Latest Audi technology helps contractors stay in touch on the move
Editor | 6 September 2016
Audi
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umbrella
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vehicle leasing
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Contractors
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Wireless
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Technology

In today’s world of relentless communication and notifications, many people have become inseparably reliant on their mobile phones. This is especially true for businesspeople, particularly contractors, who are in charge of their own businesses and need to remain a phone call away from clients, subcontractors and others.

In-car technology is continuously improving and Audi, whose cars remain ever popular when it comes to business car leasing, has just announced an upgrade to the firm’s Phone Box technology that will make staying in touch even easier for contractors with iPhone 6 and 6s smartphones.

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Bad reaction to public sector IR35 proposal
Editor | 22 August 2016
public sector
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IR35
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Contractor
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ipse
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Fcsa

Industry insiders have responded negatively to a consultation on the government’s latest IR35 proposal.

The proposal would see public sector organisations made responsible for determining the IR35 status of a contractor. Practically, this means that many more Personal Service Company contractors will be caught out by the IR35 legislation.

The contractors would be forced to pay tax as if they were traditional full-time employees, without enjoying any of the same employment rights and benefits.

Many inside and outside the industry see this as unfair. There is also a large amount of concern about some of the proposal’s unintended consequences.

The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA) warned against leaving the decision to parties that will struggle to make an accurate IR35 assessment. 

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Uber drivers go to court over employment status
Editor | 28 July 2016
Uber
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Gig economy
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Self-employed
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employment status
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Labour market

The so-called ‘case of the year for UK employment law’ will see a group of Uber taxi drivers go to a tribunal to argue that they are not self-employed and so are entitled to employment benefits like sick pay and holiday pay.

Experts believe that the outcome of this legal challenge could send a shockwave through the jobs market. The ruling could influence employment practices in a range of sectors and industries. 

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Corporation tax cut: Finally some good post-Brexit news
Editor | 11 July 2016
YouGov
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Brexit
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Corporation tax
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FSB
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Small Business
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George Osborne
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Financial Times
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cut rate

Much of the business news to come out since Britain took its decision to leave the EU has had a gloomy edge to it. The results of a YouGov poll released on Thursday showed that the number of businesses pessimistic about the future had almost doubled from 25% before the referendum to 49% afterwards.

Also earlier this week, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) urged political leaders to step up, after their small business confidence index slipped to a four-year low. 

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‘Punishment budget’ dropped after Brexit vote
Editor | 28 June 2016
umbrella
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umbrella accounts
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Brexit
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politics
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contractor services
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Cloud accounting

The Chancellor George Osborne has withdrawn plans for an emergency ‘punishment’ budget - that could have resulted in higher taxes and lower levels of public spending - in the wake of the referendum vote for Brexit.

This spells good news for contractors, who have been stung as a result of several recent budget statements from the current Chancellor...

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What the Deliveroo case means for the future of self-employment
Editor | 1 September 2016
Deliveroo
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self-employment
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Uber
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Future of work
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BEIS

The city centre food delivery company Deliveroo has been told by the government that it must pay its workers the minimum wage unless they are ruled as genuinely self-employed by a court or HMRC.
The warning came after Deliveroo....

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Contractors are covered by tougher corporate manslaughter driving laws
Editor | 8 August 2016
vehicle consulting
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vehicle hire
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vehicle lease
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Contractors

Organisations have been provided with a stark reminder that they are responsible for not just the health and safety of their own employees whilst driving ‘at work’ but also for any contractors they engage. This comes after Baldwin’s Crane Hire was fined £700,000 under tougher corporate manslaughter laws and ordered to pay £200,000 in legal costs...

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Proposed IR35 changes slammed by employers
Editor | 13 July 2016
intermediaries legislation
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IR35
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hmrc
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Businesses
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Flexible labour market

Businesses have slammed some proposed changes to the Intermediaries Legislation that would mean that businesses were responsible for determining when the IR35 laws applied, instead of a contractors Public Service Company (PSC).

Businesses that use a lot of temporary staff, raised concerns that the new rules could be costly, burdensome and constraining. These businesses also stressed that it could affect their relationship with temporary workers.

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On the road: safety reminder and a welcome new partnership
Editor | 5 July 2016
vehicle leasing
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Contractor
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cars
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umbrella

The latest research from AA Drivetech provides a timely reminder for contractors driving to fixed places of work for set time periods. Looking at road fatalities spanning 2009 to 2014, the study found that a higher number of drivers were killed whilst commuting on a regular journey than staff driving to varying destinations for work reasons, such as to meetings or when making deliveries.

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Finance Bill amendment could result in some contractors having to repay expenses
Editor | 20 June 2016
finance bill
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Contractors
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Clause 14
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Travel and Subsistence
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expenses

http://team@umbrella.co.ukFortunately though, no Umbrella.co.uk contractors will have to repay any claims since April 2016.

Confusion about the wording of the Finance Bill 2016 resulted in some contractors claiming for Travel and Subsistence (T&S) expenses when they shouldn’t have. An amendment to the bill has now been applied retrospectively to April, meaning that anyone who claimed for expenses incorrectly will now have to repay the money. 

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