Glossary

Umbrella Company

Umbrella companies employ contractors under the terms of a permanent contract of employment, meaning that the individual receives all 84 statutory rights and employment benefits whilst also having the flexibility to work for a series of different end-clients. The umbrella company provides employment benefits such as access to pension schemes, paid leave for holidays, maternity, paternity, sickness etc. The umbrella company is also responsible for the provision of appropriate insurance. The umbrella company also undertakes all of the necessary administration such as checking visas, invoicing the agency for any work undertaken, collecting payment and calculating the amount to be paid to the freelancers, ensuring that appropriate PAYE tax and NICs are paid to HMRC.

Other common terms

FCSA Charter

The FCSA Charter sets out the minimum ethical standards and levels of conduct expected from the Freelancer & Contractor Services Association (FCSA) Accredited Members. All

HMRC

Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HM Revenue & Customs or HMRC) is a government department responsible for the collection of taxes and National Insurance contributions,

Sole Traders

This term is used to define self-employed people who run their business for themselves and take full responsibility for its success or failure. Unlike working