Comparator

With over 20 years of experience, Parasol has grown from providing umbrella payroll services to offering comprehensive employment and payroll solutions. During this time, we’ve supported more than 250,000 professionals and partnered with over 3,000 recruitment agencies and end clients.

We understand the critical priorities for your candidates, clients, and agency: exceptional support, on-time payments, and full compliance with HMRC regulations. These are at the heart of everything we do and are reflected in the loyalty of professionals who choose us year after year, as well as our long-standing partnerships with some of the most recognised names in recruitment. As a founding member of the FCSA and a company created by a contractor for contractors, Parasol makes getting paid simple for the agile workforce. Since our launch in 2000, our goal has been to empower contractors to maximise their careers by offering complete peace of mind through accurate, compliant, and reliable payroll services.

Speedy Onboarding

Getting started is simple. Agencies provide basic details and terms; contractors complete a quick Right to Work check via Trust ID (just three minutes). We handle all paperwork and contracts for a smooth process.

Compliance-First

As an FCSA founding member, we set the gold standard in UK tax, employment, and regulatory compliance—giving agencies and contractors complete peace of mind.

Security & Stability

We safeguard your data with Cyber Essentials Plus certification and maintain strong financial stability to ensure uninterrupted payroll services.

Trusted Guidance

Our expert teams offer tailored support, onboarding assistance, and training workshops—the largest agency and employee support network in the sector.

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.

Over 30+ years of UK contractor and agency expertise with a strong compliance heritage as founding members of FCSA holding certifications for all 3 services (umbrella, PSC and CIS). Brookson offers comprehensive solutions, personal service, and expert guidance through every industry challenge. We offer regulated financial services, accountancy services, outsourced payroll, back office and legal services underpinned by technology to support your business and contractors. Brookson is your business partner, not just another umbrella company.

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.

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.

NASA Group is a specialist umbrella supplier based in Bristol, working exclusively within the contracting industry nationwide.

As well as being one of the most cost-effective in the industry, we pride ourselves on offering far greater value for our agency partners thanks to the unique way in which we collaborate with them. Rather than a typical ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, we always ensure that our process is perfectly aligned with theirs so that the entire operation is as efficient as it can be. This benefits everyone in the supply chain including the recruitment agency, by enabling them to spend more time recruiting rather than payroll processing and problem-solving. It also allows the contractor to work more effectively as they fully understand the process and have far fewer questions or concerns. NASA Group goes above and beyond their duty as an employer.

This commitment continues throughout the entire agency relationship as we remain at the forefront of compliance and industry updates. Training agency staff on solutions and legislation is all part of the service, plus NASA Group will assist your business in preparing for legislative changes affecting your sector too. This helps to create a partnership far more valuable than a typical umbrella supplier.

We are always on hand to discuss how we can assist you, plus with regional account managers throughout the UK, we would be glad to talk in person too.

At Umbrella.co.uk, we make contracting simple, secure, and stress-free. As one of the UK’s leading and most compliant umbrella companies, we’ve supported tens of thousands of contractors for over 16 years - helping them get paid on time, stay fully compliant, and enjoy all the benefits of employment without the admin.

Our fully FCSA-accredited umbrella payroll service is built on trust, transparency, and integrity. From fast, hassle-free onboarding to accurate and timely payments, contractors consistently praise us for being “efficient, professional, and friendly,” with reviews on Trustpilot and Google reflecting our Excellent five-star rating. We don’t just meet compliance standards - we set them - working closely with SafeRec and other independent auditors to give agencies and contractors total peace of mind.

Every process at Umbrella.co.uk is underpinned by robust data protection and information security measures. We are ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certified - the international standards for quality management and information security - demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining service excellence. In addition, our Cyber Essentials certification ensures our systems are protected against modern cyber threats, giving contractors and clients confidence that their personal information is always safe.

But we don’t stop at umbrella payroll. We also offer CIS payroll services for construction workers and have a Limited Company accountancy service, giving contractors the flexibility to choose the payment structure that best suits their working arrangements and goals.

For contractors looking to make the most of their income and plan for the future, we offer a salary sacrifice pension option. This allows you to contribute directly to your personal pension while benefiting from reduced tax and National Insurance contributions. We also pass on the full employment cost saving, making it an efficient and tax-smart way to build long-term financial security.

All employees also have the option to benefit from our Umbrella Rewards Pro platform - packed with valuable benefits including a BHSF healthcare plan for everyday health and wellbeing support, and a discounted fuel card, helping contractors save money on life’s essentials.

Whether it’s a contractor registering online, an agency managing multiple placements, or a client needing a trusted payroll partner, we handle everything with care, clarity, and compliance.

If you’re looking for a reliable umbrella payroll provider that puts people first, prioritises compliance, and delivers exceptional service every time - Umbrella.co.uk is the clear choice.

Clipper Contracting Group was established with one thing in mind: to provide the highest levels of service for the provision of payment solutions to temporary workers. Our aim is to make the umbrella payroll experience ‘queryless’ for all of those involved.

Supporting workers in a range of sectors such as construction, healthcare education, engineering and logistics, Clipper Contracting Group provides a range of employed and self-employed solutions to support the UK’s contingent workforce.

We work with the best advisors, employ the best people and provide the best experience to ensure to both our workers and recruitment partners that we remain totally compliant and competitive in these ever-changing times.

Benefits of Clipper Contracting Group:

Simple, one-click, online registration – our bespoke registration CRM allows workers to complete registration online in a matter of minutes

Dedicated worker aftercare – from weekly phone calls to email contact, we stay in touch with our workers to ensure their experience is as expected.

Auto-updates to recruiters – track the status of your worker’s registration process with daily automatic updates by email

Advance payments – we can assist with advances on late timesheets all the way up to 4pm on a Friday

Personal accident insurance – as standard for all workers

Clipper Plus - access to discounted shopping deals and 24/7 online GP services

Exclusive deals with a range of partners – From discounts on gym memberships to tax returns, we have arranged a number of deals

Disaster Recovery – we have invested heavily in our systems to ensure we can continue to operate in any situation and guarantee payments to workers

Recruitment experience – founded by former recruitment professionals, we solely operate in and fully understand the recruitment industry and our service reflects this understanding.

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.

Looking for a fast, hassle-free way to contract? No Worries Red Umbrella makes contracting effortless—with instant payroll, no IR35 worries, and zero admin stress.

We’ve been helping contractors get paid quickly and compliantly since 2005. Our FCSA-accredited umbrella service guarantees you’re working with a fully compliant, transparent, and reliable provider, trusted by agencies, end clients, and thousands of contractors across the UK.

Why Choose No Worries Red Umbrella? ✅ Get Paid Fast – Daily payroll runs mean you get paid the same day we receive funds from your agency. No delays, no hassle. ✅ Zero Setup or Exit Fees – No lock-in periods, no hidden costs. Join or leave whenever you want. ✅ Fully Transparent – Fixed, all-inclusive fees with no surprise deductions. We handle all tax, NI, and compliance so you don’t have to. ✅ 100% Online & Instant Setup – Get started in under 10 minutes and submit timesheets from anywhere. ✅ Expert Support – Our team of payroll, tax, and compliance specialists are on hand to make contracting smooth and stress-free. ✅ Free Insurance Cover – £10M Employers’ Liability, £5M Public Liability, and £5M Professional Indemnity included at no extra cost. ✅ Pension & Perks – Access flexible salary sacrifice pension contributions and tax-saving schemes like Cycle to Work.

Whether you're new to umbrella contracting or switching from another provider, No Worries Red Umbrella gives you a stress-free, fully compliant payroll solution that works for you.

Get set up today and start getting paid—fast, simple, no worries. 🚀