Comparator

With over 20 years’ experience, our focus on compliance is second to none. We’re renowned for delivering exceptional support and customer service with excellent reviews across Trustpilot and Google. We’re a leading umbrella company and provider of accountancy, tax, candidate screening and international payroll services.

Voted the UK’s Best Umbrella Company in The Contracting Awards multiple times, our award-winning umbrella company supports salary sacrifice contributions into a personal pension plan whilst passing back 100% of the employer NI saving to our contractors.

A team of experienced industry professionals who are passionate about our core values, the temporary recruitment industry and of course, the flexible workforce market in the UK. Collectively, we bring together over 90 year’s industry experience from across the recruitment, contractor payroll and contractor accountancy sectors. We’ve worked with some of the largest and most established players in both the UK and international payroll markets. We bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and understanding – but most importantly, we bring a fresh approach to our duty of care – because we care.

Ricson Services was set up in 2004 to provide a professional and personal umbrella service to contractors in the UK temporary market. Run by Director/Shareholders who bring together experience of Customer Services, Payroll, HR, Health & Safety and Finance to provide clients with products and services that meet their needs.

We provide umbrella employment services through our UK compliant companies Hapstone Ltd, Rowcastle Ltd and Zarlon Ltd.

The Ricson Services Umbrella Company offers:

All companies are registered in England and are fully compliant with UK tax laws Straightforward online registration process No joining or leaving fees and contractors only pay for weeks they work Same day payments as standard Professional Indemnity and Employers Liability insurance cover Sick, maternity & paternity pay (subject to qualifying conditions) Advance payments available Why not give us a try to find out?

Why Core?

We put you first! We have a team of experts here to ensure you have all the support you may want or need through every process. We work hard to ensure our reputation is second to none and you can rest assured that compliance, efficiency, and professionalism are key values we uphold here at Core. We are an accredited member of Professional Passport and a tier one founding member of trade association body Prism.

Lauren Baker also sits on the executive board of Prism as their Payroll Intermediary Representative, meaning we are always ahead of the curve when it comes to legislation changes. We work with thousands of contractors in both the Public and Private Sectors and are specialists in IR35, allowing you to safely navigate this legislation and get on with what you do best, your contracting work. We would welcome a call; Matt and the team would be delighted to hear from you on 0800 211 8121. You’ll receive:

• Dedicated Relationship manager

• Set up (paperless) in as little as 24 hours with no exit fee

• Online portal for payslips and document viewing

• IR35 assessments

• Weekly, Bi-Weekly or Monthly payroll services

• Insurance cover, Professional Indemnity up to £5 million, Employers Liability up to £10 million, Public Liability up to £10 million

• Workplace pension via NOW or Salary Sacrifice

• Full statutory employment rights

Payments Pro is designed to ensure that you get the most reliable, most efficient, and most rewarding umbrella service on the market. We offer an unparalleled level of worker support and incentives that will help ensure that you never want to leave!

Winner of ‘Best Umbrella Company’ at The Contracting Awards 2019 and 2022 finalists. Contractor Umbrella was established in 2001, as one of the most trusted, longest standing umbrella companies in the UK, we ‘guarantee’ our employees peace of mind, absolute compliance and complete security.

• You can chat with us by phone, email or via our Livechat.
• Fully accredited by FCSA, so you can rest assured that you are working with a compliant business.
• New contractors can register online in just a few minutes.
• You will have your very own dedicated Contract Manager.
• Make tax and NI savings by contributing a portion of your earnings into our company pension or your personal pension fund/SIPP. • Same day payments offered as standard, every working day.
• Fixed margin rate and we only deduct our margin when we are paying you.
• We offer a Service Guarantee to ensure that you will be looked after at every step of the way.
• Contractor Umbrella offer an employee rewards scheme which includes a fuel discount card, foreign currency exchange, contractor accommodation, contractor mortgages and much more.
• Included is a comprehensive £20m insurance package.
• Contractor Umbrella employees are entitled to 5.6 weeks of holiday each year.
• Flexible limited company accountancy - when you sign up to our sister company Dolan Accountancy’s monthly accountancy package (£105 + vat).

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!

Putting Contractors First, Every Step of the Way

With over 20 years of experience supporting contractors and freelancers, SmartWork combines the reassurance of full compliance with the personal service you’d expect from a team that genuinely cares about your success.

Compliance You Can Trust

We’ve held FCSA accreditation for 10 years and have been an APSCo Trusted Partner for over 20 years – certifications that are rigorously audited annually to protect contractors and give recruitment agencies complete confidence.

Our ISO 27001 certification protects your data security, while our SafeRec certification helps recruitment partners minimise compliance risk across the supply chain.

A Service Loved by Contractors

Our commitment to supporting contractors is reflected in our outstanding Google and Trustpilot reviews. When you work with SmartWork, you’re not just a number; you get a dedicated account manager and a team that’s there to help every step of the way.

What We Offer:

For Contractors:

 Get paid faster – Same-day payments at no extra cost

 Stay in control – Secure online portal for payslips, timesheets, and documents

 No hidden costs – Transparent pricing with no setup or exit fees

 Fully protected – Comprehensive insurance including Public & Employers’ Liability, Professional Indemnity, and Medical Malpractice

 Proper employment – Full contract of employment with all statutory benefits

 Life perks – Referral reward, private pension support, and access to contractor- specialist mortgages  Quick to start – Set up in as little as 15 minutes, online or by phone

For Recruitment Partners:

 Real-time payroll verification – SafeRec certification for live compliance checking

 Dedicated agency support managers – Your direct line to our team

 Advance payment facilities – Available for preferred partners

 Trusted track record – Featured on over 100 Preferred Supplier Lists

 Seamless contractor experience – Making your candidates’ journey smooth and compliant

Click on one of the links to the left to contact us; we’d love to hear from you.

We are a Payroll Company with a difference. We care and are here to help make sure your pay is correct. We have the knowledge and experience to get it right and ensure everything is being dealt with correctly.

Built for a new era of Umbrella payroll, where compliance, transparency and trust comes first.

Backed by the Marquee Group and SafeRec accredited, Arkon Pay delivers a fully compliant PAYE solution designed for today's contractor market.

Combining industry expertise with a technology led approach, we provide a reliable, straightforward service to both agencies and contractors. From onboarding through to ongoing support, out focus is on consistency, clarity and doing things properly.

Arkon Pay is more than just an umbrella provider, we are a trusted partner in an increasingly regulated market.