faq

• using a recruitment agency
• great interview advice
• what to do with a job offer
• freelancing with an agency
• rec & dti compliance

1. can i invoice you?

because orchard is classed by the government as an employment business the government dictates that we must engage you as an individual not a company. this is not a tax regulation but an employment law regulation.

this means that only freelancers with limited companies can invoice us. all other freelancers including those registered as sole traders and partnerships must be engaged as individuals and therefore subject to paye and national insurance contributions at source.

2. will you handle all my tax and national insurance?

if you are not a limited company we will deduct paye contributions and national insurance contributions from any payment we make to you.

3. i am self employed what happens to my tax?

you will be deducted tax at source. these figures are presented to you at the end of each financial year on a p60 form. any contributions to paye can be offset against a final year tax calculation (your accountant will be able to advise you further). unfortunately any national insurance contributions taken can not be refunded against your monthly national insurance stamps.

4. will i get holiday pay?

if you are not a limited company and are working for us through paye then you will receive accrued holiday pay entitlement that you can then take at your convenience during the year. the only stipulation is that you cannot work for us during the time that you actually take the paid holiday.

5. what happens if i have my own clients?

you can of course continue to work for your own clients and we will notify you the name of each client for each freelance booking that we wish to offer you. if you have an existing relationship with that client and you don't want to utilise orchard to work with that client then that's no problem at all. we are happy to continue to use your services for our other clients. all we do ask is that if you make a commitment to us and our clients to perform a period of freelance that you continue to honour that period if one of your own clients requests you in the meantime.