Augment Your Team with the Flexible Workforce

One of the fastest-growing trends in the Belfast recruitment market is the use of IT Contractors. More and more companies are discovering the value of the flexible workforce and the benefits of taking on temps. In the UK, there are around 2 million professionals working on a self-employed basis. 1.77 million of these professionals are full-time contractors, and this adds roughly £119 billion to the UK economy.

The size of the UK contract market presents a huge opportunity for companies to augment their team, capture some of the wealth of knowledge that these professionals can bring to a project, ramp up/down as and when required, and hit those looming project deadlines seamlessly. But why else are employers engaging the flexible workforce?

Flexibility

Contractors can help fulfil a specific project, meet a tight deadline or cover a period of absence. Once the need has passed, the contract can come to an end. This is a flexibility you simply don’t have with a permanent employee, where you can find yourself re-jigging teams and trying to find a new project for someone. Contractors know their job, why they are there, and that it isn’t forever. Whether your work is seasonal, a budget gets cut, or the project finishes early, using a contractor gives you the flexibility to end the engagement when required.

Immediate Availability

Closely linked to flexibility, contractors will generally advertise their services when they are coming to the end of a project. This means that when one project finishes, they can move seamlessly into a new project, without a cumbersome period of notice. If you find you are suddenly under serious pressure and could use an extra pair of experienced hands, the immediately available contractor is exactly what you are looking for.

Niche Skill Sets

Self-Employed Contractors generally have a wealth of experience in their niche area of expertise. Whether it is a certain technology or experience in a specific sector, they quickly add value to a team and project. Along with the specific knowledge they bring, they will likely have been in several different organisations, so can offer a fresh pair of eyes and a balanced perspective.

Cost Cutting

IT Contractors are widely considered to be an expensive way to get work done. They should, in fact, be seen as ways of cutting costs. It is no secret that an experienced Software Engineer in Belfast will set you back circa £550+ per day, but on closer inspection, they can potentially save you time and money. There are no hidden costs or extras. With a permanent, full-time employee, you will have all the extras to pay on top of basic such as employers’ national insurance, pension contributions, health insurance, dental insurance, bonus payments to name but a few. Then there is the time taken to find the perfect permanent candidate, 2 interviews, a technical test and the whole process several times over before the right person comes along! The process is much more cut-and-dry with contractors. They also do not have the same kind of training costs that permanent staff will and add value virtually immediately- these professionals are well used to quickly ramping up and moving between project and organisation!

Is this the right option for me?

Ask yourself the following questions and if the answer is yes, give me a call:

• Do you need extra resources now, but on a short-term basis?
• Do you have a skills shortage in a specific area?
• Are you understaffed and under pressure?
• Do you have a small budget but need big results?
• Is your current project running to a tight, difficult deadline and an extra pair of hands could get you over the line?
• Does the project need specialist technical knowledge and experience?