As a specialist contractor portal operating since 2013, we work closely with umbrella companies and understand which ones are reliable and which are not. Based on our experience, we have carefully curated a comprehensive list of the UK's leading umbrella companies for contractors. Each umbrella service provider featured on our Preferred Suppliers List (PSL) holds FCSA accreditation, Professional Passport approval, or SafeRec certification, ensuring the highest industry standards.
Below is a list of award-winning umbrella companies that are among the top umbrella payroll (PAYE) service providers in the UK, with an average rating of 4 stars or higher. They offer highly competitive pricing, with fees ranging from just £10 to £20 per week, some of the lowest umbrella margins in the IT contracting industry.
Legal Disclaimer: ITContractorsUK.com cannot be held liable for non-performance or any issues arising from the use of the umbrella companies listed on our site. We strongly recommend that you conduct thorough due diligence before hiring or appointing any of the umbrella companies mentioned above. If you notice any discrepancies in the listings or have any complaints, feedback, or suggestions, please contact us at [email protected].
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List of FCSA accredited umbrella companies
Below is the list of current FCSA approved umbrella organisations in the UK. You can also visit FCSA website to find out more.
Advance
Azebra Group Ltd
Big Fish
Bishopsgate
Bright Sky Umbrella
Brookson One
Caroola
Carrington Umbrella
Champion Contractors
Churchill Knight Umbrella
List of HMRC approved umbrella companies
An HMRC approved umbrella company means that it is regulated by HMRC, checked for compliance, and verified by HMRC. If any umbrella company tells you that they are approved by HMRC, they're lying because HMRC does not check or verify umbrella companies for compliance. There is no official list of HMRC approved umbrella companies.
With the help of our umbrella comparison table, you can compare the fees charged by leading umbrella service providers alongside the services they offer.
Umbrella Company
Weekly Margin
FCSA Accreditation
Professional Passport
SafeRec Certified
Rating
DASA Umbrella
£12
Yes
Yes
No
4.7
Templeton Brook
£19
No
Yes
No
4.8
Pay Guardians
£10
No
No
Yes
4.8
Parasol
£29
Yes
No
No
4.8
Giant Group
£22
Yes
No
No
4.8
Contractor Umbrella
£15
Yes
No
Yes
4.3
PayStream
£27
Yes
No
No
4.8
Umbrella Company UK
£20
Yes
No
Yes
4.8
Brookson One
£20
Yes
No
No
4.4
Workwell
£22
Yes
No
No
4.7
10 Things to consider when choosing an umbrella company
FCSA Accreditation: A company with FCSA accreditation demonstrates a strong commitment to compliance and industry best practices.
SafeRec Certification: If the company isn’t FCSA accredited, check if it has SafeRec certification, which ensures compliance, transparency, and protection against tax avoidance risks.
Understand Fees and Margins: Review how the company's margin structure affects your take-home pay.
Compare Umbrella Companies: Assess multiple providers based on fees, compliance, reputation, and service quality to find the best fit.
Read Online Reviews: Look for reviews on reputable platforms like Trustpilot and Google to gauge customer experiences.
Customer Support: Evaluate the quality of customer service and responsiveness based on user feedback.
Verify Compliance Standards: Ensure the umbrella company follows all necessary regulations and legal requirements.
Review Payment and Expense Policies: Check how they handle payments, reimbursements, and allowable expenses.
Setup and Service Quality: Evaluate how easy it is to join the company and the level of service they provide.
Check Preferred Supplier Lists: Find out if recruitment agencies or clients recognise the company as a trusted supplier.
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