The UK’s improving financial performance has been helped, in a large way, by contractors. That is one of the conclusions offered in the RSA’s (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce) recent report on how small business benefits the UK’s economy.

Small businesses, the rise of the self-employed and the role of contractors were all factors in driving UK productivity and righting the titling ship in a post-2008 Britain.

Umbrella’s Louise Sayers had this to say on the report’s findings: “Well at Umbrella HQ we are often singing the praises of contractors, so this report chimes perfectly with that! Its just further affirmation of the positive role contractors play in our economy bouncing back and improving year on year.”

“What it also shows, however, is that small businesses, the self-employed, contractors and freelancers, really don’t get the recognition they deserve at times. There are over 5million businesses in operation in the UK with less than 10 employees, representing over 90% of the UK’s private firms: we just don’t hear enough about their achievements and their importance to our economy.”

“Contractors, in particular, have really grown in number since the recession. Their ability to help businesses bridge skills gaps or adjust to skill sets to suit projects helps keep Britain flexible and agile – two vital qualities in the global market place today.”

“The fact is that contracting is now a career choice of many the rather than the few. It is something people enter into knowing they can get the variety of work, the competitiveness of pay and the support structure from firms like ourselves to make sure they make the most of what they earn.”

“Having that robust environment around contracting and freelancing has undoubtedly helped grow the influence of contractors in the UK economic sphere, and long may that trend continue!”