Comparator

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.

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).

Compliant payroll for contractors, agencies, and self-employed workers since 2009. PAYE umbrella, CIS, and Bureau payroll solutions to suit your business.

Pay by credit card for enhanced cash flow and loyalty benefits.

With 26 years of payroll expertise, Sterling Solutions delivers compliant, efficient, and contractor-friendly service.

Why Contractors Choose Sterling • Pension Flexibility – Pay into a pension of your choice, not just the workplace scheme. • Fast, Easy Onboarding – Includes tailored payslip illustrations. • Expense Claims – Mileage reimbursement available (subject to assessment). • Comprehensive Insurance Cover – Personal Accident, Employers & Public Liability. • Optional Professional Indemnity Insurance • Holiday Pay – Paid upfront. • Sterling App – Manage your employment and payments on the go. • UKMC Mortgage Advice – Free, expert guidance. • VeriPAYE Audited Payslips – Every payment checked for accuracy. • Sterling Rewards – Discounts on shopping, travel, entertainment & more. • Medicash Health Plans – Support for everyday healthcare costs.

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

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.

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. 🚀

Meade's Umbrella is a trusted payroll provider offering simple, compliant, and reliable payment solutions for contractors and temporary workers since 2019.

We ensure all payments are accurate, on time, and fully in line with HMRC regulations.

Our focus on clear communication and ethical practices helps protect workers and gives both individuals and agencies confidence and peace of mind.

Since 1992, Giant have provided specialist, end to end workforce management software and support services for workers and organisations of all sizes. Globally.

At Giant Umbrella, we have designed everything to be simple, paperless and hassle-free. We ensure that workers receive the right level of support when on assignment, we take care of all PAYE tax deductions, as well as provide a mobile 1st portal for easy access at any time.

Here’s why workers and agencies choose Giant Umbrella;

• 35 years of specialist experience
• various pension choices including the tax-efficient option to contribute to a private pension
• set up within 1 hour
• onboard online or over the phone with a member of our welcome team
• ability to process advances within 2 hours
• monthly webinars on pensions, how to use our portals, understanding payslips and much more
• all queries handled by dedicated a support team via phone, live chat & on portals

At Giant however, we do much more. Our software includes everything from applicant tracking software and vendor management to invoicing, international payroll & payments. When it comes to contractors getting paid, we are proud to offer a number of compliant solutions including PEO and CIS for any contractor in the Construction Industry Scheme.