Expertise
Within 24 hours we will introduce an interim contractor with the expertise & industry knowledge you require to deliver your project.
Interim and Contractor Recruitment Specialists
Supplying temporary resources throughout London and the UK for over 25 years, Ashdown has an outstanding reputation within the specialist contractor recruitment agency marketplace.
If you are looking for a contractor with experience in your industry to cover a skills gap or for short term, temporary or fractional cover to support an existing team, long term sickness or employee leave, we will deliver exactly the person you are looking for quickly and within your budget.
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Why choose Ashdown?
When you work in partnership with us we will source specialist professional contractors that match your project requirements . We have over two and a half decades of experience delivering exceptional ITcontractors, freelance marketing creatives, interim accountants and interim HR consultants with a range of skills, into businesses across the UK; transforming clients projects and delivering real change. Ashdown has an extensive network of loyal contractors and consultants, with the flexibility to work with you when you need them. Our contractor recruitment knowledge, job market insight and enviable track record make us experts in our field, with 85% of our work from repeat business. We are a recruitment agency you can rely on to support you through every stage of your project.
Why Hire a Contractor?
Flexible Approach
A contractor offers a flexible, temporary, short term solution for projects that require specific skillsets or where there are workforce shortages, such as in IT recruitment, HR recruitment, Marketing recruitment or Accountancy recruitment. Contractors are paid a daily, weekly or fixed rate for their services and can be brought in at short notice, on an ad hoc or fixed term basis, to cover excess workloads or provide new skills. Many businesses hire contractors as a chance to assess the needs and requirements for a new role before making a permanent hire.
Specialist skills
Contractors provide a high level of skill and knowledge in their area of expertise, and can be hired to assist companies on specific projects. Contractors are hired on either a fixed term or rolling contract, allowing the employer to make use of a niche skillset for specific projects without interrupting the workload of permanent employees.
Fresh perspective
Our contractors have worked across a broad range of projects, within all industry sectors, giving them a wealth of experience often not available in house to tackle demanding jobs and specific issues. They can provide solutions, new skills and a new perspective that existing employees may not have the capacity to.
Budget Friendly
Benefits offered to permanent employees are not extended to short term, interim workers, making a contractor hire a more affordable option.
High Quality
Ashdown contractors are fully vetted and screened before being placed with your company. We ensure they are able to work to a high standard and offer the best services for the clients budget and expected business needs. We gather valuable feedback post placement to make sure employer and contractor are happy, and with an 85% repeat business rate our network of readily available professionals is testament to the high standard we pride ourselves on.
Fractional Leadership
Fractional leadership gives businesses access to experienced senior expertise without the cost or commitment of a full-time executive appointment.
A fractional CTO, HR Director, CFO or CMO typically works with your organisation for an agreed number of days each week or month, providing strategic direction, leadership and accountability while becoming part of your wider management team.
It can be particularly effective for growing businesses, organisations going through change, companies building a new function or those that need senior expertise before they are ready to make a permanent appointment.
Contractor Specialists
With a registered base of over one million professional candidates, it is our goal to provide you with an expert contractor with experience of your industry and the skill set you require to support your time critical projects.
Budget
Where required, we will provide research on the market rate expectations of the contract work force against your requirements, always working to your budget and guiding on likely level of skills and expertise at each price point.
Rapid results
With a network of temporary resources, contractors and consultants we have unrivalled access to some of the strongest talent in the UK. By marketing your role to our network, we expect to have a number of suitable professional profiles for you to review within 24 hours.
Your Ashdown Team
Working in partnership with you throughout the process, offering recruitment solutions that match, and exceed, your expectations. Whether it is contract requirements and job specifications, CV reviews, contractor onboarding or market rate guidance,we will be there to support you every step of the way.
Interim Management
Interim managers provide experienced leadership for a defined period, helping businesses maintain continuity, lead change or take control of a critical function while a longer-term solution is put in place.
They can be particularly effective when a senior leader leaves unexpectedly, during restructuring or transformation, when a major project needs experienced ownership, or while you recruit a permanent replacement.
Ashdown Group recruits interim professionals across IT, HR, Accountancy & Finance and Marketing, helping organisations access senior leadership quickly when the requirement is urgent, temporary or linked to a specific business objective.
Temporary Recruitment and Temp to Perm Hiring
With increased costs, operational demands, economic unpredictability and evolving employment regulations, hiring has never been more challenging.
72% of small to medium sized enterprises have cited economic and regulatory uncertainty as having an impact on their full time permanent hiring confidence. To remain agile, many of these businesses are turning to alternative staffing models to deliver, whilst remaining competitive.
The Ashdown Group specialises in providing flexible workforce solutions that help companies navigate these uncertainties. By leveraging temporary and temp-to-perm recruitment solutions, our clients gain the flexibility to meet immediate staffing needs while keeping their options open for the future
Our approach to IR35
We take the protection of our customers, the contractors and our own tax position very seriously, being advised by the leading legal firms within this field.
With over 25 years in contractor recruitment we have worked closely with many businesses and interim contractors to ensure that we're operating in a compliant way, avoiding complications with HMRC. Experienced in the hiring of contractors, we are well aware of the intricacies involved, and provide consultants into temporary assignments both within and outside of IR35. You will be supported at every stage, whether you have no knowledge of IR35 law or feel competent around the legislation.
Before starting work on a project we will do an initial assessment to determine the likely tax status of the assignment. If the contract is deemed inside IR35 we take responsibility for National Insurance contributions, tax deductions and entitlements.
For outside IR35 assignments, we guide you through the assessment process using easy to understand questionnaires. Often we will engage a qualified solicitor from the specialist IR35 law firm Brookson Legal on conference call to ensure each element is fully understood.
The final IR35 Status Determination Statement (SDS) will be ratified by Brookson Legal and we will ensure this is communicated to all parties.
Our contracts have been produced by Osborne Clarke, a leading law firm with a specialist Interim Contract division.
We take a look into the IR35 risks associated with hiring a contractor, read more...
Contractors Recruitment FAQs
What are the benefits of hiring temporary staff and contractors?
Temporary staff and contractors give businesses greater flexibility to respond to changing workloads, cover absence, access specialist skills and deliver projects without always making a permanent appointment. They can also help organisations add experienced resources quickly when expertise is only needed for a limited period.
What is the difference between a temporary worker, contractor, consultant, interim manager and fractional leader?
A temporary worker usually provides short-term operational support, while a contractor is commonly engaged for specialist skills or a defined assignment. A consultant typically provides expert advice or helps deliver against a particular problem or project. An interim manager temporarily takes responsibility for a function or leadership role, while a fractional leader provides ongoing senior expertise for only part of the working week or month.
When should I use flexible hiring rather than recruit a permanent employee?
Flexible hiring can be a better option when your requirement is temporary, project-based, uncertain or requires specialist expertise that you do not need permanently. It can also help you cover absence, support periods of growth or change and access experienced professionals quickly. Permanent recruitment is usually more appropriate when the role is an ongoing part of your long-term structure.
What is the difference between interim management and fractional leadership?
An interim manager is usually engaged intensively for a defined period, often to cover a senior vacancy, lead change or manage a particular challenge. A fractional leader typically works with a business on an ongoing part-time basis, providing senior leadership without the need for a full-time executive appointment.
How much does it cost to hire a temporary worker, contractor, consultant or fractional leader?
Costs depend on the skills required, seniority, market demand, length of assignment and type of engagement. Temporary staff are commonly charged hourly or daily, contractors and interim professionals often work on day rates, while consultants and fractional leaders may also work on retainers or agreed project arrangements. Ashdown Group can provide market-rate guidance before you begin recruiting.
What is IR35, and how does it affect my business when hiring contractors?
IR35 refers to the UK's off-payroll working rules for contractors providing services through an intermediary such as a personal service company. Depending on the size and type of organisation, responsibility for determining the contractor's tax status may sit with the client or the contractor's intermediary. Each engagement should be assessed on its actual contractual terms and working arrangements.
How does Ashdown Group help businesses recruit temporary workers, contractors, consultants and fractional leaders?
We begin by understanding the business problem, skills required, timescale and budget before helping you identify the most appropriate type of engagement. Ashdown Group recruits across IT, HR, Accountancy & Finance and Marketing, combining specialist recruitment expertise with market research, candidate sourcing and support throughout the recruitment process.
Explore all Contractor recruitment FAQs
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Why our clients choose our contractor recruitment
"Account management and the effectiveness of finding quality candidates. Candidate rate is very competitive. Candidate filtering is very effective. Fixed Term Contract time sheeting digital system is easy to use."
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