Trade bodies
Association of Employment Management Companies (AEMC)
The membership of the AEMC is made up of umbrella companies, which are required to go through an audit process to join. If an umbrella company is AEMC approved, it has undertaken to operate to certain standards.
http://www.a-emc.com/
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
The FSB is aimed at small and micro businesses and actively lobbies government on behalf of its membership. Membership also brings a range of benefits, including access to free business banking, good deals on insurance, free legal advice and a wide spectrum of other services.
http://www.fsb.org.uk/
Recruitment and Employment Federation
The trade body representing recruitment agencies. A good source of news on the contracting sector and also the place to go if you have a complaint about the conduct of an agency.
http://www.rec.uk.com/home
Government organisations
Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)
New items of business regulation tend to originate from BERR. This department has been charged with the implementation of the Agency Workers Directive (AWD).
http://www.berr.gov.uk/
HM Courts Service
Provides guidance on and access to small claims, including Moneyclaim, the online debt recovery service.
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/index.htm
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
The source of guidance on all matters related to tax in the UK, plus relevant forms and online services. However, it is notoriously difficult to navigate and find what you are looking for. Of course, contractors should bear in mind that the site content is produced by an organisation that exists to interpret the law in such as way as to collect as much revenue for the Exchequer as it can.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/
HM Treasury
The driving force behind HMRC, the Treasury website is a good source of information about the contents and application of Pre-Budget Reports, Budgets, relevant public consultations and new tax legislation.
http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/
Tribunals Service
Publishes the rulings on past IR35 and other contractor cases, so is a good source of case law for the sector.
http://www.tribunals.gov.uk/
UK Border Authority
Provides information for contractors from outside the European Union (EU) about the requirements they must meet to gain work permits.
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
News sites
Accounting Web
Aimed more at the accountancy sector, this site has news items and resources that are often relevant to contractors.
http://www.accountingweb.co.uk/
ContractorCalculator
Providing news and analysis and a wealth of additional resources for the whole contracting sector, this site is seen by most in the contracting sector as the pre-eminent authority on all things contracting. ContractorCalculator is regularly audited by ABCe, and its most recent audit showed that over 113,000 unique visitors accessed the site in March 2009. ContractorCalculator is also the publisher of the Contractors’ Handbook.
http://www.contractorcalculator.co.uk/
ContractEye
Wealth of resources for the contracting sector.
http://www.contracteye.co.uk
Networking sites
Freelancesupermarket.com - showcasing freelance services
A professional networking website and national directory of freelance contractors, recruitment agents and agencies,
umbrella companies and Accountancy Service Providers (ASP).
http://www.freelancesupermarket.com
Business support
Business Link
This government-funded organisation provides a wealth of business information for start-up, growing and established businesses, most of which is heavily subsidised or free. Services include face-to-face meetings with expert advisers, focused briefings and workshops, plus signposting to potential sources of grants, as well as new suppliers and other organisations and services.
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/