Hardhats
You might have heard a rumour that if you contract your subbies through payroll or umbrella companies, they’ll take care of the insurance. It’s utter bollocks. Even if they vet all the subbies thoroughly, accidents happen, mistakes happen, and insurance claims happen. Why would they want to take on that risk – it’s just extra […]
The use of subbies in construction is not unusual – we all know that. And HMRC knows that too, which is why they are unlikely to bother you if you only work with subbies every now and then. But when you work with your subbies long-term, HMRC starts to get a little more interested. Why? […]
You’ll hear us talking about the importance of contracts a lot. And that’s because they really are the best way to protect your construction business from an HMRC enquiry into the employment status of your subbies. Not only that, but they ensure there’s no ambiguity between you and your subbies, reducing your financial risk if […]
Would you rather be on the golf course with your mates or fielding questions from HMRC about the employment status of your subbies? Even if you aren’t a golf fan, we bet you’d prefer to face 18 holes. In fact, there’s probably a whole host of things you’d find preferable to an HMRC enquiry. After […]
There are many myths surrounding the long-term use of subcontractors in the construction industry. Government guidance on what constitutes genuine self-employment is vague. And many payroll companies spread misinformation on purpose to scare construction firms into using their services. While there isn’t one single thing that determines employment status, there are three key “tests” HMRC […]
There are many myths surrounding the use of subcontractors in the construction industry. One of the common myths we hear is that subcontractors can’t drive your company cars or vans. This isn’t true. Your subcontractors can drive your company vehicles. However, if HMRC suspects you are disguising employees as subbies, they might use the fact […]
Many payroll companies would have you believe the only way to use subcontractors long-term is to use a payroll company, but it isn’t. You can work with self-employed subbies for as long as you want, as long as you can demonstrate they are genuinely self-employed. But if you are simply trying to disguise your employees […]
Nobody starts a construction business because they find admin, paperwork and health and safety policies exciting. But boxes have to be ticked. Information is required. And all those certificates, licences, and subcontractor details need to be stored somewhere. So why not kill two birds with one stone? Protect yourself from HMRC enquiries into the employment […]
The combination of myths, mistruths and misunderstandings surrounding how you can and can’t work with subcontractors is causing unnecessary headaches for construction firms. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to share the truth behind the bollocks so construction firms can make decisions based on facts, not hearsay. A common subject that causes confusion is […]
Do you need a formal contract for services between you and your subcontractors? Or should you just keep the arrangement informal? Is there any point putting official paperwork in place when you’ve already been working with your subbies for a while with no issues? Or can you just carry on as you are? Well, that’s […]
Last year, the Lighthouse Sportsman’s Luncheon raised £58,000 for the charity, which is why we’re over the moon to be sponsoring the event for the second year in a row. And we’re hoping this year’s event will raise even more money for this amazing charity. About Lighthouse Club The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity has been […]
If you’ve ever looked into getting a subcontractor contract drawn up, you’ve probably come across the “right to substitution” clause. It’s something we’ve mentioned ourselves in previous blog posts. But what does it mean, how important is it, and are you obliged to honour it? After all, you probably don’t want your subbies sending any […]