News & Insights

By Jimmy Sheehan, Commercial Director, Contracting PLUS There was a little bit of media noise earlier this week when Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, ‘announced’ that the Jobseekers Benefit would be extended to Independent Contractors (i.e. self-employed people). While this is a positive step in terms of parity of benefits between…

Are you new to Contracting in Ireland, and wondering how to get your first PPS number. Here is all the  information  you need to know.. What is a PPS Number? Your Personal Public Service number (PPSN) is a unique reference number given to you that helps you access social welfare benefits and public services in Ireland. To get…

Everything seems difficult when you don’t know how to do it. Tying your shoe-laces, driving a car, setting up a new company. The reality is once you become good at something, you could do it with your eyes closed (though not to be recommended for driving!). In this guide I’ll walk you through the simple…

Wellbeing as a quality is more in demand and is promoted by companies more than ever before. Work/Life Balance We all hear of the ideal “Work/Life” balance which seems to offer a promise of better wellbeing and health, or at least more time to focus on these areas. But how to achieve this? Try Contracting…

Eight hours a day, 5 days a week sitting in a chair looking at a screen, can take its toll on your body. If you are in a larger office where it is always somebody’s birthday and there is always cake to share it can mean you are consuming unnecessary calories each day!!Here’s a few…

Professional Contractors expense claims can vary depending on the nature of the contract and the work being done. Here are some examples of business expenses you may be entitled to claim; Mobile phone, home phone and home Internet usage Postage & Stationary Public transport / Taxis / Tax-saver ticket Training courses related to your field…

As the evenings get a bit brighter and the weather a bit dryer, we all start to have thoughts about how nice it would be to have a 3-day weekend or just be able to finish up early to make the most of a random sunny afternoon. Many PAYE workers don’t have these luxuries. Often…

24 hours that’s all we have in every day. Nobody gets any more than that, yet some people seem to achieve a lot more than others. Here’s some tips to help you get the most out of your 24 hours. Complete a time analysis Look at how you’re currently spending your time. You might believe…

Starting and growing your own business can be a difficult road. Achieving sustainable success requires grit, discipline, and stamina to deal with all of the uncertainties that come with the job. That’s why resilience is such a critical skill. When you encounter setbacks or disappointments, it is important to be able to come away from…

As an Independent Contractor you will know that it’s really important to know where you stand financially every month. Keeping a record of your income and expenses is a task that cannot be overlooked. It is important to be able to present your accounts to the bank if you are ever looking for mortgage approval….