Pontoon

Customer service is great and very responsive from early morning and into the evening. Great when your agency doesn’t pay on time as they do the chasing. Also pay promptly

Despite an aindividual assessment by two managers that I was outside due to working practices and an IR35 compliant contract, the central HR team took the easy option throughout Experian to put a blanket ban on PSCs. Pontoon just rolled over and went with it. Had no choice but to leave as I felt that the decision left me open to a restrospective tax liability.

No SDS given. Blanket status determination and only option to go PAYE/Umbrella after 5 April.

A company who claims not to have a skills shortage has a large proportion of contractors, who are now demoralised and aggrieved by NGs' decision to issue a PSc ban. A decision made by managers who are so far removed from the coal face that I doubt they even know what services we are providing. We are forced to decide which of the five umbrella companies are going to shaft us. If you are a contractor who has busted his hump to deliver high quality work for this client then this is a complete slap in the face. It's not that they can't do anything regarding IR35, it's the fact that they won't are basically can not be arsed, which I feel is the worst thing about it. Obviously National Grids values does not take into account contractors who deliver the work. I won't be staying and when the opportunity arises I will be leaving as soon as possible.

Pontoon charge a minimal uptake for providing hourly paid contractors on a nationwide basis. Unfortunately they do not have the rersouces to force their contractors to accept that they are inside IR35 when in fact they are not. Most contractors will submit and then mopve on post Covid-19.

Forced out at the end of Feb 2020. Company policy of illegal blanket bans on Ltd company contractors, and all where forced into FTC, perm or the criminal Umbrella racket. I have colleagues who stayed on Umbrella and they were quickly cut back to 2 days per week and had no rate uplift to cover the extra costs of the contractor illegally covering the employer NI contributions and apprenticeship levy.

Following a blanket assessment last year, no assessment at all this year. Renewals only being offered on a 'these umbrella companies or PAYE' basis. Rates not being uplifted at all so the Employer's NI burden falls on the contractor. It's a great place to work but it isn't attractive to stay.

KPMG were once again engaged by Centrica to help them make status determinations with individual assessments submitted by 18th December 2020. On 15th January 2021, an email was sent out to all 2nd party contractors notifying them of a blanket ban on PSCs. Use of an approved umbrella solution was put forward as a possibility for some roles that are still required post April.

No individual assessments. Complete ban on PSCs. Contractors required to go perm (if offered) or go through one of five umbrella companies approved by Pontoon.

Blanket PSC ban, Contractors requested to use an array of Umbrella companies. Mass exodus expected.

Pontoon recently ammended contracts to make them 'IR35 friendly' however BT have decided already that Project Managers are all inside from 1st March 2021 regardless. Their statement 'From the 1st March the role that you will be performing has been assessed as in line with the HMRC CEST tool and is determined to be inside the scope of IR35’.

Isn’t illegal to dictate which company you go with to commit brollycide? Well it matters not to Pontoon and National Grid. You’ve got two options go fully PAYE with Pontoon or commit Brollycide with these companies we have picked out for you. No SDS even initiated this time after the blatent stitch up from last time. Still waiting to hear back from that one. What appalling arrogant behaviour.

Very aggressive correspondence to all NG contractors - we will only engage contractors on a PAYE basis and not via a PSC. This includes our supply chain; suppliers will be asked to ensure that any staff provided are on a payroll - and my favourite question on the FAQs: Is this a blanket inside IR35 determination by National Grid? Answer: A blanket determination is where an end user decides that all contractors are inside IR35. We are not doing this; we have changed our policy only to engage with contractors on an on-payroll basis. Permie roles and fixed term contracts can be discussed.

Have been given a heads up that National Grid are issuing PSC bans and forcing all 560 of its contractors that they will HAVE to go full PAYE through Pontoon. No crooked assessments this year, although I am still waiting to hear back from KPMG regarding my contest of their decision. The arrogance and hubris of National Grid is contemptible. The rumour mill has started, and so far they are (allegedly) going to try and enforce that none of their contractors in their supply chain use contract staff either. They do think they are the be all and end all of the UK gas industry. The new RIIO price agreement with OFGEM starts in 2021 and without the contract staff they have in place they haven't got a hope in Hades of delivering it.

Just had the heads up that blanket ban is coming. Even extends to PSC's through third parties. So narrow minded with £2bn of RIIO T2 work to deliver in next 5 years

Received an email form Pontoon; Blanket Ban on contractors. "This legislation is due to come into effect on 6th April 2021 and Tesco has advised that from that date they will no longer engage with contractors via PSCs." There you have it... Tesco have blanket banned contractors.

This blanket approach was put in place in Feb 2020 and remains in place today. No assessments, no appeal, pathetic and cowardly approach.

Due to COVID a whole bunch of us laid off. Despite IR35 deferral, they're sticking with their blanket assessment and Pontoon have no idea what they're doing and are just feeding contractors rubbish even when you point out the legalities of the position.

How can a role that was inside two weeks ago now be outside now ? They have changed their position because it benefits Grid. Given the way they have treated contractors to this point I won’t be staying regardless of the U-Turn.

U turn. A Ltd company contract is in progress.

The bank bofa is very selfish. Alot of angry people talking angrily and morale is low. The work will suffer.. It was no problem to Bofa to cancel changes for one year but they don't care for contractors. thanks for helping us during corona Bofa, we will not forget this time what you done to us and our familys

Used EY to individually assess all contractors using a heavily biased questionnaire to ensure everyone was deemed inside IR35. Have now finally done a U-Turn and confirmed today that PSC's will still be engaged, with strongly worded comms from agency making clear "Should you continue to provide services via your PSC, it remains your company’s responsibility to assess whether the IR35 legislation applies... " All fair enough, and good news, just too late for those that have already moved on or gone umbrella as that's all that had previously been offered. Still a positive U-Turn though.

Bank of America . A bunch of w****s This is the general sentiment amongst us all

I got a 6 month contract role inside IR35 via Umbrella Company, but after enquiring from my agency about new changes they have agreed in going ahead on LTD basis. Unfortunately my start date is TBC due to health emergency

U turn off the back of the government deferral. This will most likely be for 12 months only.

No IR35 accessment or guidance or reasoning provided and still blanket ban on PSCs (confirme today) despite HMRC deferring the OffPayroll implementation until Apr-21. Doesn't make any sense :(

Have just been informed of BT U-turn/deferral

Some global information security contractors have gone permanent but I declined the offer which was less than half my rate. Bad atmosphere last few weeks, and can’t see u-turn after government announcement. Will leave as soon a a decent Java developer role is available. To hell with bofa. Good luck with projects

Received email from agent stating that NG decided that LTD’s can work on now. Will know more soon I guess and they asked if an extension is likely from the business. However still not received anything for my appeal which I have filed 20/02.

U turn on PSC

I will jump ship as soon as possible. BoA haven’t learnt anything since they made contractors take furloughs and rate reductions a few years ago. Skilled contractors jumped ship back then and will do the same again and work will come to a standstill. It’s a huge risk but BoA just don’t seem to care. It’s the arrogance that is rife in upper tiers of management to follow the Government lead and postpone the changes. BoA don’t lead, they follow. They’re waiting for one of the other banks to do a U-turn before they’ll consider it. Baaaahhhhh!!!!

All Status determinations, and appeals to be deleted, and the process to start again later this year. Contractors can carry on as per normal.

New contract was inside and now reverted back to outside.

No u turn after the deferral notice from HMRC.

Blanket assessments. Blanket responses to appeals. Absolute nonsense.

Great organisation to work for, really enjoying my time there. IR35 topic was a total shambles however. 100% blanket rule as i has zero consultation or say.. Pontoon as always, zero contract. Pointless really.. Cant blame my client area though..

Blanket ban on Limited Companies - all contracts to end Feb 28th unless you go permanent or switch to umbrella. Existing permanent staff picking up the project work from contractors who are leaving (5 out of 6 contractors in my project have left) Project still expected to deliver on time. All permanent staff spoken to are incredulous that this is happening and concerned about the impacts on projects as they will be left to bear the backlash. Atmosphere tense and concerned for permanent staff, contractors who are leaving are mainly happy to take a few months off or potentially retire, as most have decent war chests to cover a few months off. I'm personally expecting to take all of March off and possibly some of April and am happily doing some long overdue decorating of the house (Its good to do some manual work for a change) and garden which should keep me busy for the next 6 weeks or so.

Blanket ban, no consultation, no uplift in rate to soften the financial blow and an increased risk of retrospective tax investigation if I stayed, so I chose to leave before the project work was completed. Many fellow contractors felt forced to accept an umbrella role due to the poor state of the market. I would rather take my chances elsewhere.

KPMG engaged by Centrica to help them make status determinations. Email serving notice to PSC's sent last week. Nobody I know got an inside determination.

The comments on here highlight the real impact of this policy which is going to have huge impacts to many UK businesses. I have had a great time working at National a Grid but for me it’s quite simple. The business has chosen a path to move forward, I don’t want to join them on this path so will leave tomorrow. I wish them all the best and hope to work with them again in the future to help them out of the mess being created.

IR35 determinations being done by people who have no idea what I do, where I'm based and I've never spoken to. No surprise I was deemed inside IR35 as is everyone it seems. Appeal process absolute shambles using Avison Young. Good luck rolling out the network with perm employees who only work 9 till 4.

Assessment and appeal process all behind a faceless mailbox. Huge pressure on contractors to accept inside, even though no terms, contract or rates being visible at this time. BT are failing on this spectacularly. Morale is terrible. Most will walk. Critical projects at high risk.

BT deducting employers NI and apprentice levy from day rate. All contractors inside IR35. No outside IR35 roles after April. EY is answering challenges - very slowly! Massive impact on projects with contractors leaving - atmosphere is poor.

Followed EY tool but assessment not completed against individual contracts blanket decision evident.

Independent tool provided by EY used to assess IR35 status. The individuals written contract was not taken into account during the assessment. Managers were "told" what answers to give. All PSC contractors given the same Inside IR35 determination so smacks of a blanket ban on PSCs but disguised as a "fair assessment". No opportunity for contractors to see the questions used to determine status. No opportunity for contractors to give input into the process. Options given are to use 1 of 5 umbrellas, permanent position, PAYE through Pontoon or employed consultant with Ajilon. Large numbers of contractors expected to leave. Atmosphere is terrible with contractors already starting to go. Projects will inevitably suffer.

Farcical. Many contractors turned away from working 2nd March. Paperwork not gine through. Dozens upon dozens of people with no work, no pay until further notice. Treating people with total contempt. Blanket bans and forcing via umbrella which obviously goes against government legislation. Lloyds will fall foul of this soon but the toxic culture means nobody in management cares.

PSC van and outsourced SDS to EY who undertook a blanket assessment using their own tool failing to take into account individuals circuits it contract terms. Rather the based the assessment on undisclosed criteria and failed to communicate the results other than "deemed inside IR35". Projects will be severely impacted, contractors leaving, angry people.

As many others have said, no support whatsoever from Pontoon. Line manager to be fair seems frustrated he can't do anything and apparently it has come from Director level that no pay increases shall be given to compensate for our losses. I never even saw my assessment I still haven't been given the opportunity to appeal. I am fast running out of options as I am falling out with every umbrella company I speak to due to their unethical practices. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to just get up and go but I am looking at pursuing other options outside of NG.

The head of tax said the KPMG tool is well calibrated... to put everybody inside of course. Nothing heard on appeal for 8 days. NG basically protecting the group with shortsightedly not seeing the effects on multi billion projects. Crazy times run off as of 22/03

I’ve been told that I’m inside despite not having gone through the assessment yet! NG have tried to play the clever game by coercing contractors into thinking if they don’t have the assessment then HMRC won’t know about it. They want contractors to voluntarily go down the umbrella route. In my opinion that’s a risky move on a contractors part but unfortunately many are falling for it. Pontoon have done nothing to support the contractors which is very disappointing. I personally feel like a 3rd class citizen after giving so much to NG over the last few years. Good luck paying the extra to KMPG and other consultancies for your junior resources.

3 weeks to go and it looks like NG is sticking to its completely flawed assessments. Pontoon should hang its head in shame, they had an opportunity to point NG in the right direction but have failed miserably. I'll be leaving on the 20th (with the rest of the sane - do the remaining contractors realise they will be paying the employers' tax NG should be paying (13.8%) from their rate!) and for me it's an unexpected early retirement so NG will loose experience and HMRC will be getting a larger tax take on..err...nothing. I wonder if Ofgem will wake up and have a look at NG's dismal project delays in the coming months and years.

No assessment, just an email and a 30 second conversation. Only people benefitting are large agencies and offshore suppliers. I've moved on from having them as a client.

Flawed KPMG assessment tool, team managers told to answer questions based on contract, not actual working relationship - also told what to answer in certain circumstances. I've seen the answers, 50% were clearly not a reflection of the situation, came back as inside of course. Have appealed but not heard anything after over a week. Have been told that even if it comes back as outside, only a 3 month renewal would be offered and then nothing, so PSC ban. NG Network is complex and requires knowledge and experience understand and secure - all that knowledge is about to walk out of the door. Many projects aimed at improving the security of the NG network now at risk. Was also told that if I opted for 'inside' without going through the assessment, that HMRC would not need to be informed - obvious attempt at coercion to reduce risk of HMRC coming after contractors for back taxes, wasn't going to play that game.

Unbelievable. We have not yet heard back from out appeals yet, although we have pretty much guessed the outcome, Even though by HRMCs standards that offering blanket bans, even if they are disguised is unlawful, I'm now getting hounded by Pontoon to decide which way they would like to shaft me come April 6th. Just a poor understand of the IR35 legislation and a complete lack of back bone by both NG and Pontoon.

Blanket decision to put all contractors inside IR35 (thinly disguised as a KPMG loaded cest ‘assessment’ tool). The SDS output appears to be the same as everyone else’s - hardly individual. Clearly this is done as NG don’t want HMRC sniffing about - yet HMRC stated during the Public Sector debacle a couple of years ago that blanket decisions are NOT allowed however they’re disguised. The only winners here are KPMG. (the tail wagging the dog) and the Brollies who clearly have ‘advisors’ on commission. Mis-selling scam anyone? Disgraceful.

BT Group use EY to manage this IR35 process. The EY tool Confirm is based on CEST. Hiring managers completed questionnaires on the tool on an individual basis - without any knowledge of the Contract between the Agency and Contractor. Their knowledge of the working practices is also distorted and based on the guidelines / how they would like us to behave. Internally there were guidelines given to Hiring Managers to complete the forms. Internal emails issued to some Contractors attempted to re-assure them and indicated that alignment was sought across business areas and role types. So the process masquerades as an individual assessment but 70+ contractors doing a variety of roles (PM, BA, SA) are all marked as "Inside IR35". If that doesn't meet a Blanket Inside Assessment then I don't know what does?! Contractors have been given limited information, apart from a flawed SDS and are now being pressured to reveal if they are staying after 30 Mar. This is only to assist BT with back-fill of resource. The appeal process is to email a BT email address managed by EY resource who are not handling it well. Many contractors have not received the original questions and answers to assist with the appeal, despite the deadline for the appeal now being over. There are plenty of projects and chains of dependent project being impacted worth £ms. The atmosphere was toxic. IR35 is all that the Contractors are thinking about, understandably. A number of contractors were cut recently and a few have started to leave as their Contracts are due for renewal. I'm in this position and while I'm out of contract I'm relieved to be out of there. I worry about what HMRC is doing to the Contracting Industry. They have attempted to bounce Outside Contractors to Inside roles by making the Client's do the dirty work. I'd like another contract asap! I hope the HoL committee will make a difference as it just showed what a complete sham this is, with real economic damage occurring right now.

This is a blanket ban disguised as a fair assessment. 99% of contractors have been found inside, it would appear it doesn't affect those that sit on the board of directors just us mere mortals.

If National Grid are that concerned then all they needed to do was to change the way the contractors are engaged slightly and things can carry on as normal. The fact that this option hasn't even been entertained tells me the have no interest whatsoever of keeping contractors on as they are, they are just happy to watch people leave or join Umbrella companies regardless of their circumstances.

What can I say? We've been given an assessment that no matter how you answer the outcome still comes out with Inside IR35. It's the pretence of National Grid wanting to come across as fair client when really they have adopted a tool from KPMG that gives leading questions and no justification for answers, All the contractors I have spoken to who have delivered various projects for NG are feeling angry and hurt. Many will leave if they can afford to do so, some will be forced to commit Brollycide through having no choice forced upon them. Truly and utterly appalling. I"m ashamed to have NG as a client.

Good communications on the process but poor application. As expected most (all) are inside IR35 following assessment by a tool provided by KPMG. All projects will be impacted from next month as there are about 1000 contractors in the business. All employer NI costs are to be covered by contractor before personal taxation, no expenses allowed to be offset against income. I predict many will leave in March and there'll have to be a rethink on the contracts to be able to offer outside IR35 at market day rates sometime later. The atmosphere isn't good as a lot of the contractors care about the work they do and don't know how the perm staff will be able to manage it without the flexible resources relied upon in the past.

Supposedly individual assessment via KPMG tool but outcomes are all remarkably similar... haven't found anyone deemed Outside IR35 yet and the decision justification provided in the SDS, is all standard and contrary to current contracts and working practices. Not a great situation for anyone really.

Blanket assessment, the bank has fallen inline with many other financial organisations.

As others have pointed out, an SDS assessment generated by a KPMG tool has found almost all contractors inside IR35. The assessment allows for a challenge, but in the absence of knowing how NG line managers have answered questions, it is impossible to gauge where to challenge. A deeply flawed system. A CNI programme has already taken a hit with a number of contractors walking. Rest are pretty despondent with no incentive to help end client. NG should hang their head in shame, this will come back and bite hard when projects/programme suffer or come to a standstill. Client relationships are being forsaken in favour of short term thinking around perceived risk to NG. A hugely damaging exercise underway which only appears to be getting worse in the absence of clarification of rates for new contracts post April.

Absolute discusting behaviour. Heard the project team say 'the contractor's can go, we'll easily get new ones in'

We've all been blanketed inside ir35. In addition, as the firm needs to pay for employers NI, our new contract rates will be our old rate, minus 13%. Not only are we getting more tax and no benefits, but our actual rates are going down. The agency pontoon are also dictating which umbrellas we can use. We get one week to review our new contracts only, otherwise we will be out of a job.

Professional contractors and consultants are being unfairly ousted from projects that they have invested time and expertise in so that IBM/KPMG can line their pockets. This is... sorry... WAS all completely avoidable... such a shame.

KPMG assessed everyone, we all received the same template answer, despite the fact that we work through different agencies, contracts, etc. They didn't read our contracts.

Several now considering raising procurment concerns (and getting legal advice) on conflict of interest where KPMG have a vested interest in removing independent contractors (through biased and unfair assessments) but have the ability to replace with their consultants. Now, In a moment of madness and panic, end client is taking this approach and hiring KPMG and IBM consultants (probably others on frameworks) on T&M basis and at 2-3x day rates. Hope Ofgem are watching. Stacks of critical projects and programmes impacted.

KPMG tool that has put 99% of contractors inside apparently. Been advised that appealing the SDS is futile even if you have an outside assessment by CEST and/or QDoS/ IR35 Shield. Sent evidence to the House of Lords review. It's a shame that they are so short sighted but at the end of the day I'm sure this will be an easy excuse to use to OFGEM for under delivery of critical projects. Good contractors with plenty of knowledge, experience and good relationships in the organisation will be replaced by outsourced resource or green behind the ears, junior KPMG consultants. Atmosphere terrible. Roll on March 2oth.

Complete joke. KPMG looking for more work. Provided a tool that puts all inside. Some questions are inappropriate such as are you supplied with a company laptop, access pass etc. Considering this company is on the Critical National Infrastructure how could you bypass these security measures? Could I take my personal laptop into any other company? Even CEST allows for use of a provided laptop. There are other examples of the fix also... Projects will be impacted. Contractors will be leaving. Atmosphere in contracting circles is bitter. Feeling powerless. Demotivated. Looking forward to end of March - there will be a lot of empty seats. Not mine, as I don't have one!

Blanket ban after 1st march. Either you go as paye or leave. Most contractors including myself are leaving fri 28th march. They won't even extend the usage of psc's up to 5th april even after hmrc's recent announcement that payments for previous tax year don't apply. No increase in rates. Pontoon tried to dress up the reality by using the phrase "premium pay" which is simply the current day rate less the employers NI. They wouldn't even show a take home pay as surely they knew it'd shock too many people. To add insult to injury Pontoon stated if you use them as an agency they will hold back holiday pay and not allow expenses nor gross pension contributions. Pontoon even stated that contractors are their highest priority! Absolute rubbish and severely mismanaged. Most contractors had a meeting with Pontoon which simply served to state how it was going to be. Every single contractor left that meeting feeling angry.

Told before even asked the first question, KPMG putting everyone inside. I'm leaving, who in their right mind would foot the bill for all the expenses. Amazing how KPMG have taken over the place and projects. One things for sure, the tax that HMRC thought they'd get from here will be zero. KPMG Offshore and managed teams will be outside IR35, the irony.

KPMG fixed IR35 assessments aimed at pushing out contractors, have a guess at who is now putting staff in? Contractors leaving in their masses, this is really going to cause an issue as cheap offshore and cheap perms being brought in with no skill set but offered training. This is just madness since NG are CNI

Blanket ban on PSC All roles now MUST be via an umbrella, any additional taxes or costs including travel to other sites or overnight stays will be from the employee. No assessment just a straight blanket ban. Work is being transferred to Indian offshore providers.

Contractors are either going permanent or temporarily taking Umbrella options pending more clarity. I feel frustrated by the blank ban which also came with an enforced fix in rates, so no chance to negotiate an uplift to help cover the difference. It is clear that Umbrella is worse than working as a permanent employee without any.benefits.

Officially 'individual assessment' yet practically skewed KPMG tool which disagrees with CEST putting everyone inside IR35. Contractors leaving. Projects at risk. Unhealthy atmosphere.

Direction and control - they don’t have a clue what to do themselves so not possible Right of substitution - I could have my gran do the work and they would have not idea or interest if the work was done Working location - mainly home and Costa Assessment result = Inside Outcome = Jokers, see you later and good luck ????

Cynical waiting until 6 weeks before law change to do this. Therefore giving people less time to get a new post. At least the banks had the courtesy to do it before Christmas. I was initially told I was outside, then inside. Told it is pointless appealing. Really hacked off. CV went out to agencies last week.

Cynical waiting until 6 weeks before law change to do this. Therefore giving people less time to get a new post. At least the banks had the courtesy to do it before Christmas. I was initially told I was outside, then inside. Told it is pointless appealing. Really hacked off. CV went out to agencies last week.

Blanket determination on all PSC companies

Basically a blanket role based ban. Should be easy to sort out new contracts for project contractors but zero appetite.

Sad times.

Our status was reviewed by KPMG. They determined all of my team INSIDE IR35 and the reasons they gave prove that they didn't even bother to read our contracts. Eg. KMPG state "Substitution - You are required to perform the work personally and we would not accept a substitute worker for this engagement", when our contracts clearly state "The Service Provider may, with the prior written agreement of the Company appoint a suitably qualified and skilled Substitute to perform the Services in replacement of the Personnel. If the Company accepts the Substitute, the Service Provider shall continue to invoice the Company in accordance with clause 4 and shall be responsible for remuneration of the Substitute.". This is one of four contradictions made by KPMG vs our contracts. This makes me believe they're blanket banning PSCs. There is an appeals process, however, they have up to 45 days in which to respond which doesn't give us enough time to appeal, get the response and then serve our 28 days notice if they refuse to budge.

Assessment puts everyone inside. Umbrella or staff roles, FTC is also a possibility. People are leaving in March or before if jobs found elsewhere. People who work away from home are not prepared to do it for pittance, they can get inside IR35 roles near their homes. A lot of the NG sites are in remote locations, good luck with finding people locally (small villages with retired residents) or convincing other ex-contractors to travel these distances! How do we feel? Betrayed by the KPMG tool, shafted in general and worry about how we will support our families.

Rigged KPMG tool. Determination statements delayed. Tool crashed again today. Statement made which confirms that external legal advice (e.g. Qdos) not grounds for dispute. Hundreds of contractors leaving many key programmes. Shocking mess. Some conversions which are appropriate. The individual assessment is actually worse than blanket inside. At least with blanket you do don't have a discoverable Determination Statement for back tax.. which will come! Some DSs being produced without contractor permission raising some legal concerns.

All inside, 10 days to query assessment, but mailbox auto-response saying can’t cope with the volume of queries and stating 3 days delay at least on any response. Chaotic. BT and Pontoon blaming each other.,,

KPMG didn't bother to read my contract... if they had then they would have seen it was quite clearly outside IR35. Losers.

KPMG tool is rigged. No decision after HMRC came out with reasonable care manual on 7th Feb. I told senior management that a mass exodus will come.

I am leaving

It might as well be a complete ban on PSC/LTD companies. The assessment is rigged to deliver the verdict of inside IR35. Discussed at length with pontoon but nothing is going to change. National Grid want a cost neutral resolution to IR35 meaning no higher rates to compensate loss in income (depending on who you talk to). Basically NG want a risk averse tactic to deal with IR35 and not change Co tractor engagement. This may be ok for the short term but when RIIO T2 comes in and they wish to delivery mammoths amount of work they won’t be able to do it because of the skills shortage in their company. National Grid are a company that step over pounds to pick up pennies.

Received notification inside IR35. Mutuality, control and single paymaster. Looks like they’ve assessed “roles” based master agreement with Pontoon and not individual contracts. Our explicitly has no notice period ie with immediate effect. No control. Found assessment used online- apparently EY but very basic. Very few questions. If you are paid by the day and not fixed outcome then Inside. Only options provided from April are Inside IR35 full stop. Appealing but looking elsewhere as will open up current contract to HMRC scrutiny- don’t need the stress. More fool them.

E&Y tool used. Contractors not interviewed or asked any questions. Over 30+ project managers have all had the same determination status = inside. 10 days to appeal. Not a good atmosphere.

EY tool used stated as individual assessments but now clear that is a front as all contractors are inside IR35. Some initially given an indeterminate status, to be followed a few hours later with an inside IR35 status. No explanation given as to why, but someone is deliberately changing data to ensure everyone is inside. Mass exodus of disgruntled but highly skilled workforce expected.

NG has engaged KPMG to complete the IR35 assessment. Was promised an individual assessment however my manager decided to cut and paste somebody else's answers in for every contractor in his/her department. The contracts provide by Pontoon where said to be explicitly outside IR35 yet NG with the help of KPMG have found everyone I know to be inside IR35. As the only change to IR35 is who completes the assessment I fail to see how all of a sudden I'm inside IR35. It feels like the assessment was used to make everybody inside IR35 regardless of their status.

Don't know why they bothered doing the assessments, Cleary rigged for everyone to be inside IR35. I didn't even get an individual assessment as promised, management just copied and pasted the first guys answers for everyone else in our department.

Very loaded questions to ensure we are inside IR35

The outcome of my assessment was due last week, been delayed with no explanation. Have been asked not to accept a new contract offer as my manager said a u-turn is likely given the numbers planning to leave. Anyone else been told this ?

KPMG NG biased tool, assessment running late, outcome will be deemed inside IR35. Enjoy the mass exodus for those that can.

Assessments done using a rigged tool to put everyone inside.

BT have published some key assessment conditions. One of which is: Has the person left BT employment within last 6 months? If so and the contract role is same/similar then contract must be INSIDE IR35. Which seems reasonable.

Although they say they are doing individual assessments- those assessing have been told that they HAVE to answer a certain way for some of the questions. Those completing assessment do not know the individual contracts. Some Indications are that only inside IR35 contracts going forward BUT still no confirmations as yet.

I have now left Lloyds in December 2019 due to this decision. After 3 successful engagements of roughly 2 years each time over 10 years and with other financial sector clients such as RBS and Aegon over the last 10 years of 33 in the industry delivering key work for Lloyds. It is now no longer an option to work for these companies as a PSC.

Forcing to go via a bank preferred umbrella (wonder what the kick back will be?) most umbrellas on offer won't allow you to deduct pension with tax relief at source. Alleged benefits such as sick and holiday pay are a total and obvious sham. They really are creating a 3rd tier of employment with no rights but paying more tax and permanent. And to make matters worse they are forcing day rate cuts of at least 10%. In some cases 30%. Quality staff are leaving and being replaced by off shore roles which is costing the bank more yet the tax yielded by HMRC will be tangibly less. This is utter insanity! Project are certain to fail and there will be breaches for sure.

No individual assessments. Blanket ban on PSC. Either move to PAYE or leave. Contracts being reissued for those staying but on existing contract rate from which employment taxes will be deducted. Exposure to HMRC investigation means I am leaving along with many others despite working arrangements being outside IR35.

Pontoon even restricting choice of Umbreallas to four..

KPMG’s tool determining everyone inside. I’m leaving end of March.

Originally advised around Oct/Nov that contractors would be assessed by immediate managers using EY tool, with draft result to be made available mid-Dec, then discussed with the contractor and finalised in Jan. Nothing since then, until late Jan, where immediate managers have advised contractors that they have filled in a “questionnaire” (suspected not to be the EY tool). Pontoon have had no communication on status or anything regarding approach for those deemed inside IR35. Status assessments expected to be made available to contractors mid-Feb. This leaves 4 weeks to respond and resolve before potential 20th March contracts need to be in place (those that will come under new IR35 private sector rules) based on payment cycles.

KPMG have played a blinder. Used a rigged tool which may as well have been HMRC’s. I’ve not yet met a single contractor who has been given “outside” I don’t believe National Grid are that naive to not know what KPMG are doing, so assume it’s all part of the plan. I’ll be leaving, even though I’ve got an extension agreed verbally for a project. Contractors have been well and truly stitched up here. Will be interesting to see how NG manages the fall out when they have nearly 1000 contractors at the moment! KPMG must be rubbing their hands with glee! Talk about a conflict of interest! Unbelievable! I won’t go down without a fight though as I’m actually clearly outside, and will make the details public about the lack of a fair assessment once I formally get given my SDS on 1st Feb

Advised I will be inside (nothing form yet) will be offered an increase to reduce impact due to expenses (nothing formal yet) I won’t be staying if deemed inside (that’s formal)!

Blanket ban on all PSCs and asked to go umbrella through one of three or four umbrella companies with refusal to increase rates otherwise contract terminated either end of December 2019 or end of Feb 2020. Could have handled this better and assessed on a case to case basis but the blanket ban seems like an easy cop out and shifting of the liability.

Blanket ban on all PSCs and asked to go umbrella through one of three or four umbrella companies otherwise contract terminated either end of December 2019 or end of Feb 2020. Could have handled this better and assessed on a case to case basis but the blanket ban seems like an easy cop out and shifting of the liability.

Crazy position to take given the perm skill gap and consultancy dependency - people asking if the NG tax man is a KPMG consultant in disguise given the land grab they are making across Business Services and Information Services.

Absolute disregard for the contracting professionals - you won’t find a feeding the cow image in any other NG corporate template - I wonder which KPMG consultant suggested the image was appropriate to deliver a message to the contractor community who have served the company so well ??

Blanket ban, need to confirm by end of January of acceptance to new arrangements. Operating inside IR35 contracts from March 1st

Awful. Initially stated all contracts post 28th feb will become inside. It now looks like anything post 31st january has to be via paye. They ARE no exceptions, blanket approach they’ll lose some good people including me

Not engaging with Ltd cos from 1st March, effectively putting nail in coffin of 1000s of small British businesses....and at the same time spouting endless marketing nonsense about 'Being by the aide of British business'

There's a 'sham' IR35 review process that has only one outcome (i.e. even without running through the process I was told virtually all contractors would be found inside) ...I've decided to leave.

Very bad feelings all around, lots of people leaving

No consideration of individual circumstances, blanket decision. Refusal to increase daily rates to compensate for any losses.

Blanket ban on PSCs with no attempt to mitigate against IR35, with PSCs. Choice is Umbrella, Permanent or working as employee of agency. Likely to utilise offshore even more, so roles lost to UK.

Alongside a general initiative towards insourcing.

Individual assessments but contract managers have been told by HR responses to give to some questions. No opportunity for contractor to argue the point, despite response being clearly incorrect. Suspect a blanket inside IR35 result. EY tool used.

Blanket ban. Contractors need to confirm by end of this month that they accept terms and conditions of any contract extensions

Their legal team have taken a hard line it seems. It's the Inland Revenue that has introduced this and they have to comply. Their attitude is that NG shouldn't pay contractor taxes, so rates will not be increased. They are encouraging contrators to take permanent roles.

Rates fixed, all employees and employee costs deducted from previous day rate. No negotiation or flexibility. I’m voting with my feet and have secured an outside IR35 role in the public sector

Incorrect to say Permie roles only - though expectation is for an incorrect assessment.

Moving forward with blanket wide decision to not engage with PSC’s after March 2020

Moving forward with blanket wide decision to not engage with PSC’s after March 2020

Moving forward with blanket wide decision to not engage with PSC’s after March 2020

External review will be carried out on all non permanent workers to assess status

Currently working in the IT digital area however the full bank wide decision is for umbrella only.

Tesco are using KPMG to assess contractors IR35 status; with the sheer number of contractors on the floor I would be surprised if they started blanket assessing. Tesco sent out a questionnaire to get more information which they could have easily got from our contracts, and my contact at Pontoon has said that Tesco are not engaging them, but instead want to make the assessment themselves without reviewing our contracts directly Tesco have stated that they will provide a assessment by early 2020. In a PDF sent out, Tesco stated that Tesco Bank made a decision to mirror the banking sector, but this was not a Group-wide decision.

In the middle of disputing, but not holding my breath.

A sad day as Lloyd’s will be losing a lot of good people. Fixed term is the worst of all worlds, you are on a permie salary with no safety employment rights at all no MOO

It is most likely that all NG. In tractors are inside ir35. We are welcome to stay and take the paye hit and possible back payments, no rate increase, or contract via umbrella company. Many are considering taking some time off

Not happy

I’m leaving and have secured an outside IR35 role