sure you set up a Twitter account and follow specialist recruitment companies in case a suitable contract role is posted.Although Facebook is more of a personal social networking site rather than a business one, the report&rsquo;s authors expect companies to increasingly use demographic data to target potential recruits. Similarly, Google Plus is expected to move into the recruitment market rapidly due to the lucrative advertising revenue it can generate.James Leckie commented:&ldquo;Contractors can no longer ignore the explosive growth of social networking. Now membership of the leading networks is almost mandatory if you don&rsquo;t want to miss out on opportunities - whether you source contract work via agencies or you own network of contacts.&rdquo; ]]></description> 
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<title>HMRC to launch business tests to provide more IR35 certainty</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_21.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[The body set up to improve the way the IR35 rules are currently administered has revealed that HMRC may soon be ready to publish some online tools to help remove some of the uncertainty which currently surrounds the legislation.Since IR35 became law in 2000, it has remained the most controversial topic of debate within the contracting industry, mainly because the rules themselves are hard to understand, and there are not always clear cut ways to determine whether or not you are caught.Soon after Budget 2011, a new IR35 Forum was formed, tasked with overhauling the way HMRC currently deals with IR35 cases, and also to oversee the implementation of any changes.The Forum is formed of industry and accountancy body representatives, employment status specialists, contractor organisations, and members of HMRC.According to the recently published minutes of the past two Forum meetings, held in February and March 2012, HMRC may soon be ready to release two online IR35 compliance tools. IR35 Business TestThe business test will aim to determine the chances a contractor has to being selected for an IR35 investigation &ndash; low, medium, or high risk.A contractor will be provided with a series of questions, the answers to which are weighted according to their importance to determining employment status, and therefore whether or not IR35 is likely to apply.The meeting notes do show that a great deal of discussion has taken place over the wording of the tests, and the weighting of the answers.Despite some general concerns, the forum members say they expect to finalise the business test over the coming weeks, with a view to publishing it on the HMRC site in April 2012 on a trial basis.IR35 ScenariosA set of common IR35 scenarios will also be uploaded, to provide more certainty over whether or not the rules would apply in typical situations.Of the seventeen original scenarios discussed by the Forum, both HMRC and external experts agreed on the IR35 outcome of fourteen of them.As one of the main aims of the IR35 Forum is to provide clarity over IR35, its members have decided to publish just six of the scenarios:Two are &lsquo;IR35 caught&rsquo;, two are &lsquo;outside IR35&rsquo;, one is a &lsquo;grey case&rsquo; where HMRC and external experts could not agree on the IR35 status, and the final one involves a contract that starts off outside IR35, but subsequently becomes caught by IR35.What&rsquo;s next for IR35?The intention of the Forum is to publish both tools on the HMRC site over the next few weeks. Alongside this new guidance, the Forum is also tasked with helping HMRC target potential IR35 cases more accurately, to ensure that IR35 cases are concluded as quickly as possible, and provide clear and consistent guidance to the public.The Budget 2012 document created further excitement within the industry by stating that the forthcoming Finance Bill 2013 may contain further measures to ensure that &ldquo;office holders/controlling persons who are integral to the running of an organisation&rdquo; have income tax and National Insurance deducted at source. This is likely to have been added in response to recent revelations that high profile public sector workers have been using their own companies to provide their services, rather than joining the payroll as &lsquo;employees&rsquo;.Of course, IR35 was invented to clampdown on precisely this type of arrangement, and given that over half of all HMRC employees are expected to work in compliance roles by 2015, the IR35 Forum will be under extra pressure to provide clarity to taxpayers over the coming months and years. ]]></description> 
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<title>An uneventful Budget for contractors</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_20.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[In a Budget where the Chancellor had very little room for manoeuvre,   most of the headlines will revolve around the decision to cut the 50p   income tax rate, and the substantial increase in the personal allowance   from 2013.The Budget was &lsquo;fiscally neutral&rsquo; according to most   commentators, and there were no stand-out announcements which will   affect contractors significantly.Here are some of the main points from today&rsquo;s speech:Income TaxOn   income tax, the additional rate of tax for taxpayers earning &pound;150,000   or more will be cut from 50% to 45% from April 2013. The Chancellor   cited studies by the OBR and HMRC which appeared to show that the   additional rate had failed to raise significantly more tax, and may lead   entrepreneurs and business leaders to leave the UK for countries with   more accommodating tax regimes.Continuing the Liberal Democrats   aim to raise the personal allowance to &pound;10,000, Osborne took a   significant step towards this goal by raising the threshold by &pound;1,100 to   &pound;9,205 from April 2013.However, a hidden sting in the tail is   that the higher rate threshold, which stands at &pound;42,475 for 2012-13,   will be cut to &pound;41,450 for the 2013-14 tax year.IR35Although   some contractors may have been holding out for some significant  changes  to the IR35 regime, this was never likely to happen. The IR35  rules  remain very much in place, although a further announcement is  likely to  be made on how the administration of IR35 is to be improved  as a result  of recommendations made by the Office of Tax Simplification  a few weeks  ago.GAARThe Chancellor  announced that a  consultation document will be published this summer on  the adoption of a  General Anti-Avoidance Rule, following the  publication of the Aaronson  report. The aim of the GAAR will be to  tackle abusive tax avoidance  schemes. Given the complexity of the UK&rsquo;s  tax system compared to other  countries where similar measures have been  taken, it may take some time  for any concrete measures to actually  take shape.Corporate TaxationThe  small  profits&rsquo; tax rate, paid by limited company contractors remains at  20%  for 2012/13. However, the Chancellor slashed an extra percent off  the  coming year&rsquo;s main rate of Corporation Tax (for companies making   profits of &pound;1.5m or more). The new rate will be 24%, followed by   subsequent 1% cuts over the following two years.Other Personal Tax measuresChild   benefit is to be gradually withdrawn when one member of a household   earns &pound;50,000 or more, and removed for incomes of over &pound;60,000. How   these rules will be effectively monitored remains unclear, however.A   new 7% stamp duty rate will now apply to the purchase of homes worth   &pound;2m or more, and homes purchased via offshore structures will be taxed   at 15%.Tobacco goes up by 5% above inflation (equivalent to 37p a   packet on cigarettes), and alcohol, vehicle excise, and fuel duties   remain unchanged aside from inflationary rises.A new personal   tax relief cap will be introduced for taxpayers claiming over &pound;50,000   per year, although there are no changes to the way pension contributions   are taxed.Other Business Tax measuresThe   Chancellor said that the Budget was &lsquo;unashamedly pro-business&rsquo;, and he   announced a number of measures aimed at increasing investment in the  UK,  including tax breaks for the film industry, and incentives for   exporters.Accounting for the smallest unincorporated businesses   (with a turnover of under &pound;77,000) will be made simpler, and  &lsquo;enterprise  loans&rsquo; may be made available to young people to encourage   entrepreneurism.Further ResourcesFor more information, including the finer details of what was announced today, visit HM Treasury&rsquo;s Budget 2012 page at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/budget2012.htm.]]></description> 
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<title>Budget 2012 Predictions for Contractors</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_19.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[With the Budget just a few days away, some of the UK&rsquo;s leading business and accountancy experts have given their views on what the Chancellor will unveil on the 21st March.The common view is that George Osborne has limited room to manoeuvre, given the massive hole in the public finances. Although few believe that there will be any major personal tax giveaways, the Chancellor will be keen to be seen as ensuring that the better off appear to be bearing their &lsquo;fair share&rsquo; of the tax burden. Here we look at some of the changes which are most likely to affect contractors and consultants:Income Tax RatesWe are unlikely to see any changes to the current income tax rates and allowances as they have already been set for 2012/13.An increase in the threshold before individuals have to pay any tax (a Liberal Democrat policy) is also a possibility, but Kingston Smith suggest this may appeal to the public, but will hurt the public purse:&ldquo;Whilst we all agree that raising personal tax allowances to &pound;10,000 is a good idea to help the lowest earners, it will, in reality, be eye-wateringly expensive. To pay for this, the Chancellor is likely to claw back the abatement for higher rate taxpayers, bringing a sting in the tail for the squeezed middle.&rdquo;IR35 complianceThe Office of Tax Simplification have released their final report into small business taxation, and said that they expect significant progress to have been made by the IR35 Forum, which has been tasked with improving the way IR35 is administered in the future.An announcement is expected at Budget 2012 itself, or within the following few weeks.Martin Hesketh, MD of Brookson hopes to see a marked improvement in the way potential IR35 cases are targeted:&ldquo;We hope to see some positive progress reported from the current IR35 Forum activity on how enforcement activity by HMRC will be more realistically targeted and efficiently carried out.&quot;50% Tax RateSpeculation has been rife in the media that the Chancellor is keen to remove the additional tax rate, as it appears not to be generating any extra revenue for the Treasury. HMRC are due to publish statistics on Budget Day itself, which will show how effective the 50p rate has been since its introduction.Baker Tilly point out that Osborne is more likely to face a political, rather than economic battle to axe the top rate of tax:&ldquo;Politically, the top rate of tax has much support and would be difficult to drop without very clear evidence that it was ineffective and without costing anything.&rdquo;RSM Tenon agree:&ldquo;We predict that the 50% tax rate is likely to be around for some time despite calls from many to reduce it now.&rdquo;Pensions tax reliefThe tax relief you can claim on pension contributions has also been in the spotlight in recent weeks. Some commentators think that higher rate relief may be abolished, so the &lsquo;better off&rsquo; can only claim basic rate tax relief of 20% on their pension contributions.However, Baker Tilly suggest that this is very unlikely to happen:&ldquo;This change is very difficult to implement, especially for employers who make contributions to employees pensions or who operate a defined benefit scheme.&rdquo;The powerful CBI have also warned the Chancellor not to meddle with the current system of tax relief:&ldquo;Any further reduction in pensions tax relief, just a year after the Government&rsquo;s cut to the annual allowance hit many higher earners, would be a breach of trust with those already paying higher taxes, and harm our ability to attract the best talent to the UK.&rdquo;Budget 2012Alongside these personal tax predictions, the Chancellor will be under pressure to increase business investment, which may include changes to the Annual Investment Allowance, and a new investment initiative for investors in start-up businesses.We will post a summary of the major changes which are announced on 21st March here on the Helix blog.]]></description> 
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<title>Is the 50p income tax rate going to be abolished</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_18.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[As the 2012 Budget draws closer, increasing doubts have been raised over the effectiveness of the highest rate of income tax in raising Treasury funds.Business groups and tax experts appear to be united in their belief that the 50p tax rate, which is applied to income over &pound;150,000 per year, actually results in lower receipts for the Treasury as higher earners seek to minimise their exposure to the highest rate of tax.The additional rate was implemented by the previous Government, and took effect from 6th April 2010. All income over the &pound;150,000 threshold is subject to 50% tax, although the total tax paid by a salaried taxpayer could be significantly higher if they pay National Insurance Contributions on the full amount.However, cynicism over the effectiveness of the new tax rate has grown following the production of tax receipt figures relating to the first tax year in which the additional rate was in place.Self-assessment tax receipts downThe Office of National Statistics (ONS) released tax receipt figures for January 2012, which included self-assessment receipts for the 2010-11 tax year.Although the figures showed a current budget surplus, which will have pleased the Coalition, total self-assessment receipts were down by 4.7% on the previous year &ndash; a difference of over half a billion pounds.Higher earners prepared to waitFrancesca Lagerberg, Head of Tax at Grant Thornton suggested that many higher earners will have had time to prepare for the additional tax rate in advance, and carried over drawings from their businesses to the future.Plenty of taxpayers with the means to do so may simply be waiting until the 50p rate is removed before extracting further funds from their businesses.Business leaders put pressure on the ChancellorThis week, 537 small and medium sized business owners have also entered the debate by writing a letter to the Telegraph outlining their view that higher taxation is damaging to the UK economy:&ldquo;Given the current state of the UK economy, we urge the Chancellor to urgently consider scrapping the top rate of tax in his forthcoming budget.&rdquo;The group of business people say that the additional rate was politically motivated, and populist policies should not take priority over sound economics.The letter gives examples of businesses that have been directly affected by the implementation of the 50p tax rate, and points out that the Top 1% of earners contribute 28% of total Government tax receipts.What does the future hold for the 50p rate?Whether or not this letter will result in an outpouring of public sympathy remains to be seen, although it seems unlikely considering the current climate of austerity which exists, and recent scandals involving highly paid &lsquo;fat cats&rsquo;.The Chancellor has commissioned a report into the effectiveness of the 50p rate, although the ONS data mentioned earlier is almost certain to suggest that it has been an ineffective tax raising measure.Unfortunately for higher paid individuals (including some contractors), George Osborne may have to appease his Liberal Democrat colleagues who want to see further taxes imposed on the better off, rather than less.It may simply &lsquo;look bad&rsquo; to repeal the 50p rate, whatever its effectiveness has been in boosting the Treasury&rsquo;s coffers.The Budget will take place on 21st March, and we will provide a summary of the main changes announced on the Helix blog. ]]></description> 
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<title>Contractor group debunks Agency Worker myths</title>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_17.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Agency Workers Regulations became law on 1st October 2011. The main aim of the new rules is to provide temporary workers with more employment rights when they have been working on a job for 12 weeks or more.Unfortunately, the official Government guidance has been criticised for its ambiguity, and as a result, many contractors are still none the wiser about their AWR status.Although PAYE umbrella contractors do fall within the scope of the AWR, the rules are less clear about the status of limited company directors and self-employed individuals.As a result, contractors&rsquo; organisation, the PCG, has published some of the most common myths which relate to the AWR.1. All contractors must work via an umbrella companyUnsurprisingly, this is untrue. It is not the business structure a contractor works under which determines their AWR status, but the relationship that exists between contractor and recruiter. If a contractor has a genuine business-to-business relationship with the hirer, then they are unlikely to be caught by the AWR.2. If a client provides contractors with access to facilities, they will be caught by the AWR?According to the PCG, this is a commonly expressed concern by recruiters.However, it makes do difference to the status of contractors whether or not they are provided with access to certain facilities which are usually provided to &lsquo;permanent&rsquo; staff. 3. Contractors are more expensive to hire due to the AWRDespite reports to the contrary, the PCG says that there is no evidence that contract rates have changed at all since the introduction of the AWR.This view has been backed up by all recent industry reports.For example, in December 2011, the Recruitment &amp; Employment Confederation reported that the AWR was having little effect on the professional contracting market, particularly at the &lsquo;high end&rsquo;.  However, the REC did express its concern that many clients still had not come to terms with how the AWR would work in practice.4. If you have a limited company, then you are out of scopeMany people believe that simply working via a limited company provides protection from the AWR. This is not the case. It is the nature of the relationship between the parties which determines status. If a limited company contractor has a genuine business relationship with his client, then he is very unlikely to be caught.All contracts should transfer all liability to the contractorThis is also untrue. Many recruiters, understandably keen to shift the onus of compliance with the AWR to contractors, have asked if the wording of contracts can be changed to include restrictive clauses.The contractors&rsquo; organisation points out that contracts need to remain flexible, as they must reflect the individual circumstances of each role. For example, if restrictive terms are inserted, they could affect the contractor&rsquo;s IR35 status.Need for clear guidance for contractorsJohn Brazier, MD of the PCG, has urged contractors to download the organisation&rsquo;s guide to the AWR (see resources below).He said that the official guidance lacks clarity, and as a result the PCG (and others) have had to step in and produce unambiguous guides to the AWR.Gillian Econopouly, Head of Public Policy for REC, commented:&ldquo;Recruiters, freelancers and hirers all want the same thing: a healthy, vibrant contractor community which is not affected by these regulations, which were designed to protect workers at the other end of the job market.&rdquo;Useful AWR ResourcesHere are some helpful guides to the AWR:PCG&rsquo;s guide &ndash; Freelancers and the Agency Workers Regulations &ndash; http://www.pcg.org.uk/agenciesThe Regulations in full - http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/93/contents/madeProfessional Passport&rsquo;s contractors guide to the AWR - https://www.professionalpassport.com/Contractors/AWR-Guide/769 ]]></description> 
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<title>Contractors urged to seek specialist advice when applying for mortgages</title>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_16.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[Contractors are being urged to take care when applying for mortgages, following the introduction of a new scheme to double check declared income against tax records.Mortgage verification schemeThe HMRC Mortgage Verification Scheme, which was launched in September 2011, has begun to be rolled out across the UK.Following the start of the economic downturn, the amount of detected mortgage fraud has increased. Experian found that the number of attempted fraudulent mortgage applications rose by 14% in 2010 alone.Although the numbers are still small &ndash; around 30 in every 10,000 applications are thought to be fraudulent - the total sums involved are big.The National Fraud Authority estimates that the total cost of mortgage fraud reached &pound;1 billion last year &ndash; a figure which prompted HMRC to take action.The scheme was contained in Budget 2010, and introduced after the completion of a successful pilot scheme.Although the Council of Mortgage Lenders says that the MVS will only be instigated when a lender suspects that significant inconsistencies exist on an application, some industry experts have raised concerns.How the MVS worksThis is how the new scheme is meant to work:If a mortgage lender has inadequate evidence of income and suspects fraud, they can submit the application details to HMRC using a secure electronic link. HMRC will then check the income details declared by the applicant against tax records and employment returns, and will inform the lender whether or not the details correspond.If major inconsistencies exist, then not only will the individual&rsquo;s application be declined, but they could face problems applying for lending in the future, and even the prospect of an HMRC tax investigation.Concerns for non-traditional workersSome experts believe that HMRC&rsquo;s track record in accuracy is worrying in its own right, and others point out that there are many reasons why the income details of non-traditional workers may not tally.Most contractors are not employed on a PAYE basis &ndash; they typically work via their own limited companies, or some kind of umbrella scheme. The total amount of income received can be hard to prove for many contractors and self-employed people, as funds may not be drawn down in a &lsquo;traditional&rsquo; PAYE basis, subject to income tax and National Insurance Contributions.For this reason, we recommend that any clients who are thinking about applying for a mortgage, consult a specialist with experience in the contracting industry.Why you should use a contractor mortgage specialistTony Harris, from Contractor Financials, our partner IFA, said that rather than relying on the lottery of approaching a lender direct, Helix clients could contact his team for advice in the first instance, as the repercussions of getting income calculations wrong could be severe:&ldquo;Instead of having your mortgage application processed in a High Street branch of a bank or building society by a low grade branch employee, we will make sure that it is placed in front of a key decision maker who we have already briefed as to the nature of your earnings.&ldquo;Thanks to the special mortgage underwriting criteria that we have negotiated for Helix clients, this underwriter will then work off of your gross contract. This means that the lender sees all the proof of earnings they need upfront and you are therefore far less likely to fall victim of this HMRC verification initiative.&rdquo;&ldquo;Depending on your industry we even have mainstream mortgage schemes that are available in the very first day of your very first contract.&rdquo;]]></description> 
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<title>Student loan boss fiasco raises important questions for contractors</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_15.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[Many of our readers will have been following the recent case of Ed Lester, the head of the Student Loans Company, who until last week had been receiving his remuneration via his own personal services company.Clearly, there are tax benefits to be had by working via a limited company, instead of going down the PAYE route &ndash; particularly in National Insurance savings.  There are numerous other benefits too, which are not available to employees &ndash; and presumably shouldn&rsquo;t have been to Mr. Lester.Unfortunately for the Government (and HMRC), the widespread disbelief that resulted from this story has not disappeared, simply because Mr. Lester has been placed back on the payroll.  This episode raises some important questions about how taxpayers are treated, and whether or not those in power have received special treatment,The IR35 rulesThe IR35 rules, which have been in place for over a decade now, were created to prevent employees from setting up their own personal service companies in order to save tax, only to return to jobs where their working practices would indicate that they were still &lsquo;employees&rsquo;.If you are a limited company contractor, but your contracts are deemed to be caught by IR35, you will be taxed as an &lsquo;employee&rsquo; on the turnover generated by these &lsquo;relevant engagements&rsquo;.This story is or particular interest to our industry, as contractors were the main targets of the Intermediaries Legislation (IR35) in the first place. If Mr Lester&rsquo;s contracts would have been caught by the IR35 rules, which appears possible from the details we know, will he now be forced to pay back taxes?If no action is taken, then HMRC could be accused of operating two sets of employment status rules &ndash; one for high-powered public servants, and another for their &lsquo;customers&rsquo; (i.e. taxpayers).Did HMRC &lsquo;approve&rsquo; this arrangement?It is likely that a Government minister would have agreed to this type of remuneration package, but HMRC would have had to sanction it.The Treasury Chief Secretary, Danny Alexander, has since contacted all Government departments to find out if any other public officials benefit from similar arrangements currently, or have done so in the recent past.How many other public servants are currently paid via their own personal service companies?It would appear that this is not an isolated case. Just a few days ago, The Sunday Herald revealed that half the board of the Glasgow-based Student Loans Company were recently being paid as consultants, potentially saving its members thousands of pounds in tax and NICs.Judging by this evidence, it would seem likely that Danny Alexander&rsquo;s &lsquo;audit&rsquo; of all public servants will throw up further examples of so-called &lsquo;tax avoidance&rsquo;.Is there a danger that these headlines could give a bad name to all one-man limited companies?Some may be concerned that the Government will over-react and impose new rules on the operation of personal service companies, however this will be met with stiff opposition from business organisations, and seems unlikely.The irony is that IR35 already exists to tackle precisely this type of situation &ndash; but it has been widely condemned as being poorly targeted, and unfair.It seems more likely that this episode will be perceived as another example of one rule for the powerful, and another for the rest - following on from the MPs expenses scandal, the offshore bank account amnesty, and the current row over publicly owned companies paying their officials large bonuses. ]]></description> 
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<title>Percentage of IT contractors in telecoms up over 40 percent</title>
<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_14.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[New research shows that IT contractors specialising in telecoms are in greater demand than ever, due to retailers upgrading their customer-facing technology.According to the latest research from giant group, the proportion of IT contractors working in telecoms has increased from a mere 12.2% at the start of 2011, to 17.4% in January 2012, representing an increase in demand of over 40%.Shift from traditional to online retail.Despite the series of woeful financial results from some of the biggest names on the high street, and several firms going into administration, there has been a massive shift in shopping habits from traditional to online.Research from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index shows that UK shoppers spent around &pound;8bn online in December alone &ndash; a 16.5% increase on the previous year.As a result, retailers are upgrading their web and mobile capabilities to keep up with demand. In fact, one could argue that they are competing for a share of the new virtual high street, and skilled IT professionals are benefiting from the increased demand for their skills.Web and m-commerce specialists are required to migrate legacy systems to more modern platforms (integration projects), as well as creating entirely new web-based systems.Retailers becoming big IT contractor usersCommenting on these findings, Matthew Brown, MD of the contractor service provider said: &ldquo;Ironically, despite some retailers struggling, retail is one of the few sectors which increased its use of IT skills over the past year. Compared to the banking sector, retailers have never been particularly intense users of IT skills, but that is changing fast as retailers channel investment into m-commerce platforms.&rdquo;As the web continues to change our shopping habits, retailers who embrace the latest technology and invest heavily could gain competitive advantage rapidly, in a way which would never have been possible in the pre-Internet age.Other Survey FindingsThe giant survey also found that the number of contractors &lsquo;on the bench&rsquo; has decreased over the past 12 months, with 80.4% spending 31 days or less between contract assignments (compared to 78.4%).Interestingly, contractors are still seeking longer-term contracts over maximising their contract rate, despite the increased number of contracts available. 65.9% of contractors see a long contract as a primary consideration, compared to 34% who view contract pay as their prime concern.]]></description> 
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<title>Positive outlook as number of IT contract postings rises 25 percent</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_13.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[Analysis of data collected from all the major recruitment websites over the past quarter shows that the demand for skilled IT people has continued to grow, despite the slowdown being experienced elsewhere in the economy.Demand for IT contractors continues to growThe latest quarterly update released by jobsadwatch.co.uk shows that the demand for permanent IT professionals rose by 1.5% during the final quarter of 2011. The number of contract openings posted across the web increased by over 5%, a healthy sign for the state of the contract market going into 2012.Although the demand for permanent IT staff is not growing at the rapid pace we saw at the beginning of 2011, the rate of growth has increased marginally on the 1% rate recorded in the third quarter of the year.The number of IT contracts on offer has increased by over 25% since the start of 2011, which is a good sign for the industry, as freelance staff are typically the first to be shown the door at the start of a protracted economic downturn.Which contract skills are most sought after?For most permanent workers, the increase in demand for most IT skills rose by 1 to 1.5% for most areas during Q4 of 2011 (with Agile skills increasing by 3.1%). By contrast, the demand for contractors in most of the major IT skill areas increased by 4-5%, with some areas increasing by a more substantial amount: Oracle, Agile and SAP contract posting each rose by over 8%, according to the survey.Demand for contractors dominated by the SouthThe IT contract market has always been strongest in the South of the country &ndash; particularly within the Greater London area. This divide in the number of opportunities between North and South appears to be growing each year.Over 70% of all permanent IT jobs are located in Southern England, but 83.5% of all IT contract vacancies are based in the South.In fact, over the past 12 months, the number of IT contract vacancies is up 30% in Inner London, and almost 26% in Outer London. This trend is in stark contrast to the fortunes of the North, with openings in the North West down nearly 18% over the past year. The North East and Scotland have also recorded modest declines in the number of advertised contract roles &ndash; down 2.7% and 3.3% respectively.Cross-industry demand for contractorsTraditionally, the main consumers of IT contract talent are software houses and the financial sector. Each sector continued to advertise contract roles during the last quarter by over 4%.  Over 80% of all contractors currently work in one of the key two industry sectors.The savage cost cutting that has been taking place across the UK has had a profound effect on public sector demand for contractors, although it would appear that this situation has started to level off.Despite a near 30% drop in demand for contractors by the public sector as a whole in 2011, the sector recorded a 5.7% increase in the final quarter of the year &ndash; the second highest increase out of all the main industry sectors.Outlook for the IT industry in 2012The data provided by the quarterly report should provide some encouragement for contractors, as despite the latest round of rate cuts within the banking sector, there does not seem to be any evidence of a slowdown in demand for freelancers, as one would expect if the economy was about to dive as it did in 2008/9.The IT industry as a whole has outperformed most others over the past few years, with private sector investment in IT reaching record levels.By March 2011, e-skills stated that the demand for IT professionals was outstripping the supply of staff for the first time since 2008. By August, the total number of people working in the IT industry neared the 1.1m mark, the highest number ever recorded.You can read more about trends in the IT recruitment market, and browse the current Top 10 skills at www.jobadswatch.co.uk ]]></description> 
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<title>How to work successfully with recruitment agencies</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_12.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[Most contractors work for clients via recruitment agencies. Agents source skilled workers for clients, manage the relationship between both parties, and negotiate rates, renewals, and payment. Here are some tips to help contractors deal with recruitment agencies successfully:1.    When applying for a contract role via a recruitment agent, make sure you tailor your CV to the job, rather than submitting a generic summary of your experience. Many firms now use software which extracts keywords from CVs stored on a database, so include all the specified skills.2.    Write a covering letter for each application. This may not be required in many cases, but it gives a good impression to an agent and shows that you have spent time considering why you are suited to the specific role.3.    Don&rsquo;t subscribe to the &lsquo;us and them&rsquo; philosophy which many contractors do when dealing with agents. You will encounter good and bad recruiters over your career as a contractor, but the same is true from the other side.4.    In order to be paid on time, make sure you submit your timesheets to your agency and upload your timesheet details on the Helix portal promptly. You will be provided with deadlines when you sign your contract, as well as the method of delivery (online, email, or fax).5.    The more flexible you are about the type of contract work you will consider, the better, especially when there is a lot of competition for contract work.6.    Most contractors do not contact specific agencies directly, unless they are in a niche field. You are more likely to come across an agency via an online ad posting.  Similarly, if you submit your CV to a job site, it will be searchable by a multitude of agents who subscribe to the service.7.    Keep your favourite agents, as well as your online profile/resume updated with your latest contract availability.8.    If you are interested in working for a particular company or organisation, you would be wise to find out who their preferred supplier agencies are, and contact the agency directory to see if there are any openings.9.    If you submit your CV to a recruitment agency, make sure you follow up with a phone call. Despite the convenience that online communication affords us, nothing beats the personal touch. If you can develop a good rapport with agents, you will reap the rewards in the long run.10.    Agents make money via the amount of commission deducted from the gross rate paid by a client to the agency. A typical amount might by 15-20%. You are perfectly within your rights to negotiate how much is deducted, if you feel like the percentage is too high.11.    Research the market, and rate checking services, to find out what your skills are worth in the market, according to your experience and location. Use this as a guide to determine whether or not the rate offered for a contract is competitive or not.12.    Most initial IT contracts get extended after the initial period has expired. This may be an opportunity to negotiate a rate increase, but always be pragmatic when it comes to demanding a higher rate &ndash; especially when the market is tough. Securing further work should be your first priority.13.    You may encounter agents who want to find out more about the project you are current working on &ndash; including details of your manager, and other agents who supply contractors to the company.  This is a standard &lsquo;fact finding&rsquo; procedure you should be aware of. You can provide as much, or as little information as you desire.14.   Be aware that, due to regulatory restraints, recruitment agents will only deal with you if you are working via a limited or umbrella company.  You will be unable to find agency work as a sole trader.15.    Remember that agents, clients and contractors themselves all need each other for the market to operate successfully.  ]]></description> 
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<title>Confident outlook for engineering contractors in 2012</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_11.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[A new survey suggests that contractors in the engineering sector are feeling more upbeat about their prospects over the coming year than they were at the same time in 2011.Most engineering contractors believe rates will increase in 2012According to research carried out by giant group, an impressive 61% of engineering contractors said they expect their contract rates to increase over the coming year, compared to 51% who predicted the same outcome at the start of 2011.The report shows that demand for engineering contractors is rising throughout the energy sector, including renewable energy, oil and gas, and power transmission. In fact, there are skills shortages in many other sectors, such as aerospace.This latest report backs up the findings from other surveys carried out in recent months. Oil and Gas ContractorsThe demand for oil and gas contractors, in particular, rebounded strongly following the 2008 credit crunch, and the subsequent rise in the oil price. Recruitment company Hays reported that daily rates for contractors in the sector increased by 30% during 2010.According to the Global Oil &amp; Gas Workforce Survey for the second half of 2011, firms are keeping permanent staff levels static, but supplementing them with contract workers. 68% of hirers in Europe predict an increase in demand for Oil &amp; Gas workers in 2012, and 58% believe that pay will increase too.Research carried out by APSCo also shows that the number engineering contractor vacancies remains up over 20% year-on-year.Contractors opt for higher pay over job securityAnother interesting finding from the giant survey is how engineering contractors weigh up the attractiveness of prospective roles.In a similar survey last year, 67% of those polled valued contract security over pay, and would rather take a longer-term contract over a short-term role with a higher rate.In the latest poll, only 59% of contractors would opt for the more secure contract, perhaps reflecting the growing confidence in the sector as growth has returned following several years of economic uncertainty.Most engineers are not &lsquo;on the bench&rsquo; for longOne of the things most contractors most fear is being &lsquo;on the bench&rsquo; (out of contract) for a significant period of time. For many engineers, this fear would appear to be unfounded.According to the survey, the vast majority of respondents (75%) reported finding their current contractor role within one month, which is significantly less than many job seekers &ndash; in both permanent and contract recruitment.Skills shortages should benefit the contracting industryCommenting on the survey findings, Matthew Brown from giant said that the engineering sector was a bright spot in an uncertain jobs market, with the demand for contractors remaining strong despite the Eurozone crisis.In addition, contractors should also benefit from skills shortages which are growing across the sector:&ldquo;Despite the economic outlook, skills shortages remain a perennial concern. An ageing workforce, and a lack of specialist university courses, is exacerbating skills shortages in some engineering disciplines. Given the supply-side constraints, if hirers face more intense competition for skills next year, it could drive up pay.&ldquo;Some engineering sectors are already experiencing quite serious skills deficits. The growth of the nuclear industry, coupled with the development of renewable energy sources and clean fossil fuels, is stimulating demand for process and chemical engineers for example.&rdquo;  ]]></description> 
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<title>Are you thinking about becoming a contractor in 2012</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_10.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[The start of a new year is often the spur many IT professionals need to consider a new life in the world of contracting.For many, this is an annual ritual &ndash; thinking about how they might be happier as IT contractors - but never actually making the move.For the solid minority who have the determination to go it alone, becoming an IT contractor really can be a life-changing experience.In this article, we look at some of the key strengths you will need to succeed as a contractor in 2012.Going it aloneAs a contractor, unlike permanent IT staff, you will need to find new contract work, and deal with umbrella providers or accountants, agents and clients on your own. This is perhaps the biggest culture shock facing IT pros when they go it alone.Good financial managementAs a permanent employee, you will typically receive a monthly salary. This will stay at the same level each month unless you get a pay rise. As a contractor, you are likely to earn considerably more per day than you did previously, but there may be times when you are &lsquo;on the bench&rsquo; and not earning for periods of time. You will need to budget to make hay while the sun shines, but also keep funds on one side for a rainy day.AdaptabilityThe nature of contract work means that you will work on a wide variety of projects, across different industries, often using different skills. This can be very appealing to many contractors, however it can take some time to get used to for the novice. Being able to adapt to new environments is an important skill for a contractor, as clients will expect you to get on with the job right away. Good presentation skillsWhen you go it alone, you will need to market yourself &ndash; particularly when it comes to preparing your CV. Recruiters often make their mind up about a CV within a few seconds. Keep your CV short, and to the point, with your key experience near the top of page one. Tailor your CV and covering letter to any roles you apply for, and use a professional CV writing service if necessary.Good interview skillsAssuming you have passed the CV stage, you will then progress to the interview stage.  Although clients are after highly skilled professionals to fill staffing gaps, they will always want to ensure that you can get on with your colleagues. Be relaxed and open at interviews, arrive on time, and make sure you present a professional image. Try to find out as much about the role, and the client before the interview, so that you can show commitment to the contract at interview.Keeping up-to-dateIn the fast-moving world of technology, you must ensure that you keep your skillset up-to-date. It is all to easy to sit back in an undemanding role for a year or so, only to find out that you have let your knowledge slip in the meantime when looking for the next contract. Don&rsquo;t be frugal when it comes to paying for IT training and certifications. The web is also a great source for free learning.Do you know your worth?A sense of realism about how much you can earn as a contractor is always a good attribute to have. You can gauge the market rates for your skills via job listings and ranking tools on contractor news sites. The amount you can earn does vary greatly according to the skills you have, and the location of the contract (the majority of all contract work is in the South East). Being pragmaticIn previous articles on the Helix blog, we&rsquo;ve mentioned the &lsquo;opportunity cost&rsquo; in contracting, i.e. do you take a modestly paid role right away, or hold on for a better paid contract which you hope will materialist in a short time? The ability to make this, and other types of decision is an important skill to have if you&rsquo;re considering becoming a contractor. Over time, all your skills will become stronger and stronger. You cannot expect to be a contracting expert from day one, and you are bound to make mistakes along the way (what better way to learn?)It is always reassuring to know that very few people who make the leap into contracting ever regret it!]]></description> 
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<title>Why it is a good time to be a digital IT contractor</title>
<pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_9.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[Although average contract rates in some skill areas have leveled off in recent months, the demand (and pay) for contractors with &lsquo;digital&rsquo; skills continues to race ahead, according to a new market report.The latest edition of the JM Digital Index (for the fourth quarter of 2011), highlights how the web has created a whole new development industry &ndash; even more so as the demand for social media applications, and mobile technology has expanded from beyond the &lsquo;technology sector&rsquo; to blue chip companies, and investment banks.Demand for digital skills in the banking sectorThere are several reasons why the banking sector is particularly keen on hiring digital experts. In the retail sector, the major banks are all competing to offer user-friendly mobile applications, and improved online banking facilities. In the investment banking sector, there is a high demand for skilled contractors to work on trading platform upgrades, as well as integration projects which resulted from the merger of financial institutions following the credit crunch.Ironically, many of the current banking projects were put on hold after the initial 2008 financial crisis, and only started up again over the past twelve months.Competition for candidatesThe survey also suggests that digital agencies and the banking sector are competing for the same candidates. The competition for skills may be an inconvenience for recruiters, but it can only be good for contractors.Commenting on the release of the latest data, CEO of the JM Group, Dave Pye, said: &ldquo;The demand for digital projects has never been so great but the problem companies now face is the shortage of digital skills available. Over the last six months we&rsquo;ve seen a crossover of digital contractors moving from agencies into the financial sector. This has been a real issue for companies which are unable to compete with the rates these banks are offering.&rdquo;Digital agency vs. banking contractsAlthough contractors in the financial sector can command rates 20-25% higher than those working for digital agencies, the cultural differences between the working environments couldn&rsquo;t be greater. Agency work tends to be more relaxed and &lsquo;creative&rsquo;, whereas the working environment in most investment banks tends to be more &lsquo;serious&rsquo;. The survey&rsquo;s authors also point out that the sheer complexity of some banking systems is in itself an attractive proposition for some IT contractors.The choice between choosing digital agency work vs. taking the highest paid work is very much a personal one &ndash; it depends on they type of culture you are happier working in, as well as the contract rate you expect to achieve.Supply and demand for digital contract skillsDemand cannot currently meet supply for developers and designers with digital skillsets. User information architects, information architects, visual designers, and digital developers (with Blackberry, Flex, IOS, Silverlight and Android skills in particular) are in high demand according to the JM Digital Index.iPhone and Android developers can expect to receive daily rates of up to &pound;500,  with .NET and ASP.Net not far behind on rates of up to &pound;450. Flex and Silverlight developers can also expect to be paid up to &pound;500. Unsurprisingly, the highest rates can be found in the financial services sector, particularly in London and the South East.Outlook for digital contractorsThe digital industry is a good one to be in currently. Any decline in the overall demand for contract skills resulting from the economic downturn is more than offset by the rising demand for mobile and online contract specialists.JM Digital says that although digital pay rates have leveled out for the time being, this was preceded by several years of rapid rate growth, and the supply of digital contractors is still unable to satisfy demand.]]></description> 
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<title>Number of contractors set to continue rising</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_8.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[Number of freelancers set to continue risingNew research shows that the number of contractors and freelancers in the UK has risen by 12% over the past three years.According to data released by Kingston University and contractor organisation, the PCG, the total number of people involved in freelancing has grown from 1.4m in 2008 to an impressive 1.56m in 2011.The findings from the report were derived from analysis of ONS and Government data, and show that the freelance sector has grown at a time when unemployment as a whole has increased significantly in the UK due to the economic downturn &ndash; rising over 50% during the same time period.Benefits to employersNot only have employers been forced to cut staff numbers in order to keep costs under control, but &lsquo;flexible working&rsquo; models are also growing in popularity.Freelancers provide employers with an instant, skilled solution to staffing shortfalls, and they can also prove to be cost-effective; contractors do not have the same employment rights as permanent staff, and as they are hired on a B2B basis, payment is free from National Insurance and other costs that are normally associated with recruiting permanent staff.Leading freelance sectorsThe study also revealed some interesting facts about the make-up of the professional freelancing industry:The sectors that employ the highest numbers of freelancers are: arts, literary and media (265,000), management (161,000), and teaching (110,000). The number of IT &lsquo;freelancers&rsquo; is a mere 93,000 according to the Kingston University study, however it is likely that the data does not provide a complete picture of the nature of contracting in the UK, as many contractors do not use the term &lsquo;freelancer&rsquo; to describe their trade. Freelancing a lifestyle choiceJohn Brazier, Managing Director of PCG, which represents around 20,000 contractors, said that the freelancing industry would not only grow as a result of cost-cutting, but also as a result of individuals opting for a more satisfying balance between work and living:&ldquo;The figures underline the steady growth in the sector in turbulent times, and confirm a widely held belief that more and more skilled and talented individuals are opting for freelancing as a work/lifestyle choice, or because of economic circumstances. Freelancers are offering industry and commerce a flexible talent stream when and where it is needed.&rdquo;How technology has changed the way we workAlthough many IT contractors work on project sites, the communication opportunities offered via the web has made it easier than ever for people to work from home, and on the move. Technology can never reproduce the benefits of face-to-face contact, but online collaboration tools now enable project teams to work remotely, for a fraction of the costs charged by service providers in the past.Compared to a decade ago, the advances in technology are astounding &ndash; VoIP provides phone calls via the web for pennies, superfast broadband is facilitating clear video sharing and conference calling, and mobile technology (including the forthcoming 4G) means that freelancers can keep in touch pretty much anywhere, without having to wait an age to download data.Cameron praises freelancersIt is perhaps a mark of how important the freelance sector is to the economy that the Prime Minister was keen to endorse the sector, to mark National Freelancers Day in November:&ldquo;I have a huge respect for all those who make the brave decision to branch out on their own and take control over the way they work. This Government recognises the valuable contribution that freelancers make to the economy and, as more and more people choose to join your ranks, you have all our support.&rdquo;The outlook for the contracting industryThe number of freelancers seems likely to continue growing at a healthy pace over the next few years, as the nature of &lsquo;employment&rsquo; evolves.To save costs, clients are increasingly offering their staff more flexible working packages, including re-hiring staff via their own personal service companies, or via umbrella schemes.Overall, there are clearly benefits to be had by both clients (who can re-assign permanent staffing costs to central rather than project budgets), and contractors (who can earn more, and enjoy more freedom). ]]></description> 
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<item>
<title>How much are your contract skills worth</title>
<pubDate>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_6.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[How much are your contract skills worth?The contract rate you can charge a client is influenced by a range of factors, from the health of the economy as a whole, to the region you work in. Like the cost of any product or service, contract rates are ultimately subject to the underlying economic principle of supply vs. demand.  This equation is, itself, influenced by a number of different factors.In this article, we look at some of the general factors that determine the contract rate you can expect to be paid for a contract job:Health of the EconomyThe state of the general economy has always had a significant impact on the health of the contracting industry. Contractors are historically the first ones to be shown the door when things get bad, and the first resource to be re-hired once a recovery is underway.  Clearly, the more contractor candidates that apply for a dwindling number of contracts, the lower the rates a client needs to offer.Over the past few months, most of the major investment banks have introduced across-the-board contract rate cuts of 10-15%, as part of general cost-cutting measures. However, most non-financial contract market reports released in late 2011 indicate that the contract market as a whole remains remarkably resilient, even if average rates are currently relatively static.Skills &amp; ExperienceThe skills and experience required for a contract role have the strongest bearing on the contract rate you can expect to be paid. The more specialist or &lsquo;niche&rsquo; your skillset, the higher the rate you can typically command. Industry experience may also have an impact on the rate you can command, as well as the level of responsibility you take on within a project. Project managers will command higher rates than most developers, for example.RegionThe location of the contract also has a dramatic effect on pay rates. With the majority of all contract roles based in the South, it will come as no surprise to see the highest rates being offered in London, and the South East. By way of an illustration, a C++ specialist can expect to receive a daily rate of &pound;575 in London, but only &pound;275 in the West Midlands, according to leading contract rate resource ITJobWatch.Negotiation SkillsAlongside IT skills, your ability to successfully negotiate contract terms with agents and end clients is an important factor in determining how much you are paid for a job.The contract rate for a given role is not necessarily set in stone. The client may be flexible on rates according to the quality of candidate on offer. Recruitment agents are paid a commission based on your contract rate too &ndash; and there is always movement to be had if you are able to negotiate a higher rate for you, and a lower rate of commission for the middleman. Given that agents are professional negotiators, you may need to keep your wits about you to ensure that you maximise your rate!Business StructureMost contractors pay attention to the gross rate they can achieve, however there is also a massive difference in the take home pay you will receive according to the business structure you use, and whether or not your contracts are caught by the IR35 rules (http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/ir35_explained.aspx).You should take time researching the market to determine how much tax you are likely to pay depending on whether you use a limited company, or umbrella scheme, and according to your IR35 status.If you have concerns, make sure you discuss the tax implications of IR35 with your Helix representative before signing contracts.Further InformationITJobsWatch (http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/) - the most comprehensive contract rate data out there, sourced from roles posted to the major job boards.TheITJobBoard (http://www.theitjobboard.co.uk/monitor/) - graphical representation of contract rate trends across the UK. ]]></description> 
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<item>
<title>What is IR 35</title>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/ir35_explained.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[The Intermediaries Legislation became law in 2000 via Schedule 12 of the Finance Act. It is better known as 'IR35', after a March 1999 Inland Revenue press release which first announced the Government's plans. The main aim of IR35 was to clamp down on perceived tax avoidance via the use of Personal Service Companies (limited companies set up with the sole purpose of providing professional services). HMRC (previously known as the Inland Revenue) had become aware that increasing numbers of professional workers (particularly within the IT industry) were leaving their jobs as permanent employees, only to return as contractors working via their own limited companies. Many of these contractors were returning to perform very similar IT roles, in similar conditions, to their permanent colleagues, but there were being paid a lot more. Significantly, limited company contractors were paying a lot less tax as a proportion of their income than normal employees. The tax gap between employees and limited company contractors The main issue that led to the creation of IR35 is in the way contractors working through Personal Service Companies (PSCs) are taxed. A standard employee will be paid a salary, net of PAYE (income tax), and Class 1 Employees' National Insurance Contributions (NICs). The employer will also pay Class 1 Employer's NICs on the employee's earnings. Limited company contractors, on the other hand, can pay themselves a small salary which may fall short of the NIC threshold altogether, so will pay no Employers' or Employees' NICs at all. The remaining income is derived from dividends which are taxed at a fixed rate, outside of the PAYE system altogether. IR35 aimed to redress the balance, and ensure that contractors who were deemed to be 'disguised employees' were subject to the same tax rules as permanent employees. Despite opposition the rules from within the industry over the past decade, the Chancellor decided to keep IR35 in place during the 2011 Budget, but has pledged to improve the way IR35 is administered. This will include more targeted investigations, improved HMRC administration, better guidance, and the creation of a new IR35 Forum to oversee these improvements. Complying with IR35 Although your IR35 status is determined by the true relationship that exists between the contractor and the client, the way you comply with IR35 will depend on the type of business structure you contract under. In order to comply with the IR35 rules, limited company contractors need to ensure that their contracts indicate that they are 'in business on their own account', and not merely disguised employees.  Their working practices will also have to tie up with the contract wording for IR35 not to apply. Fortunately, over the past decade since IR35 was introduced, many specialist services are available to help contractors escape the IR35 trap. Employment status specialists can provide thorough IR35 contract reviews for a modest fee, and tax investigation insurance will cover the cost of representation if HMRC decide to conduct a status review. If you have concerns, make sure you discuss the tax implications of IR35 with your Helix representative before signing contracts. Useful Resources http://www.pcg.org.uk - PCG is the representative group for the contracting community, and have led the battle against IR35 since its implementation.http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ir35 - The official home of IR35. ]]></description> 
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<title>Clients turning to the web to recruit contractors</title>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_4.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[Clients turning to the web to recruit contractorsThe first Elance European Online Employment Report, released this month, shows that the UK is leading the pack when it comes to online hiring in Europe. It is now the eighth largest online freelance economy in the world.UK leading the European online recruitment boomThe UK is the leading European country for online hiring, followed by Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Spain.According to the data, London is the hotspot for contractor recruitment in the UK (and Europe), followed by Stockholm, Copenhagen and Amsterdam.The highest earning contractors on Elance are also European &ndash; led by workers from Ukraine, Russia, Romania, and the UK.The type of contract openings are highly skewed towards IT (67,182 posts in Q3  2011), and creative roles (55,867), with smaller numbers of openings available in the marketing and operations areas.IT skills in demandThe hottest skills identified by the survey are heavily weighted towards web-based applications, with PHP programming, Wordpress design, and article writing taking up the top three positions, followed by graphic design, HTML, CSS and MySQL skills.The explosion in demand for mobile apps has also fuelled a 32% increase in demand for iOS skills, and a 25% increase for freelancers with iPad skills. Overall, Android is still the leading mobile-related skill in demand on the site.3D has also made its mark, as clients seek to make the most of visual storytelling technology. The number of contract postings requiring After Effects rose by 24%, Videography was up by 33%, and Final Cut Pro saw a 26% increase.Increasing demand for engineering contractorsIt is perhaps unsurprising that IT contractors are the biggest beneficiaries of the boom in online recruitment due to the nature of the medium, although engineers are also seeing a jump in online demand according to Elance.Chemical engineers saw a 155% jump in demand during the last quarter, with network engineering up 45%, and electrical and mechanical engineering demand up by 28% and 13% respectively.Freelancers changing the way clients workCommenting on the publication of the Report, Fabio Rosati, CEO of Elance, said:&ldquo;The UK is at the forefront of the online worker trend in Europe. Across the country, businesses are embracing the flexibility that a freelance workforce offers and contractors are snapping up opportunities to work online at a time when traditional employment routes are flat-lining. This global trend frees businesses up to recruit the best people for the job in a quick and efficient way. Across our platform, companies are using freelancers to change the way they work and succeed like never before.&rdquo;What is the future for online recruitment?European contractors earned over &pound;25m via Elance during the third quarter of 2011. Although this isn&rsquo;t a massive figure in itself, the sheer growth in demand for online freelancers is impressive.The benefits of online job posting are obvious &ndash; the costs for clients are massively lower than traditional forms of hiring, and contractors can be sourced almost immediately, from a large resource pool.LinkedIn is already heavily used by contractors for sourcing new work, and keeping in touch with colleagues, and many industry experts believe that the &lsquo;online resume&rsquo; may soon replace the CV, as it is far more practical.Recruitment agents for traditional IT contractors are less likely to be impacted by the growth in sites such as Elance, PeoplePerHour and Odesk, as IT contract recruiters generally source people to work on client sites and not to complete individual projects at home.However, the web is rapidly changing the way we do business, and use people, so it may only be a matter of time before web-based applications take the place of recruitment agents as the &lsquo;middlemen&rsquo; between clients and contractors. ]]></description> 
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<title>The Importance of networking to career contractors</title>
<pubDate>Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_3.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[The importance of networking to career contractorsAlthough thousands of contract vacancies are posted online each week, many openings never make it to job boards, as they are filled by word of mouth &ndash; often by colleagues of contractors already working at client sites.In fact, many career contractors rely solely on recommendations from colleagues to source new work.With this in mind, here are ten tips to strengthen your personal network, and increase your chances of finding your next contract without having to compete with dozens of other contractors who may have seen the same contract vacancy online:Ten networking tips1.    Keep in touch with old colleagues &ndash; it goes without saying that, as a contractor, you will benefit greatly by keeping in touch with old workmates. You don&rsquo;t need to go overboard, but make the effort to attend reunions, or go for a drink with old team members every now and then.2.    Join LinkedIn &ndash; the fastest growing business social network, by a mile. You can reconnect with old colleagues, join specialist industry/skills groups, and maintain an up-to-date profile to show your contacts what your current status is, and what your current aspirations are. More and more recruiters are also turning to LinkedIn to source contractors.3.    Maintain an up-to-date CV &ndash; during each contract assignment, update your resume, so you can respond quickly to opportunities created by people in your network, or recruiters in general. Keep the CV short, and place your key skills and experience as near to the top as possible. If you have your career details listed in multiple places online, make sure all the information matches, as inconsistencies could be picked up by potential recruiters.4.    Create a business website &ndash; having a professional online image is more and more important these days. If you provide additional services via your contracting business, this may be something you have already considered. Keep the website regularly updated, and consider posting your CV and contact details. Wordpress is one of the best CMS&rsquo;s available. It doesn&rsquo;t cost much to get a logo designed and to customise your blog.  5.    Join specialist organisations &ndash; make the most of networking opportunities offered by industry groups, such as the PCG, which has over 20,000 other contractor members. Become a member of any relevant industry or skill-based groups, which may provide further opportunities to meet like-minded people, or simply to ensure your skills are up-to-date.6.    Carry business cards &ndash; you simply never know when they may come in handy. Exchange cards with colleagues when you move contracts, and avoid the embarrassment of having to scribble your email address onto a Post It note at your leaving drinks.7.    Manage your online reputation &ndash; with more and more recruiters searching the web for details on prospective contractor candidates, try to keep your online footprint as uncontroversial as possible. Consider using nicknames when contributing to hobby sites, or posting material online. You never know what might come up on a Google search.8.    Don&rsquo;t burn your bridges - get on as well as possible with clients, recruitment agents, and colleagues, and try to avoid getting involved in any office politics. You are an independent contractor, after all.9.    Get known as an expert &ndash; contribute articles to industry websites and magazines, become a contributor to IT forums, and enhance your reputation as an expert in your field, as well as someone who is prepared to help others.10.    Be patient. If you are just starting out as a contractor, it will take some time before you build up a useful network. Follow these basic tips, and it shouldn&rsquo;t be long before you receive your first contract recommendation from someone you have impressed in the past.]]></description> 
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<item>
<title>Risks and Rewards of  IT contracting</title>
<pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_2.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[The risks and rewards of IT contractingLike any other profession or vocation, there are pros and cons to becoming an IT contractor. However, as many a seasoned contractor will tell you, for the majority of IT pros that make the leap into the contracting world, the rewards far outweigh the risks involved.You shouldn&rsquo;t take the decision to go it alone lightly, as contracting will not suit everyone, but most contractors don&rsquo;t look back once they leave their last role as a company employee.Life as a permanent employee has a lot of certainties - job security, training, regular salary payments and performance reviews. With the number of people working in IT at an all-time high, it is a great industry to be in as a regular employee.What risks are involved?As a contractor, many of the certainties you become used to as an employee disappear. Most people find a permanent job, and climb the ladder over the years, or move to similar roles in other firms.  As a contractor, you will be solely responsible for finding new contract roles, negotiating your contract rate, and getting contracts renewed. When you start each new contract, you will be expected to get up to speed right away, and fill a short-term skills gap on a project. You may have a succession of short-term contracts, or others that last several years. You may find yourself &lsquo;on the bench&rsquo; at times during your contracting career, and when the economy is flat, you will have to work harder to secure contract work, and may have to take roles that aren&rsquo;t ideal. Depending on the business structure you choose (limited company, or via an umbrella-type scheme), you will also be responsible for invoicing your agency or end client, and you will have to deal with a certain amount of administrative work &ndash; particularly if you are a limited company director.What rewards are on offer?So, assuming you are the type of person who relishes a challenge, and has had enough of the certainty and normality or a traditional IT professional life, what are the rewards contracting can offer?The most obvious benefit to becoming a contractor is that you can potentially earn a lot more money than you could as a permanent employee.Businesses are prepared to pay a premium to hire contract workers, as they can be called on at short notice, don&rsquo;t add to the &lsquo;official&rsquo; permanent staff count on many projects, and they don&rsquo;t receive the expensive benefits afforded to standard employees, such as pensions, healthcare and training.Contractors take on a fair amount of risk themselves, and this is reflected in the significant gap in pay rates between permanent employees and freelance workers.Your post-income tax will vary according to the business structure you use, and your own personal circumstances, but in many cases you can expect to at least double the salary you could command as a permanent employee.Contractors also enjoy a great deal more freedom than they did before. You will be free to choose the type of work you apply for, take breaks between contracts, and take responsibility for your own finances and administration.You will also gain a great deal of experience of different skill areas, industries, and meet far more people than you may have done in a previous life.Do the rewards outweigh the risks?For the vast majority of contractors, yes they do.If you have the desire and self-confidence to become a contractor, the character traits needed to take the leap are the same ones needed to prosper in the contracting world. The extra freedom, stimulation and greater earnings you will enjoy as a contractor will almost always outweigh any difficulties and inconveniences you may have to deal with along the way.]]></description> 
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<item>
<title>Agency Workers Regulations</title>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/agency_workers_regulations.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[What does the AWR set out to do and how will their latest report affect contractors?  The AWR released a new report on May 1st,   which aims to give agency workers the same basic rights as permanent   employees as soon as they have completed a 12-week qualifying period. The new rules come into effect as of October 1st,   after the government delayed the planned implementation date by a year.   Plans for these new rules had been on the table for nearly a decade,   before finally gaining EU approval in 2008.AWR&rsquo;s latest report will affect agency workers, agencies and hirers in a variety of ways. New benefits for agency workersAgency workers must   have access from day one to the same regular facilities that permanent   members of staff employed directly by the company are entitled to.As soon as agency   workers have completed 12 weeks working on the same project, they are   entitled to equal pay and basic working facilities that regular staff   have.They will also be   entitled to night work, annual leave, rest periods and working time   entitlements, in addition to holiday pay and any bonuses, which are   usually allocated to normal staff.There are a series of   complex rules in place to calculate when this 12-week period has been   completed, and anti-avoidance measures have also been put in place. Which &lsquo;workers&rsquo; are included?Business models are   being adapted by leading schemes to ensure they qualify for the new   benefits. Umbrella company contractors fall under those that will be   covered.Limited company   contractors who are in business on their own account should be excluded,   but simply operating via a limited company will not necessarily exclude   you.It is ultimately up to the courts to decide if an individual is covered by the AWR scope.  The courts will use the same tests that are used to determine IR35 status.Although professional   contractors should be excluded, the AWR report published in May is still   open to interpretation, as it does not provide a clear definition of   what &ldquo;in business on your own account&rdquo; actually means. Example scenario and worker&rsquo;s opinionsCoworth Park, a luxury   hotel in Ascot, Berkshire, recruits many of its catering team for large   events from a recruitment agency called Fully Booked. Andrew Nethercott, a recent graduate working as a supervisor for Fully Booked will be affected by the new report. He said:&ldquo;The new   legislation proposed by the AWR is brilliant for most agency staff. The   main bonus for me is that I will be getting paid significantly more. I   also like the perks of being able to use the hotel facilities that   members of staff are entitled to, as they are quite luxurious at places   such as Coworth Park.Robert Bowyer, Director of Venn Group, said: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s   a certain group of agency workers who will definitely benefit from the   new legislation. However, it&rsquo;s certainly not good for everyone. &ldquo;For us, it&rsquo;s   going to mean that we&rsquo;re going to have to administer the whole process.   We will need to use a service delivery team to monitor placements over   the initial 12 weeks and ensure temps get the benefits they&rsquo;re entitled   to. Therefore, this is an extra cost to us in because we have to manage   the entire process.&rdquo;]]></description> 
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<item>
<title>Becoming a Contractor</title>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[If you are considering leaving your permanent job behind, and starting life as a contractor, here are 10 tips to help you succeed in the world of contracting:1.    Be honest with yourself when deciding whether to go contracting or not. The rewards can be high, but there are some risks too &ndash; such as coping with times when you may be &lsquo;on the bench&rsquo; between contracts. Most contractors don&rsquo;t regret their decision to go it alone, as the benefits of going it alone usually outweigh the pitfalls. 2.    If you are sure that contracting is something you want to do, you will usually need to give notice to your current employer, so that you can start contract work as soon as a suitable role comes up.  There are no guarantees that you will find a suitable role immediately, but you must be ready to react if a job becomes available tomorrow. 3.    Take time compiling your CV, clearly listing your most recent work first, and keep the filler down to a minimum. Keep your CV to 2 pages at most, and make sure you spend time making the document presentable. Most CVs end up in the bin, so make sure yours stands out. Always tailor your CV to the role you are applying to, and include a covering letter. 4.    Consider joining LinkedIn.com and other business networks. Most contractors find new roles via people they already know, so it is worth spending some time keeping in touch. Industry experts predict that social network profiles may take over from the traditional CV over the next few years. Use Twitter.com and your own website to promote your skills. 5.    Use the most popular contract search engines, such as Jobserve.com to find current contracts. Once you find suitable contract roles, submit your paper, or online CV, to the recruitment agencies advertising the posts.  6.    Be realistic about your market rate expectations, especially when the economy is weak. Use sites like itjobswatch.co.uk to find out the current average market rates by skill area and which skills are in high demand. 7.    Always put aside enough funds to pay your tax liabilities.  If you decide to work via an umbrella-type scheme, your scheme provider will most likely deduct tax at source. If you work via your own limited company, you are responsible for putting aside your Corporation Tax liabilities to settle your company taxes, and personal taxes to pay your self-assessment bill each January. 8.    When working on a project site, it is considered &lsquo;bad form&rsquo; to discuss your contract rate with anyone else. Contractors can earn considerably more money that their permanent colleagues, so there&rsquo;s no point putting anyone&rsquo;s nose out of joint, else you might miss out at renewal time. 9.    Make the most of the good times. You may have times when you are out of contract (although some contractors have never been out of work in over twenty years). Rather than spending all of your newfound wealth as soon as you earn it, it is wise to save some income for when things are quiet. Career contractors often aim to have six to nine month&rsquo;s worth of contract income put aside, just in case. 10.    Keep up to date with the rules and regulations that particularly affect the contracting industry. Examples of relevant legislation include IR35, the Agency Workers Regulations, and &lsquo;income shifting&rsquo; considerations. You should ask your accountant, or umbrella scheme provider for help if you have any questions on tax or regulation matters. We hope that these tips provide some initial help if you&rsquo;re thinking of setting up as a contractor. We will be publishing some more specific tips for contractors over the coming months.]]></description> 
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<title>Benefits of Contracting</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/helix_1.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[What are the benefits of becoming a contractor?Companies looking to plug short-term skill gaps often hire professional contractors as a convenient and flexible way to put project teams together.Businesses benefit from having immediate access to expertise, without the costs and liabilities associated with maintaining employees.Although contractors are utilised by many sectors, including engineering and interim consultancy, the term has most widely been associated with IT workers.According to e-Skills, there are now over one million people working in IT in 2011, and a fair percentage of them may end up working as IT contractors.So, why would you consider becoming a contractor?More freedomThe two main reasons why people leave the world of permanent work behind, and become contractors, are the freedom that contracting provides, and the potential financial rewards you can achieve compared to traditional employment.When you become a contractor, you also become your own boss. You will be responsible for finding new contract work, arranging for renewals, and dealing with recruitment agents, clients, and service providers.Contractors have much more control over the types of work they do, where they are based, and what type of industry they work in. Of course, you have to be flexible when it comes to contract work, as many contracts will not tick all the boxes for that &lsquo;perfect&rsquo; role. However, if you are working on an uninspiring project, you will always know that you have the chance to move on in a short period of time.More moneyFinancially, the vast majority of contractors are better off then they were in their previous lives. Clients are prepared to pay higher headline rates for contractors, as they do not have to pay payroll costs, provide &lsquo;perks&rsquo;, or be constrained by the rules and regulations that apply to employees.Contractors benefit by receiving significantly higher rates of pay, although the actual &lsquo;take home&rsquo; pay will depend on the type of business structure you operate through &ndash; usually an umbrella-type scheme, or a limited company.Other benefitsAside from the greater freedom you will enjoy as a contractor, and the potential to make more money, there are further benefits to becoming a contractor.The wide variety of contracts you will typically work on will provide you with a varied and wide experience of different companies, industries, and the opportunity to learn new skills.If you are business-minded, you can expand your new contracting life into other areas, set up partnerships or teams with other like-minded people, and explore other business opportunities that will come your way.Your career progression will no longer be limited as it is with traditional employment, and you can carve your own niche as an industry expert who will be called back for repeat business by a growing list of impressed clients.Things to bear in mindDespite all the benefits we have looked at in this article, the contracting lifestyle isn&rsquo;t all plain sailing.As a contractor, you will need to adapt to new contract roles quickly, negotiate rate increases and deal with a certain amount of paperwork and regulations.When the economy is weak, you will need to be less choosy about the type or roles you apply for, and be prepared to compromise on the contract rate you command. It may take a little while for you to get used to life as a contractor, without the safety net that you enjoyed before as a permanent employee.However, most contractors never look back once they have made the leap!If things don&rsquo;t work out for whatever reason, at least you have the luxury of knowing that the demand for permanent staff is very strong. ]]></description> 
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<title>New Website for Helix Management</title>
<pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.helixcontractor.co.uk/File/new_website_for_helix.aspx</link>
<description><![CDATA[March 2011 has seen the launch of our new Helix website. Powered by an integrated content management system, the website has been redesigned and rebranded in collaboration with web developers WestWindMoves.The website contains many features such as this new blog, improved usability and navigation, online savings calculator, Contractor Illustrations and an online registration application.Social MediaWe are also integrated with the social media channels, follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep abreast of the latest developments.]]></description> 
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