umbrella Articles

Business Continuity Update from Customer Service - COVID-19

Umbrella.co.uk have of course been putting together comprehensive plans to ensure that we are fully prepared for whatever the next few months brings.  

The planning has considered all key parts of our business.  We consider these to be:

  1. ​Business partner relationship management
  2. New business consultation and registration
  3. Contracting with and onboarding of new clients
  4. Submission of timesheets and expenses
  5. Payroll
  6. Customer service

We obviously hope that the situation is unlikely and will not occur but, should the worst happen and significant numbers of staff are unable to attend the office, we are 100% confident that we will be able to maintain all the above processes with minimal disruption.

  • We have identified key staff who will manage business critical activity in all areas.  We will adapt to any given circumstances and flexibility exists for the key staff to either work from the office or from home with equal efficiency.
  • We are confident that we would not lose any capability to support and pay our contractor employees.  Our confidence is borne from the fact that all of our major softwares which are intrinsic to processes are web-based and can therefore be accessed from anywhere.  Those that sit on our internal servers would be available via VPN connections.  Our external IT administrators have provided sufficient hardware capacity for multiple staff to be accessing the servers via VPN simultaneously.  Mobile equipment for staff remote working is already in place and tested. 
  • Our telephone system is also web-based and all key staff will have access to it via their mobile phones using a SWiP app.  This means that inbound calls can be taken on staff mobiles wherever they are, without the caller even being aware that the call has been re-routed.  Routing calls through our server also allows us to maintain our practice of recording all in and outbound calls.

"Please be assured that we are confident of maintaining ‘business as usual’ as best we can.  We are not however complacent and will continue to monitor developments to ensure we can react quickly.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions" - Nick Holmes, CEO

Our new recruits here at Umbrella.co.uk are ready for IR35! Are you?
marketing | 17 February 2020
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Contact us here at Umbrella.co.uk for your Umbrella solution.

We can help you with the transition and get you set up so you can use our great rewards package BEFORE you are even payrolled with us!

Call 01625 546 610. 

See our contractors’ guide to IR35 here.

 

 

Umbrella staff have been busy in their free time getting their desks festive ready for the annual desk decorating competition.

A little tinsel here, some snowflake stickers there…and then came an onslaught of creative and tasteful office decorations until the offices transformed into our own Umbrella Winter Wonderland.

 

Umbrella Brings the Outside In With New Break Area

We’ve gone all green-fingered with our new break out area, creating the perfect garden space for staff to eat, meet and relax during breaks.

 

The weather isn’t always brilliant outside our Wilmslow offices, especially now that we are inching towards winter. But the new garden-themed breakout area turns every lunch time into a park-side picnic.

With large picnic tables, foliage walls, planters and reclaimed wood panelling, the garden paradise is the perfect place to sit down, collect your thoughts and take five. But our favourite feature is the three large brand-coloured umbrellas that unify everyone under the same canopy.

 

Umbrella.co.uk raises £530 for Willow Wood Hospice

Umbrella’s charity of the month was Willow Wood Hospice. Based in Ashton under Lyne, they provide free specialist palliative care for patients with life limiting illnesses.

Umbrella staff held an office bake sale, mini golf and raffle which raised £280. We’d like to thank Centralus, our pension and employee rewards scheme provider, for their generous donation of £250. Also we are really extremely grateful for the amazing raffle donations from local businesses including Holt Business Supplies, Manchester City, The Body Shop, Morrisons, Chariot Office Supplies, Cloud Accountant and Gallagher Joinery.

If you would like to find out more about the incredible work that Willow Wood Hospice does click here.

Photo: Andy Finikin from Centralus presenting a cheque to Allison Gallagher.

 

Umbrella.co.uk January Employee of the Month
marketing | 20 February 2020
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We are delighted to announce that Rebecca McCarthy, Business Development Executive at Umbrella.co.uk, has won the January 2020 Employee of the Month.

“Rebecca’s cheerful nature and helpful manner have proven to be a winning combination with our sales team and our contractors!

Rebecca will always go the extra mile to help our contractors in ensuring that their experience enrolling with Umbrella.co.uk is professional, pleasant and easy.

A popular team member, her happy nature shines through every day. 

Congratulations Rebecca, on an accolade well deserved!” Jane Thornhill, Sales Manager

 

Stephen Holt Wins Umbrella.co.uk December Employee of the Month
marketing | 14 January 2020
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We are delighted to announce that Stephen Holt, Payroll Assistant, has won December Umbrella.co.uk Employee of the Month.

“Stephen always goes the extra mile to help agencies and our internal teams, ensuring contractors get paid correctly and on time. A crucial team player who’s enthusiasm and positive attitude shines through every day.

Congratulations Stephen for your double December win…Employee of the Month and got engaged! Well done and keep up the good work.” Jon Biddle, Director.

Happy Halloween from all the team at Umbrella.co.uk.
marketing | 31 October 2019
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Happy Halloween from all the team at Umbrella.co.uk.

We’ve all been embracing Halloween in the office today whilst fundraising for Mind, our charity of the month.

 

Congratulations to Hannah Kelman, Payroll, on winning Umbrella.co.uk October Employee of the Month. “Hannah’s enthusiasm and willingness to go the extra mile is valued by everyone in the business. As a key contributor to the payroll team and the wider business, the award is well deserved. Well done Hannah, enjoy the champagne!”
marketing | 2 October 2019
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Congratulations to Hannah Kelman, Payroll, on winning Umbrella.co.uk September Employee of the Month.

“Hannah’s enthusiasm and willingness to go the extra mile is valued by everyone in the business.  As a key contributor to the payroll team and the wider business, the award is well deserved. Well done Hannah, enjoy the champagne!” Jon Biddle, Director.

 

Allison Gallagher Umbrella.co.uk July Employee of the Month
marketing | 5 August 2019
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Congratulations to Allison Gallagher, Finance & HR Manager, on winning July Umbrella.co.uk Employee of the Month.

Allison has been invaluable and hard working member of the team for 9 years.

“Well done to a very deserving winner!" Simon Pearson, Finance Director.

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