An established umbrella payroll
company with you at
the heart of our business
We make your work and pay our priority so you can
focus on what matters to you.
Work smarter with
SmartWork
We are 100% compliant, reliable, honest, transparent,
and deliver best-in-class service.
Instant set-up
We help you maximise your take home pay and ensure
you get paid correctly, on time, every time.
Maximise your take home pay
We guarantee same-day payments and maximum savings.
Earning
£
EVERY
PAID
Calculate
YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME
We guarantee same-day payments and maximum savings.
£
per week
£
per month
The calculations are for illustration purposes only and are based on a series of assumptions.
Maximise your take home pay
We guarantee same-day payments and maximum savings.
Click here to use our Online Calculator
YOUR ESTIMATED INCOME
We guarantee same-day payments and maximum savings.
£
per week
£
per month
The calculations are for illustration purposes only and are based on a series of assumptions.
The easiest choice for contractors
We help you with everything you need to focus on building your career and honing your skills.
The easiest choice for contractors
We help you with everything you need to focus on building your career and honing your skills.
New Contractors
Umbrella vs Limited
If you are wondering whether to work through an umbrella company or set up a limited company, our handy comparison tool will help you choose the best option for you.
Help me decide
Innovative,
customer-centric
approach
Dedicated business managers
We take the time to understand you and your role to ensure there is always someone to guide you through your freelancing career.
Same day payments
Get your money the same day we receive it from your agency, at no additional cost.
Secure SmartPortal
With our SmartPortal, you can view all your payslips, submit timesheets, access all your previous earnings or holiday records, and change any details.
100% compliant & accredited
We are accredited by FCSA and APSCo, meeting the highest industry standards, including full compliance with HMRC and IR35.
7 day helpline
We know flexible workers need us to be flexible too. You can call any day of the week from 8am to 8pm for guidance.
Instant set-up
SmartWork can have you set up in 15 minutes. We can process your application over the phone or you can click Join Now.
Cost-effective service
At just £20 per week or £80 per month, with no set-up or exit fees, and zero hidden charges, SmartWork is one of the most cost effective umbrella companies in the UK.
Standard insurance
You automatically receive insurance cover including £10m Public Liability, £10m Employer’s Liability, £10m Professional Indemnity and £2m Medical Malpractice.
Call SmartWork today on 0800 434 6446
Blog
Everything you need to navigate the world of contracting
Top Ten Umbrella Company Misconceptions Explained
If you are considering the option of becoming a contractor, one of the possible routes is working via an umbrella company. How and...
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Umbrella Guide: Pension Contributions Explained
When you are in employment, especially when you are younger, retirement is a faraway concept we tend not to think about. Many...
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The 2022 National Insurance Changes – How umbrella workers are affected
As you may be aware, in the 2021 autumn budget, the UK Government announced that from 6 April 2022, National Insurance Contributions...
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How much tax do I pay as an umbrella worker?
If you are reading this article, there is a good chance you are one of the 2.2 million-strong freelance workforce in the UK. Umbrella...
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Explained: Holiday pay when you work through an umbrella company
They say working for an umbrella company is the same as any other employment. Well, yes and no, it is the same in some aspects, but it...
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The SmartWork Service
Introduction
When joining SmartWork, we become your employer, with the overall aim of keeping life as simple as possible for you and...
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What is SDC (supervision, direction, control)?
As of 6th April 2016, HMRC introduced new legislation that affects tax relief on expenses for umbrella employees. The primary...
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Do I Need to Submit a Self-Assessment Tax Return if I Use an Umbrella Company?
What is Self-Assessment?
Self-Assessment is a system HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uses to collect Income Tax. Tax is usually...
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What is FCSA and why our accreditation is important
As a freelance contractor, you have, at some point, looked at choosing the right umbrella company to work with. But with so many...
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Contractor’s Guide: Working Through an Umbrella Company
What is an umbrella company?
The primary function of an umbrella company is to organise payments for fixed-term work undertaken by...
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Tax Codes Explained – Umbrella Contractor’s Guide
Tax Codes - Everyone on payroll in the UK has them, but what are they, and how are they important?
In this guide, we will go...
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The Mini Umbrella Company Scam – Choosing a Compliant Business for your Supply Chain
In the past few years, particularly since 2017, thanks to changes in the legislative environment, and of course, the pandemic, we've...
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Reasons Your Net Pay Might Differ from a Take-home Pay Illustration
It is important to remember that net pay illustrations are often based on assumed information. We do our best to be as accurate as...
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Contractor’s Guide: Things to Consider When Choosing an Umbrella Company
In our previous guide, we talked about in what case you’d opt for going with an umbrella company so if you haven’t read it yet,...
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What is an Umbrella Company?
What is an umbrella company?
The primary function of an umbrella company is to organise payments for fix-term work undertaken by...
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Contractor’s Guide to Umbrella Company Costs and Fees
If you are new to freelancing and just researching umbrella companies, you may wonder why there is a margin being deducted from your...
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Contractor’s Guide: When should you use an umbrella company?
Are you just starting out contracting or perhaps looking into some freelance work? There are a few different trading options...
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How do umbrella company salary illustrations work? Top tips for when shopping around.
Umbrella companies are a popular choice for freelancers that want to have the ability to work on multiple assignments while enjoying...
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Making the Switch from Umbrella Employment to Limited Company Contracting
If you are here reading this article, there is a good chance you already know about the benefits of umbrella employment. It is an...
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Recruitment Agencies, Is it Time to Review Your PSL?
Why review?
Companies are criminally liable if they fail to prevent tax evasion by a staff member or other ‘associated’...
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Umbrella or Agency PAYE – What are the differences?
Umbrella or Agency PAYE
As a contractor, you may find that your assignment falls inside IR35. So what options do you have if...
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Umbrella Insurance Explained
One of the benefits of contracting via an Umbrella company is freedom from admin. This is no different when it comes to insurance....
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Pros and cons of using an umbrella company
For newcomers to contracting, the umbrella option offers great flexibility and simplicity. It can be a great stepping stone to a...
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‘Key Information Document’ For Agency Workers
Introduction
A new "Key Information Document" (KID) has been introduced from the 6th of April 2020, bringing extra work and...
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SmartWork Benefits Guide
When joining SmartWork, we become your employer with the overall aim of keeping life as simple as possible for you and ensuring you...
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Our New Affiliate Partners: Sanlam Wealth Management
Many of you reading this will know that, at SmartWork, we are always looking for ways to increase the value of our services and...
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Precautions and Measures
Given the recent developments on Coronavirus, it is our top priority to ensure the protection and safety of our people, including...
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Meet our new affiliate partner Contractor Friendly Mortgages
We are excited to announce our new partnership with Contractor Friendly Mortgages to add to the list of benefits for SmartWork's...
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SmartWork Passes Annual FCSA Review for the 5th Consecutive Year
SmartWork is pleased to announce that we have once again passed our annual FCSA review.
FCSA Accreditation demonstrates to...
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The Grass isn’t Always Greener – Offshore Schemes and What to Avoid
Our employees or prospective clients often come to us, wondering why our figures don't match the improbable 95% retention rates...
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Non-compliant umbrella schemes and how to spot them
Since the off-payroll legislation reform hit i, we’ve seen the popularity of the umbrella company increasing. With that came a...
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Umbrella vs Limited – Which Trading Vehicle is Right for You?
When embarking on a contractor career, the first big decision you will likely have to make is whether to operate via your own limited...
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Meet our Sales Manager – Neil Kane
Neil has over 14 years of experience within the industry and is always on hand to help support agencies and contractors...
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Umbrellas and the Nursing Agency VAT Concession: The Essentials
Since the IR35 reforms and the subsequent increase in the use of umbrella companies by NHS workers, there has also been a rise in...
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Disguised Remuneration – the April 2019 loan charge
Following our previous look at loan schemes and how these impact your choice of umbrella provider, the latest in this series looks at...
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SmartWork & iContract announce partnership
SmartWork is thrilled to be partnering with iContract, the new online platform connecting contractors and recruiters that has...
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The Criminal Finance Act – time to review your PSL?
From the 30th of September 2017, Companies will become criminally liable if they fail to prevent tax evasion by a member of their...
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3,500
CONTRACTORS & FREELANCERS ASSISTED
830
END CLIENTS/AGENCIES WORKED WITH
17,000
CONTRACT REVIEWS
300
CONTRACTOR QUERIES HANDLED PER WEEK
Limited Companies
Accounting made easy with MyAccountant
We recognise that you may want to be more involved in managing your income and tax affairs. In which case, forming your own limited company makes complete sense. From company formation through managing your business and personal tax returns, your team at MyAccountant will work alongside you at each step at pace, helping you maximise your pay in a compliant manner.
Find out more
I used SmartWork’s Umbrella services for the past year, and have had nothing but wonderful service from them. From initial setup to the occasional question I had from time to time, the team were always easy to contact and happy to help. Payments were always very prompt and I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to operate through an Umbrella.”
Lead Business Analyst
SmartWork has been amazing for the past 16 months. Even during the COVID crisis I could expect a timely response from the team and no interruptions to their service. Far better than my previous provider in both customer service and value for money. I’m sure I’ll be back if/when the need arises.”
Project Manager