Human Resources and Organisational Development

ENGAGEMENT ON CONTRACTOR TERMS
 
Engagement of individuals on contractor terms will be allowed only in very specific circumstances and only by prior agreement by the Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development.

It should always be presumed that any engagement for paid work (other than 3 in 3) will be under PAYE terms.
 
Where such exceptions are agreed, the engagement will be governed by the terms of a Contractor Agreement which will specify the nature of work to be undertaken, the duration of the work and the terms of payment.

The University remains responsible for any decision to allocate work on a contractor basis and no value can be given to the preference of the person asked to deliver the work.
 
Contractor agreements can only be applied when:-

  1. It has been established that there is an exceptional business case for the work not being delivered on a PAYE basis – to be agreed with the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development or their nominee;

  2. There is a pre-agreed employment status indicator report (ESI) demonstrating the ability to offer work on contractor terms;

  3. The individual has established their right to work in the UK;

  4. Where the individual has demonstrated personal liability and professional indemnity insurance to the total value of £2 million;

  5. Where the individual has written confirmation that they are registered for tax purposes as a contractor.

Contractor agreements cannot be applied when:
1. the individual is registered for PAYE work in another capacity for the University;
2. the work is in the nature of lecturing.
 
Any exceptional arrangements are for a maximum period of 1 year.


Appointment

Any Head of Department wishing to consider engagement on contractor terms must seek approval from the Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development or her/his nominee via the relevant Human Resources Advisor.
 
 Allocation of work

The contractor terms apply ONLY to the nature of the work specified within the agreement. A person engaged on a contractor agreement cannot undertake work on a contractor basis elsewhere in the University unless issued with an additional agreement. If additional work is undertaken elsewhere on PAYE terms all work will automatically revert to PAYE terms.

 Payment
 
Payment is via invoice which should be sent to the Head of the Department. If authorised by the head the invoices should be forwarded to Accounts Payable. All invoices must include the unique reference number from the contractor agreement. Payment will not be made if an invoice is received from an academic department without a contractor number.
 
 Status and access rights

Staff engaged on contractor terms are not employees and have no automatic provision of right to IT, or Library Services. Applications for such rights must be through the Associates scheme.