March 2010

Here’s what’s been hitting the headlines over recent weeks:

FEATURE ARTICLE

Contractors should avoid rolling contracts: Contractors have been warned to avoid rolling contracts if they wish to work outside IR35 legislation. MORE...

NEWS ROUND-UP

Rise in NICs could damage umbrella contractor jobs: It has been claimed that the planned rise in employer’s National Insurance Contributions (NICs) could negatively impact on the UK job market. MORE...

Balfour Beatty wins blacklist tribunal: Balfour Beatty is the first firm to win a blacklist case. An Employment Tribunal found in favour of Balfour Beatty in a dismissal case brought by claimant Mick Dooley. MORE...

New law for naming tax cheats: Companies and taxpayers who deliberately avoid paying their taxes will have their names, addresses and the details of their evasion made public. MORE...

Bill for British workers: The Labour MP John Mann has presented a ten-minute rule bill in the commons that seeks to guarantee that major public works contractors will employ British workers. MORE...

Umbrella contractors warned about attractive rates: Any contractor considering using an umbrella company is well advised to carefully research any service provider before committing themselves to signing up to an umbrella scheme. MORE...

Mayor outraged over PPP ruling: Boris Johnson, the London Mayor, has been told by the PPP arbiter that he must make cuts to the London public transport system or postpone improvements to some of the city's busiest underground lines. MORE...

Walkie Talkie skyscraper back on: The Land Securities Group Plc has announced that the development of their new skyscraper in London, nicknamed the Walkie Talkie Tower is back on. MORE...

Freelancers still confused by tax returns: Despite all the advertisements on prime time television telling the public how easy it is to fill in a tax return two thirds of small business owners and entrepreneurs would disagree. MORE...

MPs criticise DFT over Metronet failure: The failure of the Tube maintenance company Metronet has cost taxpayers up to £410 million according to a report by MPs. MORE...

ODA refuses guarantees on lottery money: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced that it cannot guarantee that all the National Lottery money, around £2 billion, taken to fund the London Games will be returned. MORE...

New Covent Garden Market scheme seeks developer: The body that is overseeing the redevelopment of the 57-acre New Covent Garden Market located in Vauxhall has said that it will soon be searching for a development partner for the £1 billion residential scheme. MORE...

Crossrail tunnel bids: In the next few weeks full tender documents for the main Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) tunnel packages on the Crossrail scheme will be sent to bidders. MORE...

Ashford Airport expansion approved: Two planning applications, one for a new terminal building and one for a new runway extension have been approved for London Ashford Airport in Lydd. Shepway Council approved the application by 27 votes to 12 after a 7-hour meeting. MORE...

Scammers continue to target contractors: A phishing email is currently in circulation which is targeting many people including contractors. MORE...

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