Contracting is a great way to earn more, choose projects you love, and keep your work/life flexible. With an umbrella company, you get those benefits without setting up a limited company or worrying about payroll admin. We employ you, pay you through PAYE, and handle the compliance—so you can focus on the job.

Thinking about contracting?

What is an umbrella company?

An umbrella company is your employer while you work as a contractor. We:

  • sign an employment contract with you

  • receive your assignment funds from the agency or end client

  • process tax, National Insurance and other statutory deductions through PAYE

  • pay your net salary to your bank, with a detailed payslip and remittance advice

You keep the flexibility of contracting, with the stability of being employed.

Is umbrella right for me?

Umbrella can be a great fit if you:

  • are inside IR35, or your agency/client requires PAYE

  • want a quick start without forming a limited company

  • prefer statutory protections (holiday pay, sick pay, pension auto-enrolment)

  • work multiple short assignments and want one employer and one set of payslips

Not sure? We’ll talk you through options in plain English.

How it works (in 5 steps)

  1. Sign up — Share your right-to-work documents and basic details (takes minutes).

  2. We set you up — We confirm with your agency/client and issue your employment contract.

  3. You work, we invoice — Your agency/client sends your funds to us after time approval.

  4. We run PAYE — We calculate tax, NI, apprenticeship levy and any agreed deductions.

  5. You get paid — Salary lands in your account, with a clear payslip in your portal.

Typical pay frequency: weekly or monthly, depending on your agency/client’s cycle.

What you get with us

  • Fast, reliable payments — Same-day processing once funds clear (cut-off applies).

  • Full compliance — HMRC PAYE, RTI submissions, AWR and data protection covered.

  • Holiday pay — Clearly shown and managed in line with your assignment.

  • Pension auto-enrolment — We’ll invite you when eligible; opt in or out anytime.

  • Statutory entitlements — SSP, SMP/SPP/Adoption Pay where eligibility is met.

  • Support that’s human — Real people on phone/email/chat to sort things quickly.

  • One employer, many contracts — Keep continuous employment across assignments.

(If your role requires specific insurance levels, we’ll make sure requirements are met.)

Your pay: what you’ll see on the payslip

  • Gross funds received from agency/client for the assignment

  • Employment costs (employer’s NI, apprenticeship levy, workplace pension contributions if applicable)

  • Umbrella margin (our fixed fee)

  • Your taxable pay (processed via PAYE)

  • Your take-home pay (after tax/NI, student loan, pension, court orders if any)

We provide a remittance advice showing how the assignment funds were allocated, alongside your payslip.

Costs & transparency

  • Flat weekly margin (or per-payment) — simple and predictable

  • No tie-ins, no exit fees

  • No hidden extras — if there’s a cost, it’s listed upfront

Ask us for our current margin and what’s included.

Frequently asked questions

Am I self-employed with an umbrella?
No. You’re employed by us and paid via PAYE.

Can I claim expenses?
Only in limited circumstances and subject to HMRC rules (e.g., not under Supervision, Direction or Control and qualifying travel). We’ll advise case-by-case—assume no unless we confirm eligibility.

What about IR35?
Your agency/client/end-client determines IR35 status for the assignment. Umbrella is typically used for inside IR35 roles, but we’ll work with your agency/client on the correct setup.

Do I need to change umbrella for each contract?
No. You can use us as your single employer across many contracts and agencies.

How fast will I be paid?
As soon as we receive cleared funds and timesheets are approved, we process on the same day (subject to cut-offs).

Can I leave anytime?
Yes. There’s no lock-in—just let us know so we can close your account and issue final paperwork.

What we need to get you started

  • Photo ID and right-to-work evidence

  • Address and bank details

  • Your NI number and tax code (if known)

  • Agency/client assignment details (rate, hours, timesheet process)

  • Any existing student loan or court order info (if applicable)

You’ll get your employment contract and portal access once set up. Agencies will provide a Key Information Document (KID) outlining pay illustrations for your assignment.

Ready to talk it through?

Not sure if umbrella is right for you? We’ll walk you through pay illustrations, timescales and next steps—in minutes.

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Got questions?

If you’re unsure about how umbrella contracting works, or just want a straight answer before making a decision, get in touch. The TrustPay team’s happy to talk it through — no pressure, no obligation, just honest advice. We’ll help you understand your options so you can work with confidence.

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