Hudson Contract, the UK’s largest payroll company for freelance builders who are registered under HMRC’s Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) received contracts for 1,245 new operatives in the space of just nineteen working days last month.
Says the firm’s Managing Director, David Jackson “The construction industry is living through its fourth consecutive year of falling workloads. Around 2,500 building firms went into administration last year, and the Federation of Master Builders has just warned the recent VAT increase will mean the loss of a further 7,500 jobs in construction in the months to come.
“However, against the backdrop of ongoing job losses amongst the employed workforce, there is a definite trend of increased momentum in construction’s freelance sector. There are plenty of contractors who are absolutely delighted to be able to offer such work as their order books permit – they understand the commercial advantages of tapping into a pool of self-employed expertise. Utilising the skills of freelance builders enables contractors to be more cost-competitive, and gives them the vital flexibility they need.”
Hudson Contract is reporting a 33 per cent leap in turnover in just nine months, with a corresponding increase in the number of contractors using their service and the number of freelance builders being contracted and paid.
David Jackson adds, “Most of the 1,245 new operative contracts are from our existing 1,400 clients, who range from small construction firms to PLCs, so I am especially pleased they are able to offer work to so many additional freelance builders. It shows the flexible workforce within construction is in demand, even though job opportunities from employers are in decline.”
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