Since 1997 we have placed IT contractors with organisations across the UK, from FTSE 350 companies to the public sector. Once you start, we look after you properly: accurate, on-time pay, contracts that work in practice, and straight answers on rates and IR35.
Browse our live contract roles, or register your CV so a consultant can call you as soon as a suitable contract comes in.
Why contractors work through Deerfoot
We have been placing IT contractors since 1997 - our first started at AXA Insurance in Cardiff. Here is what you can expect from us.
How it works
From first call to first payslip, here is what to expect.
01
Apply or register
Apply for one of our current contracts, or register your CV so we can match you to new roles as they come in.
02
A call with a consultant
We talk through the role, the day rate, the IR35 status, the start date and the working pattern, so you know exactly what you would be signing up for.
03
Your application, checked twice
You complete a short, role-specific form with your consultant, and every application passes two consultants for suitability and accuracy before it reaches the client.
04
Interview and offer
We arrange interviews, pass on feedback and confirm the rate, the IR35 determination and the contract terms in writing.
05
Onboarding
We handle the referencing and any client screening with you. If you are working through an umbrella company, you will receive a Key Information Document before you start.
06
Timesheets and pay
Submit timesheets through our online Timesheet Portal and get paid weekly or monthly. Your consultant stays in touch throughout, including when it is time to talk about an extension.
Already on assignment with us?
Submit and track your timesheets through the Deerfoot Timesheet Portal. For anything about your pay or your contract, call us on 023 8081 3001 or email hello@deerfoot.co.uk.
Contractor FAQs
What is the difference between inside and outside IR35?
IR35 (the off-payroll working rules) decides whether a contractor working through their own limited company should be taxed like an employee. Outside IR35, your limited company is paid gross and deals with its own tax. Inside IR35, the fee is treated as employment income, so income tax and National Insurance are deducted before you are paid - normally through an umbrella company.
Who decides whether a contract is inside or outside IR35?
For medium and large clients, and all public sector bodies, the end client decides and must give you a Status Determination Statement (SDS) explaining its reasons. If you disagree, you can challenge it and the client must respond within 45 days. If the client is a small company, your own limited company decides. We tell you the IR35 status of a role as soon as we know it, so there are no surprises at offer stage.
What counts as a small client?
From 6 April 2026, a company counts as small if it meets two or more of these: turnover of £15 million or less, a balance sheet of £7.5 million or less, and 50 or fewer employees. The test looks back at previous years' accounts, so a client's status can change from one tax year to the next.
How does an inside IR35 contract work with an umbrella company?
The umbrella company employs you and runs your payroll. We pay the umbrella the assignment rate for the hours or days you work. The umbrella deducts its margin, employer's National Insurance and the Apprenticeship Levy, then pays you through PAYE with income tax, employee National Insurance and any pension contributions taken off. As an umbrella employee you are entitled to statutory employment rights such as holiday pay, statutory sick pay and a workplace pension.
How do I know what I will take home?
Before you start, you will receive a Key Information Document (KID). It sets out the rate, who pays you, every deduction and an example of your take-home pay, so you can compare offers like for like. If a take-home figure looks too good to be true, it usually is - be wary of any provider promising much more than a standard PAYE calculation.
Can I choose my own umbrella company?
Yes. You can work through any FCSA-accredited umbrella company - there are more than 50 to choose from, and you can see them all in the FCSA directory of accredited umbrella companies. FCSA accreditation means the umbrella has been independently assessed for compliance with its codes of practice.
What changed for umbrella companies in April 2026?
From 6 April 2026, the recruitment agency (or the end client, where there is no agency) became legally responsible for any PAYE and National Insurance an umbrella company fails to pay. It does not change how you are paid, but it means agencies now check their umbrella providers far more closely - which also helps protect contractors from non-compliant schemes.
Do I need a right to work check for a contract role?
Yes. Since 1 October 2026, right to work checks cover contractors and agency workers as well as employees. We will check your right to work before your assignment starts, usually through the Home Office online service or a certified digital identity check, and agree with the client and any umbrella company who holds the record.
Can I work through my own limited company?
Yes, on contracts that are outside IR35. Your company submits timesheets through our Timesheet Portal and is paid gross, and you remain responsible for your company's own tax.
Do the Agency Workers Regulations apply to me?
If you are an agency worker, for example paid through an umbrella company, then after 12 weeks in the same role with the same client you are entitled to the same basic pay and working conditions as a comparable permanent employee. Contractors who are genuinely in business on their own account through a limited company are generally outside AWR.
How often will I be paid?
Weekly or monthly, depending on the client's invoicing, with cleared funds paid within 14 days of invoice or delivery. Timesheets are submitted and approved through our online Timesheet Portal.
Will you be open about the rate and your margin?
Yes. We are honest about client budgets and our margin, and you are welcome to verify them with the end client.
Do you charge contractors a fee?
No. We are paid by our clients, and there is never a charge to you for finding you work.
This is general guidance rather than tax advice. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to an accountant.
