Make the Most of a Self-Employed Workforce

Let EEBS help you avoid the pitfalls

Let's face it, there's potentially tougher economic times ahead. But do the proposed changes to National Insurance and Employment Rights mean it's time to rethink your employee and sub-contractor arrangements?

This January isn't just the start of a new year — it's the start of a new economic cycle. Sure, that could mean new opportunities, but rising taxes, employment costs, and economic uncertainty will challenge construction businesses to stay lean and adaptable.

The Government's push for “secure, well-paid employment” all comes with harsh penalties for non-compliance. But for many SMEs, these demands are commercially unsustainable.

The contractors that thrive will have flexibility bedded in, so it's no surprise the scales are tipping towards a self-employed workforce.

Here are 5 key issues driving this shift in 2025:

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1. National Insurance Increases

Are your project margins at risk from the National Insurance rise in April? (£1,000–£2,000 per employee). From April, employers' N.I. rises from 13.8% to 15%, with the threshold dropping to £5,000. This makes the cost of employing staff heavier than ever.

Read our Q&A

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2. Worker Status Changes

Only two categories will remain: employees and the genuinely self-employed. Could your current arrangements pass HMRC's tests? Thinking of transitioning to a self-employed workforce?

This blog might help

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3. HMRC's Increased Compliance Focus

With thousands of new staff in place, construction businesses are firmly in their sights. Are you prepared?

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4. Employment Rights from Day 1

New hires will get statutory rights from the start, and statutory sick pay will apply immediately. This means extra costs and admin for employers.

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5. Domestic Reverse Charge VAT

This VAT scheme could benefit contractors by letting you account for (but not pay) VAT on subcontractor services — if your supply chain meets the criteria.

Find out more

Average£10*Per Person
Per Week

Could you save costs, protect your profits, and stay compliant in 2025?

Let's have a chat

The message is clear: employee costs are rising, while the benefits of a self-employed workforce are growing. But getting it wrong could lead to fines, backdated tax, and damage to your reputation.

At EEBS, we've spent over 23 years helping businesses like yours. With a proven track record of compliance — over 50 HMRC inspections, never challenged — we provide secure solutions for a flexible, self-employed workforce.

Could you save costs, protect your profits, and stay compliant in 2025? Let's have a chat…

Get in touch

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Christine Shearing, Kenwood Groundworks

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Stuart Hilton, Trustpilot Review

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“The company I work for has traded with EEBS for over a decade. All personnel at EEBS are very polite, knowledgeable and very helpful. Great people to deal with who resolve any queries promptly and efficiently. I would recommend them to anybody.”

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“Would highly recommend EEBS, we have used a few payroll companies in the past but by far these guys are the best. Always so helpful and very knowledgeable, such a great company to work with.”

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We've got the numbers
to prove it.

From payroll processing to HMRC inspections, our track record speaks for itself. Here are the numbers that matter to construction businesses across the UK.