Personalised Payroll for Every Contractor

We support contractors, both new and experienced with personalised payroll solutions. As a specialised umbrella and CIS payroll company, our practical expertise ensures a seamless experience, allowing you to focus on your career.

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Contractor Benefits

(Hover over each title to see more info)

24/7 Access to a Doctor

Virtual medical care for the contractor and their immediate family (partner & children up to the age of 23) with unlimited, round the clock access to a GP via the GP Consultation service.

Comprehensive Insurance Cover

Our standard package includes extensive insurance: public liability, employers’ liability, professional indemnity, drivers’ negligence, personal accident cover, and commuting protection.

Free Self-Assessment

Free self-assessment if engaged for 39+ weeks in the tax year, half-price for less than 39 weeks’ engagement (Standard fee: £250 +VAT).

Premier Rewards Package

Access to exclusive perks via Stonebridge Premier rewards, including discounts at retail stores, cinemas, restaurants, and medical support services and fuel.

On Time, Swift Payments

Experience speedy payments after a swift joining process with our multilingual specialists ready to assist.

Access to Contractor Portal

Online portal to access personal and payment details plus full history of self-bills.

Easy Set-up

Register with us to become an Umbrella employee and start working within minutes. The process is quick and easy.

Pension

To secure your future financial stability by participating in our employment pension scheme or making regular contributions to your private pension or SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension).

Holiday Pay

Umbrella employees have the option to accumulate holiday pay, and are also entitled to paid maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.

No matter your journey, we’ve got you covered

As a contractor, imagine having a reliable partner who handles your invoicing, taxes, and paperwork while you focus on your projects. That’s what we offer – protection and support for your independent work journey, ensuring you stay compliant and stress-free.

UmbrellaUmbrella

Enabling you to retain your employed status and move freely between assignments.

UmbrellaCIS

Collecting payments on account from sub-contractors and ensuring you get paid.

UmbrellaPEO

Your agency will let you know if you need to be paid through PEO, ask us if you have questions.

Ready, set, join?

Click ‘Join Stonebridge’

Stonebridge will contact you

Complete Registration Documents

Upload RTW and accept contract

Calculate your Take Home Pay

Curious what your pay could be if you go contracting? Or is your latest contract inside IR35 and you’re now in search of a reliable umbrella company that guarantees on-time payments? Our take-home pay calculator can provide an estimate of what you’ll be seeing in your back pocket.*

Calculator

Weekly hours worked

Pay rate

£0,000.00

Weekly Umbrella PAYE take home pay

*Our calculator is based on assumptions that you are on a standard 1257L tax code, Class 1 National Insurance and you have no additional income.  Calculations are for illustrative purposes only and are subject to change. When you calculate, you are consenting to submitting your details for future communications from Stonebridge.

Who we work with

  • Construction workers
  • Rail workers
  • Data security & tech workers
  • Education workers
  • Health & social care workers
  • Telecoms Engineers
  • Agencies
  • Experienced contractors
  • Just-got-my-first-contract-ors

Speak To Us

Our accreditations

Speak to an expert

Our dedicated team are on hand and ready to offer
all the help and guidance you need

Are you already working with us?

Contact our Employee Support team on 020 4591 2677

Frequently asked questions

What is an umbrella company, and how does it work?

When you work through SB Pay's umbrella service, you become our employee while carrying out temporary assignments for our agency partners and their clients.

We manage your payroll, PAYE tax and National Insurance, holiday pay and other employment administration. You'll receive a payslip each time you're paid showing your gross pay, deductions and net pay.

What documents do I need to provide?

You'll need to provide the information and documentation required to complete our registration and Right to Work checks, including proof of address, your National Insurance number, bank details and, where available, a P45 from your previous employment.

If you hold a British or Irish passport, we'll require a copy of your valid or expired passport.

If you do not hold a British or Irish passport, we'll usually require a copy of your passport or applicable identity document and a valid Home Office Right to Work share code.

If you don't have a passport, alternative documents may be accepted. Our team will let you know what is required to complete your Right to Work check.

How do I get paid?

Your payment frequency will be confirmed in your assignment schedule and is typically weekly or monthly. You should follow the agreed process for submitting your timesheets or hours worked.

SB Pay will process your pay through PAYE, making the applicable Income Tax, National Insurance and other deductions.

You'll receive a text when your payment has been processed and can access your payslips and other financial documents through our online portal.

Am I entitled to sick pay?

As an employee, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), subject to meeting the applicable eligibility requirements.

If you're unable to work due to illness, you should notify us as soon as possible. You can self-certify for the first 7 calendar days; after this, you'll need to provide a valid fit note.

Where eligible, SSP will be calculated and paid in accordance with the applicable statutory requirements.

How does holiday pay work?

SB Pay calculates holiday pay at 12.07% of the hours you work. By default, this is paid alongside your weekly pay.

You can instead choose to have your holiday pay retained by SB Pay and paid when you take annual leave.

Am I entitled to other statutory payments?

As an employee, you may be entitled to statutory payments such as maternity, paternity or adoption pay, subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.

What is the umbrella margin?

SB Pay retains an agreed umbrella margin from the assignment income received from your agency or end client. This covers the administration and employment services we provide, including payroll processing, compliance and ongoing support.

The margin and applicable employment costs are accounted for before your gross taxable pay is calculated. You'll receive information explaining how your pay is calculated before your assignment.

What is a Key Information Document (KID)?

A Key Information Document provides important information about your engagement, including how your pay is calculated and the deductions and costs that may apply.

SB Pay prepares the KID and sends it to your agency for them to provide to you.

Does IR35 apply to me as an umbrella employee?

No. As an employee of SB Pay, your employment income is already subject to PAYE Income Tax and National Insurance.

IR35 is primarily relevant where services are provided through an intermediary such as a Personal Service Company (PSC).

Can I work for more than one agency?

Yes. Your employment with SB Pay operates under an overarching contract, allowing you to undertake multiple assignments.

You should let us know about any other assignments you're undertaking so we can ensure your employment and payments are administered correctly.

Will I be insured?

Yes. While engaged through SB Pay, you'll benefit from our applicable Employers' Liability, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance arrangements.

Further details and current insurance certificates are available on request.

Will I have access to a pension scheme?

Yes. SB Pay operates a three-month pension postponement period. At the end of this period, you'll be assessed and, where eligible, automatically enrolled into our workplace pension scheme with NEST.

You'll receive information about your pension and, once enrolled, can opt out if you wish.

Will I be considered self-employed or an employee?

When you work through our PAYE umbrella service, you are employed by SB Pay and receive the applicable employment rights and statutory entitlements.

What is the Apprenticeship Levy?

The Apprenticeship Levy is an employment cost payable by qualifying employers to help fund apprenticeship training.

Where applicable, it forms part of SB Pay's employment costs and is accounted for before your gross taxable pay is calculated. It is not deducted from your gross pay.

Why is Employer's National Insurance shown on my pay information?

Employer's National Insurance is a cost to SB Pay as your employer and is not deducted from your gross pay.

The assignment rate received from the agency includes the funds required to meet employment costs and SB Pay's margin. Once these are accounted for, the remaining amount forms your gross pay, from which personal deductions such as Income Tax and Employee National Insurance are calculated.

 

How much tax do I pay?

The amount of tax you pay will be dependent on factors including your tax code, your year to date earnings and your sources of income. For a summary of deductions for your personal circumstances, please email us at [email protected].

Why am I on the wrong tax code?

Please send us your P45 to ensure that you are on the correct tax code for your employment. If you believe your tax code to be incorrect, our payroll department will advise you to contact HMRC. Unfortunately, we are not able to discuss this with HMRC on your behalf.

Do I get holiday pay?

You will receive holiday pay which is calculated at 12.07% of your gross earnings. This can be accrued by Stonebridge for each period that you are paid, then paid out to you upon request or paid each week with your wages.

What insurance am I covered by?

As an employee of Stonebridge you will be covered by our Employers Liability, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurances. For more information on these insurances, please email [email protected].

What other statutory benefits am I entitled to?

You are entitled to claim statutory sick pay, statutory maternity, paternity and adoption pay. To claim sick pay, we will need to see a doctor’s certificate, at which point we can check if you meet the qualifying criteria. In order to claim maternity pay, we will require a MAT B1 maternity certificate and a letter informing us of your due date.

What is the apprenticeship levy?

From April 2017 some employers will be required to contribute to a new apprenticeship levy to help fund apprenticeship training. The levy is calculated as 0.5% of all earnings subject to Class 1 secondary (Employers) National Insurances contributions. It will be deducted from the gross amount we receive from your agency, before we process your payment.

Why is employers national insurance deducted from my pay?

Your umbrella company will invoice your agency for the work you have undertaken. At this point, the funds belongs to the umbrella company, as your employer. Employer deductions such as employers National Insurance, pension contributions and the company margin will then be deducted. The amount remaining will be your gross income and the amount which your tax and National Insurance contributions will be calculated on. The assignment rate offered to you by your agency will have been increased compared to a direct PAYE rate to accommodate these deductions.

Do I get opted into a pension scheme?

We will send you a text message once we have processed your pay which will indicate when you are being paid. You will also receive a payslip via email which will detail your gross earnings and a breakdown of your deductions. This will then be uploaded onto your online portal for you to view at your convenience.

How do I know I have been paid?

We will send you a text message once we have processed your pay which will indicate when you are being paid. You will also receive a payslip via email which will detail your gross earnings and a breakdown of your deductions. This will then be uploaded onto your online portal for you to view at your convenience.