Agency Work And Umbrella Companies

[Christof]

I'm about to start some agency work but the agency have told me I need to join an umbrella company in order to be paid and in order to ensure I pay the right tax. But it looks as though I have to pay Employee NI as well as Employer NI + tax + the umbrella company fee which equals a big chunk of my pay gone.

I don't know anything about these and I dont know anybody who has worked for an agency to ask them so I hope someone on here can assist.

Can anyone recommend a good one or reassure me that joining up to one of these really is a good idea

Thanks