Contract direct with ltd after going through via brolly

[nucastle]

I've worked for the same company, and through the same agent for over 2 years now :

14 months through agent, and through my OLD ltd company
6 months OFF
6 months through agent, and with my new umbrella company


I'm looking to set up a new ltd company for my next contract, and part of me wants to stay here, although the money is an issue. So im wondering if i could just let my contract through my brolly expire, end my brolly employment, set up a new Ltd and go to the company direct through them?

I know with my old ltd there was a (probably unenforcable) 6 month cooling off period for approaching the client, but im not sure what the deal would be as an employee of my brolly and then leaving that to set up a ltd to go back to the client.


.... is this doable, or am i gonna run into trouble doing it this way?

[PAH]

Depends how the contract is worded. Is the 6 month exclusion for the brolly or you personally, or both?

Likely it names you so you can't go direct. Even if it doesn't, chances are the contract the agency has with the client will name you, so it doesn't matter what mechanism (brolly or ltd) you operate through you'll still have the exclusion to worry about.

Now I'm not sure how likely it is for an agency to actually take legal action if you broke those terms. Probably depends more on what the client is or isn't willing to do from their point of view.

For a simpler life there's nothing stopping you changing from brolly to ltd and doing the same work via the same agency but on a new improved contract. Renewal time is probably the best time to make that switch.