You are here : Home ›  The contracting basics

The contracting basics

“We recognise that people have many different reasons for choosing to become a contractor, each with their own individual circumstances and each requiring some help from a contractors’ accountant.” Barry Roback, FCA , Joint Chief Executive

If you’re thinking of heading north to work for a while then the chances are you’ve considered the UK as your base.

The UK offers great working opportunities, especially for people who do not require a work permit and have a European Union or British passport. Britain has a flexible employment market, which includes a buoyant contractors market. General unemployment is currently at 5.2%, compared to other EU countries, with France and Germany’s current rate of unemployment at over 10%. 

Skip the details and Register your interest online now

Why should I work in the UK?

If you like the flexibility of being able to change roles and not get involved in “office politics” then contracting is for you. You will be able to achieve a higher rate of pay and not be “tied in” to one role. There are many roles available in the UK.

Is working in the UK a viable option for me?

Providing you have the appropriate visa or passport there are a number of industries and professions which are well suited to contracting, these include; information technology (IT), education, engineering, policing and security, driving, medical, construction and social care.

But there are no hard and fast rules to who can become a contractor – If you have specialist skills that are in high demand then you can build a successful career as a contractor regardless of your industry or profession.

To view industry specific online resources visit our Work in UK links page

Where can I find contracting work in the UK?

The best place to begin your search for work is online. Unless you have an impressive network of contacts abroad you will probably need to secure your first contract through a recruitment agency or online job board.

Recruitment agencies will post all their contracts on a selection of online job boards, so in addition to finding potential contracts you will be able to access the contact details of the most appropriate agencies for you. You will also find their jobs posted directly on the Recruitment Agencies website.

Visit our finding a contract page for links to all the major UK online job hunting resources