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IT Contractor Jobs

Find out how to get your next contract job with our contract job guides and advice. More information on moving from permanent to contract roles, average daily rates, going direct with clients, and moving from public to private sector.

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IT Contracting Jobs Guides

Four quick-wins to boost LinkedIn visibility as a contractor

Leap up the professional network’s rankings, increase your profile visits and even land work, just by doing the following four.

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Written by Matt Craven

Matt is the Founder of The CV & Interview Advisors and Incredibly Linked. He is considered to be a thought-leader in Personal Branding and is regularly engaged as a public speaker to deliver advice and guidance to global audiences on all things related to CV authoring, career advancement, LinkedIn, personal branding and thought leadership.

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27th September, 2023 | Jobs Guides

Top 5 IT skills for contractors in 2022

Learning or developing these skills for 2022 could lead to higher contract rates and more opportunities.

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Written by Brittany Eldridge

Brittany works for Technojobs as a Digital Marketing Assistant. Technojobs is an award winning IT jobsite, offering outstanding cost effective recruitment results to businesses looking to reach out to tech talent and recruit the very best IT candidates, both permanent and contractors.

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21st December, 2021 | Jobs Guides

Contracting as a Project Manager

What does a Contract Project Manager do and how do I become one?

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Written by Laura Wilkinson

Laura is the Head of Marketing for ContractorUK. She has worked at ContractorUK for over 10 years and is qualified with a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing via The IDM.

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2nd February, 2020 | Jobs Guides

Contracting as a Business Analyst

What does a freelance Business Analyst do and how do I become one?

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Written by Laura Wilkinson

Laura is the Head of Marketing for ContractorUK. She has worked at ContractorUK for over 10 years and is qualified with a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing via The IDM.

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30th August, 2019 | Jobs Guides

When your rate gets cut: an IT contractor's guide

All you need to know about pay cuts; who’s at risk, how they hurt and when to jump.

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Written by Natalie Bowers

Natalie is a co-founder of Bowers Partnership, an award-winning recruitment company that finds people for Investment and Wealth Management firms and Asset Owners. She has more than 30 years’ experience in recruitment, corporate IT and multi-functional general management positions.

Her areas of expertise include contract recruitment, permanent search & selection and recruitment-specific regulation. She is a regular commentator for recruitment industry publications and specialist websites.

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28th February, 2019 | Jobs Guides

Hourly or daily rate? IT contractor guide to pay

Explained - the staple payment terms of freelancing, attached to your next IT contract, by Outsource UK

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Written by cukAdmin

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2nd November, 2018 | Jobs Guides

A guide to contracting direct with the end client – advantages and disadvantages

How your personality can determine whether contracting direct with the end client is for you, or not.

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Written by cukAdmin

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27th February, 2018 | Jobs Guides

Contractors’ Questions: What other IT skills are sought-after in London?

Rundown of what end-users in the capital want, outside of development and security.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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23rd February, 2018 | Jobs Guides

IT contractors' guide to pre-employment screening

How to handle increasingly tough pre-contract and background checks in 2015.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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25th February, 2015 | Jobs Guides

IT contractor interview tips - 5 things not to be fazed by

Answers to the big questions IT contractors increasingly pose about interviews.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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10th July, 2013 | Jobs Guides

Top tips for finding your next IT contract

How veterans and newbies alike can source IT contracts, time and time again.

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Written by cukAdmin

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21st June, 2013 | Jobs Guides

Why contract candidates should harden up on soft skills

Hays' five top tips on the value of person-to-person connections in the digital age.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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29th January, 2013 | Jobs Guides

Financial services contracts: what’s involved in pre-employment screening

Screening firm, Powerchex, on the information checks you and your company will be required to undergo - and how to prepare.

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Written by helen

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25th November, 2011 | Jobs Guides

The 'Three Rs' of IT Contracting: Resisting Rate Reduction

Does the economic climate mean that contractors have no option but to take reduced rates on the chin, or are there measures that can be taken in self-defence?

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Written by cukAdmin

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17th November, 2010 | Jobs Guides

Switching Codes: How to move from a permanent to a contract role

Why the way you handle jumping from permie to contractor defines your whole experience of contracting.

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Written by cukAdmin

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11th November, 2010 | Jobs Guides

Switching Codes: How to move from a permanent to a contract role, part two

The technical and administrative decisions you'll need to make, and why you need more than shiny shoes on your first day.

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Written by cukAdmin

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10th November, 2010 | Jobs Guides

How IT contractors go from public to private

Not having truly transferable skills isn't stopping contractors trying to switch sector.

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Written by cukAdmin

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29th September, 2010 | Jobs Guides

IT contractor guide to 'going direct'

Veterans aren't the only IT contractors who should be ready to go direct.

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Written by cukAdmin

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17th December, 2009 | Jobs Guides

Getting an IT contract in a recession

The IT Coach sharpens your CV and offers guidance on agent-relationship building.

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Written by cukAdmin

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4th March, 2009 | Jobs Guides

Winning business: Contract hunting, no stone unturned – A contractor's view

How to get your CV to the top of the agency's pile and other top tips.

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Written by cukAdmin

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26th February, 2009 | Jobs Guides

Winning business: Know your strengths – A contractor's view

By understanding how to fit your skills to your client's advertised needs, you CV can present you as the perfect solution.

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Written by cukAdmin

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26th February, 2009 | Jobs Guides

A motivational look at contracting - Part 1

In this two-part article, the IT Coach explores the drives that apparently get us out of bed in the morning.

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Written by cukAdmin

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10th April, 2007 | Jobs Guides

A motivational look at contracting - Part 2

The IT Coach looks at how to make contracting more enjoyable.

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Written by cukAdmin

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9th April, 2007 | Jobs Guides

How to punch above your rate

You will not maximise contract rates by smiling meekly and taking whatever the agent offers, but by negotiating for the best deal available.

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Written by cukAdmin

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23rd November, 2005 | Jobs Guides

Top Ten IT Contracts by Daily Rate

The below information allows you to identify the highest daily rates for the latest IT contracts.

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Written by cukAdmin

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4th October, 2004 | Jobs Guides

Jobs News

What is a Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE), and are FDE jobs for IT contractors ripe?

The hiring spree behind ‘one of the most in-demand jobs in tech, and one of the most important functions for AI rollouts,’ just found its contractor feet. And it’s now paying out up to £2,000 a day.

18th May, 2026

Broader base of IT skills demand formed in October 2025, says REC

Demand for IT contractors takes another step towards growth, as ContractorUK is told of a ‘clear and sustained’ uptick.

21st November, 2025

Where’s IT contractor demand and pay highest, as 2026 hiring briefs emerge?

Robert Half reveals where IT contractors seeking premiums need to look in 2026.

31st October, 2025

‘Subdued’ IT contractor jobs market took third tumble in a row in August

Freelance tech staff forecasts are up, but the chancellor’s ‘kicking’ and her possibly incoming ‘car crash’ are keeping temporary IT billings down. And dwindling.

25th September, 2025

Victims of WhatsApp IT recruitment scam ‘now coming forward every day’

Hourly rates being attached to ‘opportunities that won’t last long’ is proof scammers specifically want contractors in their crosshairs.

8th November, 2023

Seven out of 10 WhatsApp users hit by fake IT contractor recruitment agents

Job boards and instant messengers ‘swamped’ by non-existent opportunities from scammers posing as reputable tech recruiters.

6th November, 2023

You’re having a (LinkedIn) laugh! CV coach says funny posts can work for work

ContractorUK readers reassured it’s ok to be a little ‘out there’ when posting on LinkedIn.

28th June, 2023

Employers reminded that agency workers can replace staff who strike

A technically lawful supply of labour (for now anyway) ‘would only prolong and inflame tensions’ on trains, in the NHS, and at schools.

10th January, 2023

Government asks employers for ‘sensitivity’ over Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral bank holiday

Organisations put on notice ahead of an influx of workers wanting to pay their respects to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

12th September, 2022

Investigate effects on NHS recruiters of national insurance increase, chancellor told

Contractor hiring body APSCo asks Rishi Sunak to probe an unfairness at best; an abuse at worst.

23rd May, 2022

Further Reading

Contractors' Questions: What to do if a rate cut looms?

How contractors can take action when waiting for the other shoe to drop.

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Written by Natalie Bowers

Natalie is a co-founder of Bowers Partnership, an award-winning recruitment company that finds people for Investment and Wealth Management firms and Asset Owners. She has more than 30 years’ experience in recruitment, corporate IT and multi-functional general management positions.

Her areas of expertise include contract recruitment, permanent search & selection and recruitment-specific regulation. She is a regular commentator for recruitment industry publications and specialist websites.

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11th March, 2019 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: Which IT security skills do London clients want?

What’s sought-after in cyber security right now is simply too numerous to list.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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14th February, 2018 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: Which IT development skills are hot in London?

Agency reveals what’s going on in the city’s DevOps and Development spaces.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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13th February, 2018 | Jobs Guides

Contractors’ Questions: Which IT skills are still ‘hot’ as summer ends?

Most of what's being demanded now will remain sought-after into 2016.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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18th September, 2015 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: Are HR or line managers best for references?

Recruitment boss helps an IT contractor unsure who to ask for a testimonial.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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15th November, 2013 | Jobs Guides

Top 10 skills to land a high-paid 'dream' IT job

What attributes and skills the crème de la crème have in the eyes of 10 IT recruiters.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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15th July, 2013 | Jobs Guides

Contractors’ Questions: How to break into the private sector?

Recruiter helps an ex-public sector worker looking for his first commercial contract.

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Written by helen

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28th February, 2011 | Jobs Guides

Contractors’ Questions: Can my signed contract rate be reduced?

Solicitor helps an IT contractor told to reduce his rate five weeks in owing to agent error.

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Written by helen

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16th February, 2011 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: Am I entitled to a rate rise?

Legal aid for a contractor whose negotiated rate doesn't reflect the seniority of her work.

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Written by cukAdmin

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17th June, 2010 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: Is a permie job a shoo-in?

IT freelancers may receive a cautious response for changing tack.

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Written by cukAdmin

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21st January, 2009 | Jobs Guides

Top Articles

Contractors' Questions: Which IT skills are hot as Christmas nears?

Tech recruiter reveals the IT contractors who are most in demand.

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Written by Simon Moore

Simon Moore is one of the UK’s most consistently published freelance journalists on freelancing, self-employment and contractor issues, such as IR35, the Loan Charge and late payment. Trained in News & Features writing by NCTJ-approved journalism tutors, Simon worked in the newsrooms of local, consumer and national press titles, before setting up his own editorial services company, Moore News Ltd.

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16th December, 2013 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: Why are the Agency Conduct rules being rethought?

Legal expert on what the staffing industry hopes to achieve from the Agency Regs review.

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Written by cukAdmin

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26th March, 2013 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: How to switch sectors for project management?

Recruitment expert advises a PM hungry for non-government contracts.

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Written by cukAdmin

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20th June, 2010 | Jobs Guides

Social media – the future of IT recruitment?

How IT-business professionals are making the most of Web 2.0.

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Written by cukAdmin

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16th June, 2010 | Jobs Guides

Public sector cutbacks: Which IT contracts are at risk?

Analyst reveals the major government IT programmes where cuts are almost inevitable.

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Written by cukAdmin

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2nd February, 2010 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: What checks should I expect?

Advice on how far financial clients are likely to look into your background.

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Written by cukAdmin

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16th July, 2009 | Jobs Guides

Visa rules being abused to bring in offshore IT staff, investigation claims

A BBC Radio 4 investigation claims IT companies are bending visa rules to undercut UK contractors.

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Written by cukAdmin

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4th June, 2009 | Jobs Guides

Seeking legal remedy for bad references?

Can the law help when previous clients write terrible things about you?

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Written by cukAdmin

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2nd August, 2006 | Jobs Guides

Contractors' Questions: Agency ripped me off, where do I stand?

Legal expert, John Antell, replies to a contractor 'ripped off' by an agent, who convinced him to accept a lower rate, and then took over 50%.

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Written by cukAdmin

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5th July, 2005 | Jobs Guides