Comparator

Highly experienced FCSA accredited Umbrella payroll provider offering excellent worker journey and robust adherence to HR and employment compliance and legislation.

Social Work Employment Services is the UK's only not for profit and ethical umbrella company designed for and delivered by social workers in partnership with the British Association of Social Workers

I4 have been in operation since 2005 and have partnered with over 10,000 businesses and paid over 35,000 contractors. Our services offer temporary workers and freelancers an opportunity to retain the correct amount of their hard-earned cash, without any of the overheads or risks of running their own companies or falling foul of IR35 legislation. i4 will look after the calculation, deduction and payment of all statutory payments for you. Get organised on the go with innovative and convenient solutions that free up your time to focus on doing what you do best. We have recently partnered up with ANDREW NOLAN MORTGAGES LTD to help contractors secure mortgages as it can prove difficult.

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

Churchill Knight Umbrella was established in 2016 to provide a reliable PAYE payroll service for contractors affected by IR35 changes. Since we launched, Churchill Knight Umbrella has quickly become the umbrella company of choice for thousands of temporary workers throughout the UK.

Registering with us is easy and can be completed in under 10 minutes. And, once the registration process is complete, our dedicated customer support department is on hand to provide answers to any questions you may have. We understand how important communication is and for you to feel confident with our service.

There is more to Churchill Knight Umbrella than just payroll. You can benefit from the following at no additional cost:

• Easy Registration and registration process (it can be completed in just 10 minutes)
• £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 Churchill Knight Rewards* – our exclusive employee reward scheme.
• Fully compliant payroll (PAYE) – we’re proudly accredited by the FCSA.

*Available for clients who opt for the Churchill Knight Umbrella premium service only.

Award winning, forward thinking payroll provider, putting workers first at all times

Sapphire prides itself on providing unrivalled customer service and employee support to workers and recruitment agencies in the temporary labour market. With our specifically tailored range of Employed and Self-Employed solutions, we are here to reduce the burden of working on and between temporary assignments and provide a level of security, benefits and reassurances whilst getting on with everyday life.

Why Sapphire?

Care – We understand that money and finances keep our world ticking. So paying our employees and subcontractors on time and accurately is our number one priority and something we have built our reputation around. Providing timely information to our clients and consistently exceeding expectations has seen us organically grow our reputation.

Compliance – Our team of experts are all aware of the challenges facing temporary workers and the need to remain compliant with current legislation is key. We view every change as an opportunity to pro-actively keep our customers, employees and clients up to date with changes which may impact them and their businesses.

Partnership – We are more than just an Accountancy, Payroll and Employment services provider. We view ourselves as an extension to the people and businesses we engage with, providing all of the support required in a two-way relationship.

Support – Everyone is different, and we completely understand this! We are flexible in our approach and can adapt and tailor our support to suit every circumstance. We pride ourselves on removing the burden from customers, employees and clients so they can concentrate on what is important to them.

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.

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.

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!