Our blog
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 [...]
SG Umbrella is FCSA accredited once again
The whole team here at SG Umbrella are so pleased and proud to announce the renewal of our FCSA accreditation. How do you become an FCSA accredited? In order to maintain our FCSA accreditation, we have to undertake an independent and rigorous assessment of all our business services, operations, policies and processes every single year. These are all examined [...]
What Announcements Were Made in the Spring Statement 2025?
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, held the Spring Statement on Wednesday 26 March 2025. In the run up to the event, the Chancellor stated that she ‘remains committed to one major fiscal event a year to give families and businesses stability and certainty on upcoming tax and spending changes and, in turn, to support the government’s growth mission’. [...]
Checking Your Tax Code – What Do Umbrella Employees Need to Do?
If you’re new to contracting under an Umbrella Company you’ll no doubt have questions regarding your tax code, and how it compares to permanent employment or when contracting through a Limited Company. In this blog we take a closer look at tax codes to help you understand how they work, and to prevent an unexpected end-of-year tax bill. Your [...]
Pension Planning for the New Tax Year 2025-26
The new tax year is a great time to take stock of your allowances and make a plan for how you’ll make the most from them over the next 12 months. One of the ways to do this is to ensure you’re paying the maximum amount available into your pension via the salary sacrifice scheme. In the blog we take [...]
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