Insights & Industry News

A successful assignment starts long before a worker’s first day. Whether you’re placing an umbrella PAYE worker or a self-employed/CIS subcontractor, ensuring the right information and documentation is available from the outset can help avoid onboarding delays, reduce payroll queries and create a better experience for agencies, workers and end clients alike.

We’re proud to announce that SB Pay has achieved SafeRec certification – the UK’s most robust, real-time compliance framework for umbrella companies.

The long-awaited (and slightly feared) 2025 Budget was delivered in parliament today by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. With some significant changes coming into effect next year that’ll affect staffing agencies, including an increase in the National Minimum Wage, we’ve summarised the key announcements.

On the 21st of July, ‘L-Day’, the government announced tax polices to help close the tax gap, protect umbrella company workers and ensure the temporary labour market operates ethically and fairly. The legislation, while still in the draft stage, will roll out from April 2026, and with the introduction of Joint and Several Liability, recruitment agencies must act now to ensure they only engage with compliant umbrella companies, because the repercussions could be devastating. In this article, we summarise the new tax policies that will be rolled out next April and provide helpful advice for recruitment agencies that take compliance seriously. Initially, Joint and Several Liability may sound daunting. However, it also presents exciting opportunities for agencies that want to help set the standards in the build-up to, and beyond, April 2026.

In April 2025, new guidance was released on the government’s website called ‘Examples of good practice for umbrella companies in the temporary labour market’. While written for umbrella companies, the guidance provides helpful insight for the entire supply chain—outlining how compliant umbrellas should operate and, in our opinion, highlighting the importance of having a Preferred Supplier List consisting of umbrellas that can prove they adhere to the very highest compliance standards.

As StoneBridge Pay has evolved and grown over the past 8 years, we’re delighted to announce that, starting today, we have launched a new dedicated Operational Team.

On Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered the Spring Statement to the House of Commons. We’ve summarised the key announcements in the Spring Statement, separated by category.

The government has issued its response to the umbrella company consultation which ran in 2023. Keep reading and discover the key developments, including the new responsibilities for recruitment agencies from April 2026.

As 2024 draws to a close, the umbrella payroll industry has experienced significant developments shaping the landscape for contractors, recruitment agencies, and umbrella providers alike. From regulatory shifts to technological advancements, here’s a detailed recap of the key talking points that defined the year.

Yesterday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget announcement outlined significant developments that will affect both the umbrella and recruitment sectors, as well as broader economic processes, all aimed at promoting fairness and compliance.

How might a Labour government impact our contingent workforce? After 14 years of Conservative control, the general election saw the Labour Party come into power marking a significant turning point.