Our blog
The Spring Forecast 2026
In Tuesday's Spring Forecast, Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented the latest economic and fiscal forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), providing an updated outlook for the UK economy. There were no major new tax or spending announcements, in line with the government’s focus on stability and growth. The OBR forecasts moderate GDP growth of around 1.1% in 2026, rising [...]
Pension planning for the new tax year 2026/27
The new tax year is the perfect time to review your current pension allowances and ensure the plan you have in place is maximising your savings. One of the most effective ways to do this is through salary sacrifice, which allows you to contribute more to your pension while reducing the amount of tax and National Insurance owed. Whether you’re new to using an Umbrella [...]
Checking your tax code – what Umbrella Employees need to do
When you’re contracting through an Umbrella Company, you’ll face unique tax considerations. Unlike permanent roles, your tax code may differ depending on your earnings and other employments. It’s essential to get it right, to avoid a large tax bill at the end of the year. This guide explores how tax codes work, looks at the common codes for Umbrella employees, and gives actionable steps to keep your tax affairs in order as [...]
What is a P60 Form? A complete guide for Umbrella Company employees
As an employee of an umbrella company, it’s essential to understand your P60. Many contractors and temporary workers ask, “What is a P60?” or “When will my umbrella company issue my P60?” A P60 is an official end-of-tax-year document that summarises your income, tax paid, and National Insurance contributions. In this guide, we explain everything umbrella company employees need to know about their P60, including why it matters, [...]
What Announcements Were Made in the Autumn Budget 2025?
With so much pre-Budget speculation, we were expecting a long wait for the detail - but events moved faster than anyone anticipated. In an unprecedented slip, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) accidentally published its Economic and Fiscal Outlook around an hour before the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, delivered her Budget speech. The OBR has apologised and an investigation is under [...]
How to Handle Gaps Between Contracts When Contracting Through an Umbrella Company
Part of working as a contractor through an umbrella company is experiencing the inevitable gaps between contracts. Instead of downtime or risk, these periods can be managed in a way to maintain your employment continuity, protect your rights, and keep your income flow steady. In this blog we look closer at why gaps matter, how you can prepare for [...]
Why Continuity of Employment Matters for Umbrella Company Contractors
When working via an Umbrella Company, understanding the continuity of employment can make a huge difference to your financial stability, rights and your peace of mind. In simple terms, continuity of employment means you stay employed by the same organisation (SG Umbrella), even when moving between different contracts. In this blog we’ll explain what it is, why it matters [...]
Understanding the Apprenticeship Levy for Umbrella Company Contractors
Working through an umbrella company you’ll no doubt have noticed a deduction labelled ‘Apprenticeship Levy’ on your payslip. Whilst this deduction won’t directly impact your take-home pay, it’s important to understand its purpose and why it’s included. In this blog we’ll explain what the Apprenticeship Levy is, why umbrella companies are subject to it and how it affects you [...]
SG Umbrella named finalist at the Contracting Awards 2025
Proud to be recognised among the best We’re delighted to share that SG Umbrella was a finalist in the Best Umbrella Company, 500 - 1,000 Clients category at this year’s Contracting Awards 2025! While we didn’t take home the award this time, we’re incredibly proud to have been recognised among the top umbrella companies in the UK, which is a [...]
Umbrella Company regulations – what’s coming and what you need to know
The umbrella industry is facing major regulatory changes, and as an SG Umbrella employee, it’s essential to understand what’s coming and how it affects you. With HMRC cracking down on non-compliant providers, hidden deductions, and mini-umbrella fraud, new legislation is set to improve transparency, strengthen employment rights, and enforce licensing for umbrella companies. In this blog, we break down the [...]
Key tax deadlines for SG Umbrella employees – what you need to know
As an SG Umbrella employee, staying on top of key tax deadlines is easier than ever. We handle all PAYE deductions, payroll administration, and HMRC compliance for you, so you can focus on your work without worrying about tax paperwork. In this blog, we break down the most important tax dates for Umbrella employees, including P60 insurance, P11D reporting for [...]
What is a Status Determination Statement (SDS)?
If you’re a UK contractor working through a Limited Company or an intermediary, understanding your Status Determination Statement (SDS) is essential. An SDS determines your IR35 status, clarifying whether your assignment is considered inside or outside IR35, and ensures you pay the correct Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions. In this blog, we explain what an SDS is, why it [...]
What is a UTR and what is it used for?
As a contractor you may have heard the term Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). But what is it, what is it used for and as an Umbrella Company employee do you even need one? In this blog we answer all those questions and more, to help you be an expert on UTR. What is a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR)? A Unique [...]
What the Employment Rights Bill means to Umbrella employees
As an Umbrella Company employee, navigating the world of temporary contracts, agency relationships and payroll arrangements can seem confusing at times. And with the introduction of the recently announced Employment Rights Bill in the not-too-distant future, changes are on the way that promise to shift the landscape for (hopefully) the better. In this blog we explore what the Bill means [...]
What Payslip Buddy means to you
Here at SG Umbrella we’re proud that every single one of our employee’s payslips have been audited by SafeRec’s Payslip Buddy. So what does this mean for our employees, what value does payslip auditing hold and why should you be concerned about your payslip’s compliance? In our blog we explore all this and more. What is Payslip Buddy? Payslip Buddy [...]
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