8th March is a special day for many women across the globe, as it is International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day celebrates the economic and cultural achievements of women from all backgrounds.
In celebration of this special day, our article looks at ‘Women in Contracting’.
Contracting – open to everyone
For a long time contracting was seen as a career path for men. Thankfully, this perception is changing and more women are choosing to go down the contracting route.
There are many reasons why women choose to become a contractor, they want to reap the economic benefit’s that can be achieved by contracting, they want more control over their career or they might be stepping their foot back into the working world after a period of leave and have decided to go down a different route other than the traditional ’employee’ one.
It’s fantastic news that more women are becoming contractors, but there is still a lot of work to be done until the number of women contractors equals that of men. For those women who are thinking of becoming a contractor, there has never been a better time to do it.
Many industries are experiencing a skills shortage and one of the ways to plug the skills shortage is to encourage women to enter these industries as contractors.
The construction and engineering sector is one such industry that is experiencing a massive skills shortage. The lack of skilled workers could have a catastrophic effect on the industry in as little as 5 years. The effects of this shortage are already been felt by housebuilders and engineering firms who are struggling to find enough skilled workers to fill open positions.
Trade bodies, construction and engineering firms and colleges are coming together to create a co-ordinated approach to encourage more women to work in the industry. This includes grass root projects in schools and colleges and also targeting women who are looking to return to work after taking a career break.
The demand for skilled contractors has also been helped by Brexit. A number of businesses have been put off taking on permanent members of staff due to the uncertain political environment we find ourselves in, and have turned to the flexible workforce to fill employment gaps.
Ready to take the leap?
If you are ready to enter into the contracting world, there are a couple of ways you can choose to go.
These are via an umbrella company or through your own limited company.
If you are unsure if contracting is the right option for you, maybe working through an umbrella company is the best option until you are sure that this is what you want to do long-term.
If you already know that you want to be a contractor for the foreseeable future then working via your own limited company could be the most tax efficient option.
There are a number of factors to consider with setting up your own limited company and it is best to gain expert advice from a firm of contractor accountants, such as ourselves.
You are not on your own
Everybody needs a helping hand now and again, and we are here to guide you through the process of becoming a contractor. Our News section contains numerous articles that detail what is involved in becoming a contractor, such as how to choose your limited company name, if you need to become VAT registered and much more.
If you want further information, our downloadable guides go into these things in greater depth. Or, if you simply want to talk an expert, give us a call on 020 8952 2234 and we will be delighted to discuss your requirements in further detail.