ADVANCE provides FCSA-accredited Umbrella, Limited Company, Self-Employment (CIS), and PEO solutions to the UK’s contractors and recruiters.
Known for its compliant and ethical approach, ADVANCE delivers world-class service and works in partnership with recruitment businesses and their candidates, adding value at every stage of the contracting journey. ADVANCE are proud to have won Best Umbrella Company for Customer Service at the 2025 Contracting Awards.
Based just on the outskirts of Chester but operating throughout the UK, ADVANCE supports contractors and recruiters across a wide range of sectors including engineering, construction, IT, technology, medical, healthcare, technical, manufacturing, and life sciences.
ADVANCE prides itself on going the extra mile for contractors and recruiters, offering flexible margins, bespoke solutions, and unique processes tailored to meet each agency’s specific requirements.
All payments are audited in real time, with workers receiving a weekly audit report and agencies receiving a monthly validation report. This real-time compliance ensures peace of mind throughout the entire contracting supply chain.
In 2025, ADVANCE launched Transparency, a market-first portal providing agencies with real-time visibility of worker payments and corresponding HMRC submissions. The portal allows agencies to export data for offline review and record-keeping and to audit worker payment and tax information by week, month, or year, supporting thorough due diligence.
ADVANCE’s Chair, Shaun Critchley, is a qualified solicitor who, through his niche recruitment law practice, has advised many of the UK’s leading recruitment businesses on changes in legislation and compliance. This in-house expertise allows ADVANCE to offer unparalleled guidance on IR35, employment status, Supervision, Direction or Control (SDC), CIS, and key legislation changes.
Key contracting solutions offered by ADVANCE:
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- Umbrella or PEO Employment – Contractors receive full employment benefits, including statutory payments, holidays, and workplace pension enrolment.
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- Limited Company – Contractors on ADVANCE’s competitively priced Platinum accountancy package receive up to £20m business insurance cover, free company incorporation, and a free annual self-assessment tax return, potentially saving hundreds of pounds a year.
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- Self-employment / CIS – Genuinely independent contractors who are free from SDC can subcontract through ADVANCE, whilst agencies benefit from bespoke solutions designed to minimise risk.
ADVANCE continuously invests in its people and infrastructure to ensure the contracting journey for both candidates and recruiters is efficient, simple, and reliable.
Whether you’re a contractor seeking support or a recruitment professional looking to provide the very best for your candidates, ADVANCE has the solution.
Trust the experts. Trust ADVANCE.
