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The results are in...

Good Morning contractors! Thank you to those who have shared their feedback in our recent iContract survey. Here's just a snippet of the feedback we've received both good and bad, and furthermore, how the iContract team is addressing any issues raised. What's good...

iContract serves its purpose well of connecting contractors with recruiters and helping contractors find contracts

You're excited about future features like the Mobile App and Rating System

You're enthusiastic about future offline events we have planned

You like the design, style and branding of the platform

What could be improved...

Some of you haven't had luck with suitable contract recommendations

There could be more contracts to apply for

You'd like more direct hiring managers to use the platform

You'd like to see more sectors

What we're doing in response to this...

We're constantly improving the algorithm

We're educating job posters on the platform, particularly the importance of adding Skills to contracts

We're reaching out to more direct hiring managers and we've recently seen a few consultancies register for the platform and start to post jobs

We will be looking at expanding beyond our three sectors in the near future so keep posted

Thank you again for your valuable feedback which is extremely important in helping us improve iContract and making it the best platform possible for contractors. We are listening but do bear with us and understand that it can take time to get things right. To hear more about the future of iContract, be sure to listen to our recently recorded Podcast with iContract CEO Amanda Cai. And there is still time of course to leave your feedback on the iContract survey and be in with a chance to win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers. Thanks again and see you all soon! The iContract Team

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iContract Podcast Episode: iContract is LIVE, with iContract CEO Amanda Cai

It's been just over a month since iContract went LIVE and we've seen the platform grow from strength to strength. A lot has happened since our launch and with all that's been going on we thought we'd take a moment to look back on the last few weeks. iContract CEO Amanda Cai took the time to speak about iContract's journey so far, and shared her vision for iContract whilst thanking those who have made the platform's progress possible, plus highlighting that the team is always keen to hear from contractors about how the site can be improved. Have a listen here, and also be sure to take part in the iContract survey and share your feedback, and be in with a chance to win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers.

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Keeping healthy as a contractor in the autumn/winter months

With August now a distant memory, could the next week or two be the last chance to enjoy warmer climates and bask in the sporadic sunshine we’ve been privy to this summer.

All the signs are now signalling the return of work and soon we will be experiencing cooler temperatures and autumn will be on its way. Some people may find the transition from summer to autumn difficult and the sudden change and exposure to colder climates might make them more prone to feeling ill or catching a cold. Not an ideal situation for when returning to work. Here are some tips to keep healthy during this change in season.

Light Exercise

The key to good health is keeping active and fit. Where some people enjoy a morning run to keep the blood pumping and start their metabolism for the day, it’s important to maintain some form of light exercise in these coming months. Exercise can be anything you want it to be, a brisk walk, cycling once a week to work, or a quick swim after work – whatever it is, you’ll feel more active for it and less sluggish.

Eat and Drink Well

Eating and drinking well is key to keeping healthy in these colder months. Ensure you don’t resort to bad habits and eat meals that are nutritous and will keep you energised throughout your work day. If ever you’re feeling peckish, keep satisfied with healthy snacks such as nuts and fresh fruit, and stay away from foods with saturated fat or a high sugar count. Equally try to keep away from fizzy drinks and stay hydrated with water. In these colder months, treat yourself to nutritious and hearty meals such as stews and soups.

Control your hours

As the days get darker and temperatures drop, you may feel a bit more lethargic and prone to hibernation. With this, it’s important not to burn yourself out. At this time of year, your immune system will be tested with the many colds and flu bugs roaming around. As a contractor, it’s imprtant you don’t let yourself get in a vulnerable state. Don’t overdo it in the office and keep control of your hours and maintain that flexible work life you’re no doubt enjoying.

Have you registered for iContract yet? Join over 1,500 contractors taking more control of their lives as contractors. Register your profile for free today.

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What are the biggest concerns of start-ups when hiring?

The digital world we currently inhabit is a remarkable one that is growing exponentially. With the UK’s start-up scene blossoming, and various new industries waiting to be disrupted or ‘Uber-ised’, it is an exciting world to be part of and a great time to get your start-up idea off the ground with many investors always keen to stake a claim in the next big thing.

Whatever stage your start-up is at, the hiring process will always prove to be challenging, even for the most skilled and experienced HR professional. For today’s start-ups, what seem to be their biggest concerns when hiring?

Budget

The art of hiring has to be both sensible and sustainable. Whether a start-up has received a large amount of investment, or is working with tighter finances, budgeting is something a start-up will have to pay serious attention to when investing in new talent.

Tech talent is something huge in demand and developer rates vary from individual to individual. It’s easy for start-ups to get lost amongst the talent out there and find the appropriate rates their organisation can work within in financially.

Flexibility

This can be linked to the idea of budget, but start-ups in their early stage will not want to make too drastic investments and commitments to their hiring needs. A start-up and its concept may need time to fully realise its capability as a platform and with that, budgets may have to be staggered over a longer period of time in line with the growth of a company. This is where working with talent that can be flexible to a start-up’s need is important. Finding that right talent that matches the flexibility of a start-up can be difficult, particularly amidst the large body of tech talent that is available to connect with.

Skills

When investing budget on hiring, start-ups must do so sensibly and correctly. This means that most importantly, they hire the right talent that is going to take them forward. If we look at the tech industry in particular, there are individuals working within this community all from different backgrounds and varying skill-sets. Finding the right talent that ticks all the boxes skills-wise can be extremely challenging within a talent pool that is continually expanding. Start-ups can waste huge amounts of money and time having to assess candidates and if they have the right skills for a role, way before they even consider whether a person is a right fit for their company personality wise.

iContract is the new online platform connecting contractors to live contracts. Start-ups can post contracts and be instantly recommended to contractors that match their budget and need for flexibility in terms of contract length and days per week working. With its skills based algorithm, start-ups can be matched to contractors that fit the specific skills requirements they need.

Register with iContract as a start-up for free here and start posting jobs to our growing contractor community and streamline your start-up’s hiring process.

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Take our iContract survey and be in with a chance to win £50 of Amazon vouchers

Help shape the future of iContract! Leave your thoughts on our contractor survey and be in with a chance to win £50 of Amazon vouchers

Good Morning Contractors! It's now been nearly a month since iContract went LIVE and since then we've seen the platform grow with more contractors, recruiters and live jobs, and so with that we say Thank You for being part of our story. To help us continue our journey, we need your help and invite YOU to leave your feedback and thoughts on your iContract experience so far. Please answer just a few questions about iContract on our online contractor survey here. Your valuable feedback will help shape the future development of the platform and help make iContract the best platform out there for contractors. By completing our survey, you'll also go into a prize draw where you could win £50 worth of Amazon vouchers! So be sure to share your iContract experience with us today!

You can register with iContract as a contractor for free here. It’s simple to register and takes just a few steps.

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Get your contractor profile seen on iContract

iContract is a platform helping contractors find their next contract opportunity in the fields of finance, legal and tech. More specifically though, these contracts are tailored towards a contractor’s unique requirements as well as their skills and experience. No longer will contractors have to deal with positions advertised to them that are irrelevant to them with iContract a platform where they can find contracts that are closely matched to their contractor profile.

Contractors can be instantly recommended to contracts that are highly suited to them based on their individual preferences. As a contractor, you can directly apply for these positions or go one step further and interact directly with the recruiter or hiring manager advertising them.

In order to get the best possible experience out of iContract as a contractor, follow these simple tips and you’ll see your profile get noticed by more recruiters and hiring managers.

Actively seeking or not?

One recently added feature we’ve incorporated into iContract is the actively seeking or not seeking toggle bar. This gives you as a contractor the chance to advertise more publicly to recruiters and hiring managers that you are keen to find your next contract. Or if it’s a case that you’re not on the hunt for a new contract, it lets recruiters and hiring managers know this so to avoid any time wasted for both of you.

Profile Picture

An image speaks a thousand words and having a strong profile picture not only makes a good first impression, but also helps you stand out from the crowd. Ensure your profile is updated with your latest professional profile picture. Having a profile image will give your profile more identity and that added layer of professionalism that recruiters are looking to spot.

Skills

Your work experience, biography and other sections of your iContract are all important facets in creating a fully optimised and efficient user profile on iContract. One element however that needs strong attention to detail is your profile’s ‘Skills’ section. With iContract’s skill based algorithm, iContract search matching engine will generate more accurate results based on the skills that a contractor has entered into their profile, and the skills entered into the details of a contract posted by recruiters or hiring managers. Have a good think of what your top skills are and ensure they’ve been entered to ensure your recommended contracts are specifically matched to the type of roles you have the skill set for.

Your contract needs

Finding the right contract that ticks all of your boxes can be a tall order. Much like how. for recruiters finding that one contractor that ticks all of the boxes can be a difficult task to. Thanks to iContract’s criteria focused search engine, we’ve made it easier for contractors to connect with the right recruiters that are posting contracts that are closely matched and compatible to a contractor’s desires. When setting up or editing your contractor profile, ensure details such as contract rate, contract length and location have been entered in accurately and to the specific detail that you require. This will ensure recruiters and hiring managers who are looking for contractors that match your description, will discover you more easily thanks to the specific details you’ve set for your profile – which you can always change at a later date if your circumstances change.

iContract, the new online platform connecting contractors with recruiters is now LIVE! Connect with a community of over 300 recruiters and hiring managers that have posted over 500 live jobs. Register for free as iContract continually grows each day, and find your next contract with ease. Register today for free.

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How to get your iContract job noticed by contractors

iContract is both a platform for contractors looking for their next contract, and of course recruiters looking to connect with contractors that can be placed in contracts they are advertising.

For recruiters and those seeking to connect with new talent, iContract offers an innovative way to locate and connect with the right candidate quickly and easily. No longer will recruiters have to trawl through CV’s or dangle their advertised contracts amongst the many job boards and networks in the hope that they will find the right candidate amongst the thousands they have screened their job to.

With iContract’s contract recommendation feature. Contractors will be instantly recommended to contracts based on their contractor profile’s unique preferences, likewise based on the details of your contract, iContract will make instant recommendations to contractors who you can instantly invite to apply for your position.

When posting your next contract on iContract, here are some important details to pay attention to.

Location

Contractors can edit their preferred locations of work in their iContract profile. Most contractors are quite flexible about working in certain locations if they happen to operate from a large city like London. For instance, being based in London you’ll find they should be open to working in locations in the London commuter belt. Hence the importance of adding a location in your contract as any recommendations will take into consideration location preferences. The last thing you’ll want is a contractor who ticks the majority of your boxes but can’t work in your contract’s location.

Rate of pay

Finding that contractor and getting them placed in a position is difficult enough. One added detail you’ll have to contend with after you’ve made a placement is negotiation of pay. Any negotiation is tricky and having your contract as transparent as possible with a clear listing of its daily rate will help any contract finalisation process with both parties knowing what each is offering.

Where we know that not every contract can have a precise day rate and may just have a ball park figure to play with, iContract’s toggle bars can help you advertise what this is to a contractor when setting a contract’s day rate.

Skills

iContract’s skill based algorithm ensures that when a contract is posted, recommendations are made based on this specific criteria. Before posting a contract, take a good look at all the skills that will be required for a role and list them to produce more accurate results. By adding skills, iContract’s search matching engine will generate contractors that are more highly suited to your position thank to them having the skills that are listed on your contract.

Length

With many contractors enjoying the flexibility that contracting offers, any contractor reviewing a potential contract will be keen to see what the contract length is. Contractors crave diversity in their work and may be deterred by contracts that are lengthy or details around this are sketchy. Like with rate of pay, ensure you use iContract’s toggle bars to set the contract length of any job you post.

iContract, the new online platform connecting contractors with recruiters is now LIVE! Connect with a community of over 1,300 contractors that is continually growing each day, and place your next advertised contract with ease. Register today for free.

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Three important matters you’ll need to deal with as a contractor

Starting in a full-time permanent role - although laced with the initial challenges of convincing an employer you are suitable for a position - can be a fairly seamless process in that most of the administrative detail needed to help you get set-up is carried out on your behalf. For things like payroll and national insurance, you’ll just be required to provide a few details and sign a few papers and that aspect of your work life is taken care of by another department in your organisation. For many this is a big plus point of working full-time.

Looking at contracting as a form of employment, it is quite the opposite when contrasting it to full-time employment, in that as well as your own work, you’ll be personally responsible for taking on a number of admin duties and won’t be able to rely on your employer to carry this work out for you. Many of course see this as just a small price to pay for the freedom and flexibility contracting offers, along with the financial benefits that can come with it. So as a contractor, what are some of the most important things you’ll have to be responsible for managing.

A Mortgage

Buying a property as we all know can be a challenging ordeal filled with stress. Acquiring a mortgage is a big part in the whole property purchase journey and is another process that isn’t as straightforward as many would like it to be. With your economic viability for a mortgage assessed through your earnings, working on a freelance basis makes an assessment of your finances that more difficult. Despite the complexity of mortgages, a mortgage for any contractor is possible and can be achieved through the right mortgage provider who understands your unique situation.

Insurance

Working in a full-time role, there are probably a number of things you’ll take for granted. What if I get ill or even injured at work? What if my work laptop breaks? These are things that will be covered by your work through their own insurance policy. Working as a contractor, you are self-sufficient and things like work equipment cover or sick pay insurance are things you’ll need to make sure you’ve organised in the event of any type of emergency. The last thing you’ll want to do is lay out on expensive repair fees for your personal equipment or lose a week’s earnings because you were unable to carry out your work as a contractor because of sickness.

Accountancy

The end of tax year periods may have passed you by in the past when working as a full-time employee. This is largely because your employer’s accounts department would have dealt with important financial matters such as Tax and National Insurance Contributions. As a contractor, you are no longer a PAYE Employee and therefore are responsible for correctly accounting for your earnings on a yearly basis. Accountancy is by far one of the most important matters contractors have to contend with.

If you’re a contractor, or just starting out as a contractor, and are in need of assistance and support with any of these matters, be sure to access iContract’s community of service providers. With expert advice on Mortgages, Insurance, Accountancy and other important matters, our first rate providers are there to help you with any enquiry you may have.If you’d like to make an enquiry, get in touch here.

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Kingsbridge on Contractor Insurance

The following post aims to help you truly understand what contractor insurance is, why you need it, and how it can be useful for you. We know that as soon as you hear the word ‘insurance’ your eyes might glaze over. In reality, it’s an essential part of conducting and growing a business as a contractor.

What is contractor insurance?

Contractor insurance is protection for anyone who works for themselves – whether that’s as a contractor, a freelancer, or by any other name. You’re self-employed, so you’re responsible for covering your actions and any potential risks to your business, as well as the clients you work with.

A good insurance package can cover self-employed professionals in any number of industires, whether that’s Oil and Gas or IT, Media or Banking and Finance.

Why do you need contractor insurance?

Although, as a contractor, you can choose who you do work with and who you don’t it’s unlikely that you’ll know your clients well. If you give professional guidance, and your client alleges you’ve given them bad advice or made a mistake, you need to be ready to protect yourself. With professional indemnity insurance from Kingsbridge in place, for example, you’d be covered up to £1 million in any one claim. This means any legal defence costs, as well as any damages awarded to the claimant, will be covered.

And what about other risks you might be exposed to as a contractor? Having a compliant and comprehensive insurance package will give you peace of mind across a wide variety of areas. If you get injured at work, you’ll be covered. If you damage the property of a client, you’ll be covered. If your client visits you at your workplace, you’ll be covered. For the costs involved, making sure you have cover in place is a very sensible option.

How can Kingsbridge help?

We aim to take the worry out of insurance and the burden of protection off your plate. We understand you’re busy as a contractor, so that’s why we specifically cater to the self-employed professional of today. Our insurance package rolls five products into one to make the process as straightforward as it can possibly be. We protect your contractor business with:

Professional indemnity insurance

Public liability insurance

Employers’ liability insurance

Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance

Occupational personal accident cover insurance

Some of the benefits of our five-product insurance package:

You’ll be dealing with an A-rated insurer

You’ll have cover from previous work

You’ll get an easy-to-manage package

It’s fast and straightforward to buy online

We cover an extensive range of professional occupations

We have flexible payment options

For more information, get in touch with our friendly team and they’ll answer any questions you have. You can call us on 01242808740 or chat with our online advisors by visiting www.kingsbrige.co.uk and clicking the yellow button in the bottom right.

Kingsbridge are one of iContract’s trusted service partners, visit our services page here to request more information.

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Data Protection – changes ahead and risks to insure

The Data Protection Act that came into being in 2000 will be replaced by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018.

The aim is to bring data protection law up to date so it reflects today’s user values, behaviours and use of online and social platforms by society.

The GDPR is structured in such a way to give people greater control over their personal information whilst aiming to unify EU data regulations. It has been made clear that the GDPR will not be affected by Brexit for those in the UK.

The definition of personal data, as set out by the European Commission is wide ranging. Whilst we are all aware that confidential information such as bank details or medical records are covered by data protection it will be the case in May data such as names, social media posts and photographs – in fact anything that identifies you – will be covered by the new legislation.

Many professional organisations, including accountancy practices, legal firms, brokers of varying types, recruitment agencies, umbrella and payroll companies will need to carefully assess their data handling, procedures and safeguards. Such reviews and evaluations have already begun for many. Over the coming months the updating of privacy policies and the obtaining of permissions for all types of data will be necessary.

With reviews commencing in earnest it will be timely to dust off and check current insurance policies to ensure coverage shortfalls are addressed and that cyber risk is properly considered.

Cyber insurance covers the losses relating to damage to, or loss of information from, IT systems and networks. While existing insurance policies such as a business interruption or perhaps professional indemnity may provide some cover against certain aspects of cyber risks it is increasingly apparent that UK businesses are considering bespoke cyber risk insurance to ensure more robust coverage. The majority of policies acquired are by those businesses who:

Rely to a high extent on websites in the conduct of their business

Hold customer data including addresses and bank details of individuals and companies

Regularly process payments where cards are used

With the recent increase in cyber-attacks and security breaches resulting in loss of data and often funds cyber risk has inevitably become a boardroom “ hot topic “.

The Information Commissioners’ Office who already has significant enforcement powers under the current DPA will oversee a new regime of fines brought in by the GDPR to ensure compliance by those handling data. It is therefore essential that you read up on the subject and know your responsibilities.

If you would like to know more about cyber risk insurance you can contact Adrian Stewart at Caunce O’Hara at –

adrianstewart@caunceohara.co.uk or on 0161 833 2100

Caunce O’Hara are one of iContract’s trusted service partners, visit our services page here to request more information.

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Why today’s employees are always looking ahead to their next job

Contrast today’s candidate to your typical candidate twenty years ago, their ambitions are very different. Where the candidate of the past would be interested in choosing a career and sticking it out for the long haul and climbing the corporate ladder, today’s employees have made job hopping a fashionable thing and made this trend the must have item on any CV. So what seem to be the main reasons behind these modern day aspirations?

Seeking new challenges

Candidates today have itchy feet. As much as they will jump head first into a role and accrue as much knowledge and experience as possible, they are soon looking for a new challenge six months to a year down the line. Could this desire to seek out new challenges have something with our tech obsessed world where average attention spans and patience have been reduced to minimum levels. Candidates are in constant search for excitement in their working lives and are always looking ahead to what new challenges they can sink their teeth into.

Freedom!

A new challenge comes with it the prospect of learning new skills and developing your candidate profile. Previous roles and work experience a candidate may have taken on, may have not allowed them enough freedom in the way they work and their role will have been confined to a strict set of guidelines that they had to work within. Today’s candidates are curious creatures who want the freedom to try new things and explore new ways of working.

Financial Reward

One obvious motivator for candidates seeking out new opportunities within a short space of time has been financial incentive. With there a plethora of opportunities that offer a competitive work environment and financial package, their desire for change is understandable. With the world of contracting offering lucrative financial reward, it is no surprise why many employees are becoming a part of this industry which is also flexible, challenging, and exciting to a candidate.

iContract, the new online platform connecting contractors with recruiters is now LIVE! Register for free today and take control of your life as a contractor and find your next contract today!

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Get first rate contractor advice from iContract's service provider community!

With iContract now LIVE for over a week, we hope you're making great use of the platform and interacting with fellow iContract users.  As well as searching for your next contract, getting instant recommendations to live roles, and chatting with recruiters and fellow contractors, did you know that iContract has an active community of Service Providers that are here to help you on any contractor related enquiry you may have? Perhaps you're looking for a new mortgage that is in line with your latest contract, financial advice on investment, guidance on contractor insurance, or a new accountancy provider? iContract has a number of first rate and highly recommended solution providers that you can access through the site. Simply go to the 'Services' tab within your dashboard, and from there you'll be able to perform a filtered search of what your specific contractor requirements are, where you can select your desired provider and access further information about them, and get in touch with them. They are there to help with any issue you may be facing as a contractor and are keen to hear from you all!

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iContract - one week on...

What’s happened at iContract since we went live

What a difference a week can make! It’s been non-stop here at iContract since we went LIVE last week with lots of exciting moments, and more still to come.

In our first live week we’ve registered over 200 more contractors in a short space of days, as well as seen more live jobs posted to the platform by more teams of recruiters who are newly registering to iContract on a regular basis.

We’ve received great feedback on the platform from many users and garnered fantastic press coverage online about our launch.

We are constantly aiming to enhance your experience of iContract with features being improved and new ones introduced according to your feedback – have you seen the actively seeking and not seeking toggle bar we’ve implemented? Remember iContract is a community for contractors, so be sure to connect with your peers and interact and talk with them about all contractor matters. You never know what might come from your discussions!

Thank you for being part of our story so far and helping us reach this pivotal milestone. More exciting times lie ahead for iContract and we want to continue sharing our journey with you. Stay connected and keep posted for further updates on iContract!

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Common frustrations in finding that next contract

Ask any contractor about their experiences in finding work and for the majority of time their response will be solid but not spectacular. Most contractors seem to just manage and get along OK in finding that next contract. It might be through a job board, a LinkedIn advertisement, word of mouth, and other more ad-hoc ways that most contractors seemingly will just put up with.

There is arguably a great deal of frustration within the contractor community about the means of finding their next contract. What seem to be the biggest problems that contractors face today in their job hunting exploits?

Irrelevant matches

Skilled contractors who are in demand will certainly get their fair share of job offers from numerous sources, be it online or over the phone. 9 times out of 10 however, a contract that is offered to them bears no relevance to them whatsoever, whether it be based on their skills and experience, or their preferences be it location or day rate. They have been contacted about these roles usually due to a lack of research and there not being the correct tools to assess whether they’re a fit for these roles.

Lack of detail

In the numerous job boards that are available, they are without question plentiful in the amount of contracts that are listed. However, the details on some of these contracts are sketchy to say the least. Where there seems to be a heavy focus on description and a lot of hyperbole surrounding how great the role is, there is a lack of clarity on details such as location and pay. This drums up a several conundrums for contractors with them not knowing whether to pursue these contracts and go the distance with them, without the knowledge that these may not be well suited to their personal requirements.

Where and when are these jobs live?

Like any job search, you can be inundated with choices of sites to visit and platforms to use to find your next opportunity, and it’s usually a case of dumb luck that you’ve stumbled upon an ideal role for yourself. With no go-to place to visit for contract opportunities, contractors are unsure of where to visit first to find that next contract. Where are the type of contracts I want being posted, and where are they being posted, and how often?

iContract the new online platform connecting contractors and recruiters is now LIVE! iContract instantly recommends contractors live roles that are specifically tailored to what they are looking for, based not just on skills and experience, but also their individual contract preferences. No longer will contractors be invited to opportunities that are irrelevant to them - iContract is a contractor’s go-to platform for all their contracting needs. Register for free now at icontract.co.uk.

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Summer holidays – is it a good or bad time for contractors?

There is much debate concerning the summer holiday’s impact on industry activity within professional sectors such as finance and IT. With the majority of UK workers taking extended breaks during the summer months, this period is largely considered to be a quiet time for UK businesses and in particular UK contractors, who also see it as a time to regroup and recharge before their return to work in early to mid September.

However, activity experienced last month offers a different argument with 61.1 being announced as the index score of IT contractor demand in July, just slightly behind the 6.9 score that was registered back in May.

So are the summer holidays right to be regarded as a slow working period, or is there room to suggest this time holds a lot of potential for contractors to keep busy?

The key decision makers away

It’s considered that the main reason behind the summer months being a slow period for all is that key decision makers are away. This is everything from talent hirers to managers in certain departments. You’ll find with this that nothing much really gets done , decisions are delayed and things generally calm down in an organisation. Work places almost go into a state of slumber or hibernation and generally just breeze along in the weeks leading up to autumn. If anything, this time is a chance for contractors to keep their ear to the ground of who might be hiring in the coming months.

Is there demand to keep up the slack in summer?

The summer months are a popular choice of time for everyone, not just decision makers or people higher up in a work hierarchy. Could this lead to a build up in work for organisations due to people on holiday, putting demand on this work to be covered somehow? With so many employees taking time off, do companies who are particularly busy in the summer months, need to hire in temporary talent to plug the gap and help pick up the slack in an organisation?

A long hot summer or a winter of hibernation?

The summer holidays are never a popular time to work full stop. Whilst your stuck in the office, others will be out enjoying the sunshine and other warmer climates. Most contractors or professional workers in general will want to get a slice of this summer action and take as much time as they possibly can and not face the four walls of an office.

There are others who could be quite the opposite and may want to take advantage of the potential demand there could be due to the shortage of talent in the summer months. The prospect of working through a long and bitter winter may seem less appealing to working through a long hot summer. Is there then a large community of contractors who would sacrifice their summer for a winter where they can take a break from work?

Uncertain times

2017 has certainly been a mixed bag for contractors. With the industry still feeling the aftermath of Brexit in both positive and negative ways, the recent election results in early June made for further instability. Certain industries such as finance are still having to deal with these changes caused by the UK politics scene and this is continuing into the summer months. Could this be a short-term golden age for contractors that hasn’t allowed time for summer breaks?

No sign of a summer slowdown here at iContract, with over 400 live jobs currently on the site in finance, legal and tech. Register your profile for free today and find your next contract on the new online platform connecting contractors with recruiters.

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Returning to work: getting back into the swing of things

Ok, don’t get mad at us! We know summer’s not over but the autumn months will without a doubt be here sooner than you think! This will be the time thousands come back from their holidays and prepare themselves for the coming months until the next big holiday season, Christmas!

Going back to the reality of work can be a hard transition but here’s some useful tips to help you get back into the swing of it and get you motivated for what lies ahead!

Set yourself goals

When returning to work, you’ll want to hit the ground running and ensure your motivation levels are high so you don’t get off to a slow start. Think about things you’d like to achieve from now till up to Christmas. With a defined list of specific goals, you can easily track your progress in the workplace in relation to these and work progressively towards achieving them.

Keep yourself mentally and physically fit

These past summer weeks, you may have relaxed a bit too much and found yourself over indulging in certain things. Of course this should be encouraged on any summer break but just ensure you don’t carry this into your work life. Being fit and healthy is important in keeping yourself alert and productive in the work place. Doing a little bit of light exercise and getting back into a routine of healthy eating, combined with some light reading and intellectual exercise, will ensure you keep sluggishness at bay and you arrive back for work raring to go!

Get back into your routine

Putting your feet up during the summer, you’ll no doubt have taken advantage of those late lie-ins and well deserved to! With your imminent return back to work, you’ll have to start training yourself back into a rhythm again with sleep. Work out a routine that will slowly get you back into the swing of things so that first morning back to work won’t be such a dreaded thing!

Make the most of your last few days

This summer, you’ll certainly have enjoyed yourself, and maybe will have burnt off some steam whilst you’re at it! In the run up to your last few days before your return to work, make the most of these last few days. Put your feet up, relax and take it easy! Don’t over do it, see what last minute things you can do to relax, maybe a short UK weekend break away, or just some quality time spent with your family.

Get ready for the big rush back to work with that next contract, and sign up to iContract, the new online platform connecting contractors and recruiters for free today!

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iContract is hiring!

We are looking to hire a Mobile App/Front End Developer – can you help?

We’ve more fantastic news to share with you here at iContract. We are currently hiring a Mobile App/Front End Developer to help us continue our exciting journey.

If you’re looking for a new challenge and want to be part of a growing start-up, why not apply for this super position today! Or do you know someone who fits the bill and would be an ideal candidate? If you refer someone to iContract successfully, we are offering £250 as a reward for your help.

So who are we looking for?

In a nutshell, we’re looking for a good communicator with a strong work ethic, but importantly has a passion for their work along with a strong attention to detail. You'll need strong experience of mobile app development and good knowledge of front end languages such as Vue.js, Web Component and JavaScript, as well as having a desire to explore and test new technologies.

You’ll be joining a friendly team where you’ll have the chance to put forward new ideas whilst contributing to the build and development of our mobile app, something you'll be raring to get stuck into!

To find out more about the job role, see the full job description and how to apply here. If you want to refer someone for the role, or find out more about the position, just drop us a line here.

We look forward to hearing from you!