When joining SmartWork, we become your employer with the overall aim of keeping life as simple as possible for you and ensuring you are paid on time. We give you access to a great range of employee benefits and can help you legitimately offset business expenses to help increase your net pay.
With over 20 years of experience within the contracting market, our service has been shaped specifically with our flexible workforce in mind.
FULLY COMPLIANT UMBRELLA SERVICE
SmartWork’s accreditation comes from FCSA (The Freelancer & Contractor Services Association), which is the UK’s leading membership body dedicated to raising standards and promoting compliance for the temporary labour market.
FCSA’s codes of compliance are recognised as the gold standard in the industry, and its members go through the strictest audit process on an annual basis.
PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS
We offer flexible contribution arrangements. SmartWork has joined forces with The People’s Pension as our pension scheme for our employees, which is provided by B&CE, an experienced provider of workplace pensions in the UK.
THE SMARTPORTAL
We created our SmartPortal so you can submit your timesheets and expenses (for end-of-year claims) quickly and easily. We understand the importance of having relevant information readily available at the click of a button, 24/7.
DEDICATED BUSINESS MANAGER
Each of our workers is assigned a dedicated business manager, so they always have a contact to speak to and find answers to any questions from contracts to expenses, payments or timesheets.
SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT
We are dedicated to meeting the highest expectations while providing impeccable service to every one of our employees. This is why we’ve created our service level agreement (SLA) as a promise to our employees.
INSURANCE
During your time with us, we will provide you with all required insurance policies, which include:
- £10 million Employer Liability
- £10 million Public Liability
- £10 million Professional Indemnity
- £2 million Medical Malpractice
MATERNITY LEAVE & PAY
Subject to eligibility, you may take up to 52 weeks off work after your baby is born. The earliest day you can start your leave is 11 weeks before you are expected to give birth, but it will start the day after the birth of the baby.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks. For the first six weeks, you receive 90% of your average earnings, and for the following 33 weeks, you get the lower of £172.48 or 90% of your average weekly earnings. Payments start at the same time as your maternity leave.
PATERNITY LEAVE & PAY
As a new father, you are entitled to two weeks off after your baby is born. The leave must start after the baby’s birth and has to end within 56 days after.
Provided that you are eligible, the Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) rate is the same as the maternity one of £172.48 or 90% of your relevant weekly earnings.
HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, you are entitled to take 28 days of paid holiday a year (including bank holidays) or pro-rata for shorter service and part-time staff. You have the option to accrue funds from your salary into a “holiday pot” to use when you take time off or have funds paid straight across to you (advanced) in each payment.
We accrue holiday at the National Minimum/Living Wage at approximately 2.33 days per month worked or, if you are weekly billing, just over half a day’s holiday per week worked. Employees can take a holiday whenever they wish; however, we can only pay holiday pay if you have the accrued holiday. Employees also can request the holiday pay to be “Advanced” or “Rolled up” within the registration form.
SICK LEAVE AND PAY
If sickness or injury prevents you from attending work, you (or someone on your behalf) should inform your Business Manager. While working at a client site, you must notify the client of your absence as soon as possible, but no later than 10 am on each day of absence. You may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if you have been off work sick for four or more days in a row (including non-working days).
MORTGAGES AND REMORTGAGES
We’ve teamed up with specialist mortgage broker Contractor Friendly Mortgages to bring you their services at a special SmartWork discount. Whether you are looking for your first home, a buy-to-let, or remortgaging, let us know, and we will put you in touch with the right person.
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT
We wanted to bring you the services of a company that provides financial, investment and future planning advice, so we teamed up with Sanlam Wealth Management. They are open and honest in their approach and genuinely understand that financial advice is a lot more than just figures; it is also about lives, futures and families.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Our benefits package is designed exclusively to help you make the most of your income. We can provide services and advice for the following:
- Contractor Accommodation Services – CAS are a market leader in sourcing accommodation for small businesses, contractors, interims, consultants and other independent professionals.
USEFUL CONTACTS
Freephone: 0800 434 6446
Tel: 0117 311 9800
enquiries@smartwork.com – For more service information
invoicing@smartwork.com – To submit timesheets/expenses
contracts@smartwork.com – To submit contracts, schedules, and other legal documentation
holidays@smartwork.com – To make a holiday request
