Comparator

As one of the largest and most well-respected umbrella companies in the industry, Parasol is a name you can trust. Founded by a contractor, for contractors, our dedication to always doing what’s right, not what’s easy, is something we’re proud of and what sets us apart from others.

Established in 2000, Parasol are part of the wider Optionis Group which is the largest contractor accountancy group in the UK, boasting multiple office locations and over 472 head office staff.

Since our inception, we've managed payments and accounts for over 100,000 contractors and built long-standing relationships with 3,000 recruitment companies (and counting). This combined with our respected Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) Accredited member status, and our specialist team of compliance and legal experts means that we're equipped to provide all the support our partners and contractors need.

We are a Professional Passport accredited umbrella company. We strive to deliver seamless solutions and exceptional support to all our clients meeting all of their umbrella needs.

We wish you a warm welcome to Penguin Umbrella Limited. You may be thinking, why penguin? There are some animal experts that would say a penguin is one of the most streamlined animals in the world. That is why. Like our namesake, Penguin Umbrella is streamlined and efficient

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.

Clockwork Contracting – Precision in Payroll, Excellence in Service

Clockwork Contracting is a proud, certified member of SafeRec—one of the first umbrella companies to achieve this certification. We are committed to continuous improvement, always seeking innovative solutions that elevate industry standards for the benefit of contractors and agencies alike.

Why Choose Clockwork?

Low Contractor Fees – Unlike many competitors, we keep costs fair by forgoing large sales teams, relying instead on the trust and recommendations of our clients and contractors. This means overheads are lower and savings can be passed to our contractors. Seamless Payroll Experience – Our focus is on delivering a smooth, efficient, and hassle-free payroll service from start to finish. Swift Problem Resolution – We understand that errors can be stressful. That’s why we prioritise rapid response times with short SLAs, ensuring that mistakes become swift solutions.

At Clockwork Contracting, we don’t just provide payroll services—we set the standard for reliability, efficiency, and professionalism.

Our industry knowledge and expertise is what sets us apart from our competitors. Coupled with our great customer service and friendly staff, you’ll find us very easy to work with for all of your payroll and compliance needs.

People Group Services (“People Group”) are a family owned business with a long history in the payroll and intermediary market. Headed by CEO Terry Hillier, himself a winner of many business awards over the past 10 years.

People Group trade under three key pillars; People Pay includes a range of fully compliant payroll options, ensuring workers are paid on time, every time and in the right way. People Engage is our workforce management software and contractor app, designed to make work easy for everyone. And People Compliance, our compliance software that increases business efficiencies and significantly reduces time to hire.

You can understand more about our expertise by staying up to date with our regular insight articles which you’ll find on our website below.

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

Brookson One are specialist contractor accountants who have been helping contractors across the UK since 1995. Providing an all-inclusive, market-leading service, Brookson One will ensure you’re maximising your earnings whilst working compliantly in the ever-changing contractor landscape.

Whether choosing to run a Limited Company or work via an umbrella employment solution, Brookson One provides customers with an extensive range of services, backed by real experience, and all at the very best inclusive price.

Created by contractors for contractors, our specialist knowledge and experience means we pride ourselves in leading next-generation accountancy services combined with first class customer service.

Brookson One Limited Company Service:

• Set up in as little as 24 hours with no minimum tie in period or exit fees
• Unlimited IR35 reviews by in-house employment law solicitors
• 24/7 access to your business via smart online portal, Connect
• All bookkeeping, tax, VAT and year-end returns completed for you
• Access to financial and legal support within the Brookson Group
• Dedicated account manager
• Weekly payroll
• Exclusive offers
• Free mortgage/financial advice

If you’re new to contracting and would like advice on how to get started or if you’ve been contracting for as long as you can remember and feel you’d benefit from that extra support, get in touch with Brookson One who will provide you with a complete take-home pay illustration and working options consultation.

Welcome to Well Pay, a trusted and experienced umbrella company that has been supporting contractors and agencies for over 15 years. Our dedicated team of professionals brings a wealth of expertise to deliver a leading umbrella service that is accredited by Professional Passport.

We understand the importance of staying up to date with ever-changing IR35 legislation, and our team ensures that you remain compliant with the latest regulations. We provide comprehensive support and knowledge to help you navigate the complexities of the contractor landscape.

One of our key priorities is cost-effectiveness. We offer our compliant umbrella service with a low fixed margin, enabling you to maintain competitive costs. By partnering with us, you can provide your contractors with a reliable and cost-efficient solution while maintaining your competitive edge in the market.

At Well Pay, we are committed to delivering a seamless and compliant umbrella service that meets the needs of contractors and agencies alike. With our years of experience, Professional Passport accreditation, and dedication to cost efficiency, we are the trusted partner you can rely on to support your success.

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).