Comparator

We’re Focused – the award-winning umbrella and CIS company for contractors who want prompt and accurate payment every time. Voted Best Umbrella Company (500-1000 clients) at The Contracting Awards, we offer unmatched reliability, quick and easy onboarding, and a genuinely caring approach for total peace of mind.

From payroll to tax, benefits to pensions, we take care of everything. With Focused, contractors can be confident they’ve got their money, and we’ve got them covered. We keep things simple while truly caring about the wants and needs of our contractors and agency partners.

Here are just some of the benefits of working with Focused:

• Salary sacrifice for personal pensions - Helping contractors save for their future whilst also passing on the employer’s NI saving in the form of additional gross pay.

• Online personal portal – Easy access to payslips and submit timesheets where necessary.

• Award-winning support – A dedicated helpline for any questions, weekly payment SMS notifications and proactive welcome calls.

• Free employee rewards scheme – Access to personal accident insurance and exclusive offers and discounts at thousands of high-street brands.

Why should you choose Carrington? Because Carrington cares.

We are not sales driven; we are people driven. In our 20 years of Umbrella service our contractor base has grown largely through personal recommendation as well as a bedrock of contractors who just keep returning for our quality service, and we are therefore without a sales team or a sales pitch. We are committed to transparent, prompt and communicative service. There are no hidden charges; there is support with the complexities of the thorny issues such as holiday pay and expenses. Our company values, objectives and philosophy are a direct reflection of the kind of service culture we want to inspire where everyone involved is driven to create a world-class next-generation workforce. Our service has been shaped to our valuable flexible workforce and we aim to provide unrivalled customer care throughout their employment with us. Simply put we strive to be the best and offer the greatest value to our contractors.

Since 2005, AZebra Group have delivered expert payroll solutions to contractors and businesses across multiple sectors. Our specialist services cover Umbrella, PEO - fully outsourced employment and CIS payroll models, designed to meet the needs of both contractors and agencies.

We take care of everything, from payroll to statutory compliance, so you don’t have to worry about administration. Our dedicated team provides clear communication and reliable support, making it easy to work with us.

AZebra Group is proudly accredited by the FCSA and SafeRec, demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards of compliance and ethical practice. We also partner with Brabners and Markel Tax, offering expert guidance on complex payroll and employment matters, giving agencies and contractors confidence and peace of mind.

We also invest in your agency and your contractors with exclusive benefits, including 750+ CPD courses, wellbeing & fitness resources and an interactive performance hub - all completely free!

NWM has industry heritage, being at the forefront of the Umbrella Payroll industry for 27 years with over £1bn in wages successfully paid to date and achieving No.32 in the UK Fast-Track 100. Our senior management have worked at NWM for two decades.

NWM is a trusted partner dedicated to providing outstanding payroll services tailored to the unique requirements of contractors across the UK. We are approved on the major MSP platforms such as Datum, Vistry, Pretium and HAYS.

Our FCSA accreditation (Umbrella, Self Employed/CIS) underpins our professionalism, passion, and stability. Every client receives the highest quality service they deserve.

Graham William’s our Chairman and owner is also a Council Member for the FCSA.

NWM have been certified ISO9001 since 2012. This validates our longstanding and ongoing commitment year after year, to the quality and standards we aim to achieve as a business.

With nearly 450 Google reviews rated at 4.7 our reputation among contractors and agency partners speaks volumes about our commitment to delivering outstanding service.

NWM are Cyber Essentials Certified supporting our customers in an ever-challenging digital world. This is another pillar of our business philosophy.

Value for money is central to our offering. Contractors regularly mention the cost of living. We understand they seek excellent service, but also fair, transparent pricing. NWM provides competitive rates combined with comprehensive support, ensuring clients receive maximum value. Transparent communication and straightforward margin structures mean contractors know exactly what they will be paid and can trust there are no hidden costs.

NWM process daily payroll with Thursday being our main schedule. This ensures contractors receive their wages on time and without hassle. This reliable Thursday payment helps agencies maintain smooth operations, and contractors can plan their finances and travel with confidence.

NWM stand out for our strong commitment to customer service. We believe every contractor is more than just a number, they are valued partners in our community. To demonstrate this, we call every contractor shortly after their first pay from NWM. This personal touch allows us to understand their individual circumstances, answer any questions, and ensure they feel supported from the outset. This proactive approach helps to build trust and confidence.

Our commitment to support and educate adds significant value. We have recently launched Recruitment Industry Specific training for Consultants through to Management level. We also update clients on legislative changes, industry best practices, new opportunities through newsletters, webinars, and one-to-one consultations.

NWM possess a deep understanding of the recruitment landscape. Our directors were previously highly accomplished recruiters in their own rights, we know exactly what is required from a recruiter’s perspective and have transferred this knowledge into our customer service. We have navigated through numerous industry changes and regulatory updates, enabling us to offer informed advice and tailored solutions. Our expertise allows us to anticipate the needs of our clients and contractors, providing proactive support that sets us apart from competitors.

Big Fish Group Limited is a leading UK provider of umbrella PAYE and CIS payroll services, dedicated to serving contractors and recruitment agencies with unwavering reliability. We challenge the traditional stereotype of the sector by combining rigorous professional standards with a genuine passion for what we do. Founded on the principles of authenticity and dedication, we understand that credibility and compliance are the cornerstones of the recruitment industry. For agency partners, from boutique firms to multi-national MSPs, we offer a transparent, "straight-talking" partnership that prioritises your reputation and the welfare of your workforce. While we operate with energy and a personable approach, we never compromise on quality. We are committed to delivering the precise services our partners need, ensuring contractors are paid correctly and on time, every time. Commitment to Compliance

In an industry where regulatory adherence is paramount, Big Fish Group stands as a beacon of trust. We are proud to be FCSA-accredited and SafeRec-certified, ensuring our processes are independently audited and fully compliant with UK tax law and associated legislation. Our accreditations are complemented by our cloud-based payroll compliance portal, Lighthouse. Lighthouse provides our recruitment agency partners and end clients with direct access to and insight into every stage of our payroll process, as well as real-time visibility into our PAYE liability information. Our clients are never left wondering and can rest assured that their supply chain is secure, compliant, and meets the highest standards of integrity.

Big Fish: Not Your Average Umbrella

• Experienced Leadership: Founded and led by a team with over 30 years of combined experience in the payroll and recruitment sector.

• Unrivalled Availability: We understand the demands of the recruitment cycle. We provide exceptional customer service and support that extends beyond the 9-to-5. When we say 24/7, we mean it.

• Comprehensive Service Range: Expert provision of Umbrella PAYE and CIS payroll services tailored to the needs of the modern workforce.

• Reliability & Accuracy: A steadfast commitment to ensuring accurate, on-time payments for contractors, safeguarding agency relationships.

• Client-Centric Culture: A friendly, energetic team that prioritises the things that matter most to our customers, delivering solutions with a personal touch.

Pay Guardians operate a simple and efficient umbrella and PEO service for agencies and workers. Our processes are fully documented and comply wholly with employment and tax legislation leaving you free from the burden of ensuring yours and your temporary workers affairs are fully managed. Our team of qualified accountants and payroll specialists with years of experience will ensure piece of mind and provide the highest quality of personal service throughout.

Ovio is the workforce partner that gets it. We support recruitment agencies, contractors and UK businesses with fully compliant payroll, workforce engagement solutions and funding, all delivered with a human touch.

Ovio was created to challenge the ordinary, to put people first, cut through complexity, and bring trust back to workforce solutions. We’re not just here to process payroll (thats the easy bit). We’re here to build something better: a company driven by values, fuelled by excellence, and united by a single rhythm.

Our platform, myOvio, is your visibility engine. We monitor contractor status, onboarding compliance, client approvals, payroll checks and supply chain health in real time. It’s everything you need to keep your staffing compliant, audit-ready, and confidence-fuelled.

Umbrella Company UK was launched in 2019 and has revolutionised the way contractors and freelancers are paid through an umbrella company. We live in a digital world, and we wanted to modernise the umbrella experience. How did we achieve this? We introduced a state-of-the-art app. The app is intelligent. It will allow you to submit their hours and view your payslips – all while on the go!

We’re relatively new on the scene, but we have already received exceptional feedback from our clients. When you join us, you’ll be able to take advantage of:

• Our state-of-the-art app (meaning you’ll have hardly any administration) • Easy sign-up process • £25 million insurance package • Same Day Faster Payments • Employee Benefits, including Sick Pay and Maternity/Paternity Pay • No tie in period, and no joining or leaving fees • Access to Umbrella Company UK Rewards – our employee discount scheme* • Fully compliant payroll (PAYE) – we’re proudly accredited by the FCSA.

• Available for clients who opt for the Umbrella Company UK premium service only.

Orca Pay Group is more than your typical UK umbrella company, our partnerships are built on compliance, honesty, transparency and a wealth of industry expertise. By combining cutting-edge, HMRC-approved technology with an attentive approach and modest umbrella company fees, we ensure we are the best umbrella company for contractors seeking straightforward, risk-free, and cost-effective engagements.

We pride ourselves on being a UK umbrella company that truly values its employees, for whom our rigorous processes guarantee fair tax treatment and full provision of rights, paving the way for continued, fruitful engagements.

We are immensely proud to be the first UK umbrella company to offer all of our umbrella employees full and transparent payslip audits on a payroll-by-payroll basis, ensuring that our umbrella employees can see that they have been paid correctly and compliantly every time they are paid.

This approach protects and ensures all holiday payments, pension payments and all deductions are calculated and paid to the penny. There is no better guarantee for a contractor, and why we are proud to live by our business motto, "Trust through transparency".

Here at Trafalgar, we’re passionate about people; putting contractors like you at the heart of what we do. Having started life as a small, family-run firm with a handful of clients, we now provide specialist financial, payroll, accounting and employment to thousands of contractors and self-employed people across the UK. Trafalgar is a name you can trust, as our reviews and accreditations attest. Our umbrella employment solution is designed with you in mind. We’ll do everything we can to reduce your administrative burden and make sure you have the support you need for your contracting career. Our experienced team pay thousands of contractors every single week, so you can rest assured you’ll get paid in full and on time, every time. Join today and combine all the benefits of permanent employment with the freedom of running your own business.

You'll receive:

• Business Insurance
• Private medical care
• Private workplace pension
• Full statutory employment rights
• Dedicated HR support
• Access to exclusive Trafalgar Rewards

Likewise, our contractor accountancy plans include access to award-winning software, as well as:

• Personal & corporate tax returns
• Accounts preparation & submission
• Quarterly VAT returns
• Business Insurance
• Payroll administration
• Long-term tax planning & financial health checks

Our fees are fixed and, what’s more, you’ll also be assigned your very own Personal Accountant because, to us, accountancy is about more than just number crunching. It’s about developing great relationships, overcoming obstacles, providing tangible solutions, and enabling people to achieve their potential.