Glossary

Service Provider Sector

Service providers offer specialist tax, accountancy and administrative support, and advice for the professional freelance workforce. The specialism provides support to independent professionals across a variety of sectors, all of whom choose to operate as either independent businesses, limited companies, employed by umbrella companies or as self-employed individuals. The tax regulations and employment status legislation affecting professional contractors is complex and the service provider sector exists to support the flexible workforce in being compliant with their tax and legal obligations.

Other common terms

Employment Agencies & Businesses

Government departments often differentiate between employment agencies and employment businesses. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) categorises employment agencies as those companies

Limited Company

A Limited Company must be incorporated at companies house, have its own unique company registration number and is governed by the requirements of the Companies

Offshore Structures

This term refers to any structure including a company that is based offshore (i.e. not in the UK) that offers services to UK recruitment agencies