If you read any of the dedicated contractor websites, you might get the impression that the industry is shrinking, as contractors enter employment.

While some within the industry have decided that the pressures of IR35 and the other issues affecting contractors mean it is no longer suited to their needs, what we have seen is an increase in new and existing clients finding an outside IR35 contract.

Despite the reported ‘doom and gloom’, we have seen a spike in people returning to contracting in recent months and this has resulted in a 25% increase in our client base.

The pandemic has forced many workers to reassess what they want from their life, and the recent rise in job vacancies and the challenges of recruitment has meant that many more businesses are now turning to contractors for support.

Despite the challenges of IR35, there has probably never been a better time to be a contractor and we are finding that many individuals are able to  choose where and how they work.

The evolution of remote working has also had a massive impact, with many contractors now able to work from home broadening their geographic area of work and creating lots of new opportunities.

This has, in many ways, also forced the hand of many businesses who are changing their approach to IR35 determinations to make sure that they can secure the expertise they need.

At the end of the day, contractors have a choice where they work and will naturally choose to work outside of IR35 if the opportunity exists, which in the current market it certainly does.

So, despite some experts pronouncing the ‘death of contracting’ our feeling is that the market is changing and both contractors and those who use their services are adapting to meet each other’s needs.

We remain incredibly positive about the future of contracting and will remain here to support the needs of our growing client base.

Want to learn more about our services for contractors? Get in touch.