8th Annual IR35 Conference - A Crucial Update
Central London, Venue TBC
A comprehensive guide to off-payroll working rules (IR35) for employers in 2025
Date: Thursday, 20th March '25
Time: 09:00 - 16:30
Location: Central London (Venue TBC)
Cost per attendee: £450 + VAT per attendee
Keeping you abreast of changes to IR35 Tax Offset Rules
Attending this unique conference will equip HR and payroll professionals with the latest legal updates and practical strategies to ensure compliance and protect your organisation from potential risks. You’ll benefit from valuable insights through real-life case studies and direct interactions with industry experts, learning innovative strategies to manage contingent and freelance talent effectively.
Learning highlights include:
- Stay Compliant: Get the latest updates on IR35 and off-payroll regulations
- Protect Workers: Understand IR35 changes affecting umbrella companies and self-employed workers
- Manage Talent: Learn smart solutions for engaging contingent talent under IR35
- Navigate Legalities: Overcome IR35 challenges in the temporary labour market
- Learn from Case Studies: Gain insights from IR35 reviews in public and private sectors
- Hear from Labour: Understand Labour's approach to IR35 and the freelance market
- Network: Connect with experts and peers to share IR35 solutions
Who should attend this IR35 in-person conference?
Delegates with some experience of IR35 policy, compliance and practice who need an intensive update. Those who have attended our previous IR35 events and are looking for a refresher. Talent acquisition professionals and experienced HR and payroll practitioners looking to update policy and practice.
DELEGATE FEEDBACK
“Excellent speakers.”
“Comprehensive and useful information presented throughout the day.”
100% of the feedback received for past IR35 events has been rated 'Excellent' or 'Good'.
Which functions will benefit from attending
- HR, RECRUITMENT AND RESOURCING, TEMPORARY & AGENCY RESOURCING, LEGAL, TRAINING, COMPLIANCE AND AUDIT, ADMINISTRATION, STRATEGY, POLICY, OPERATIONS, LINE MANAGERS AND ALL DIRECTORS AND STAFF WITH RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THIS AREA
Hear from
Schedule
Chair’s welcome and opening remarks
Elizabeth Smith
Director of Research , Business Forums International Ltd. (BFI)
Elizabeth is director of research and a founding co-director at Business Forums International. She is responsible for all programme content and writing, and researches current areas of interest for senior HR professionals in large organisations. BFI is the UK’s leading HR risk specialist conference and training provider, delivering key and timely information to over 3,000 delegates a year both through public and in-house training courses. Before founding BFI in 1996, Elizabeth specialised in researching corporate financial programmes in Asia and the Middle East, based in Dubai. She also worked in advertising and publishing in the Middle East and London. Elizabeth was educated in the West Indies, Saudi Arabia and Belgium before reading Modern Languages at Durham University. She is currently developing an online training course for line managers to raise awareness of menopause symptoms and ways that employers can work to make their workplaces more inclusive.
Opening address: How UK organisations can best respond to the new administration
Philip Ross BA (Hons) CEng CITP
Vice Chair , Labour Business
Philip is a leading campaigner in the freelancing movement. He was one of the founding members of the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE) in 1999 and served on its first board as External Affairs Director. He speaks and writes on IR35, the off-payroll regulations and on co-operatives and freelancing. He is one of the leading activists in the Labour Party for the self-employed , is active with Community Union and is vice-chair of Labour Business. He works as a freelancer delivering digital transformation and cyber projects.
- Understanding the potential changes to umbrella companies, zero hours contracts and off-payroll
- What protections can self-employed workers expect?
- How can UK business ensure they are being heard: key channels of communication and ways to collaborate?
Legal tax update for employers: essentials and timelines
- Employment Rights Bill update: what employers of freelance, temporary and contingent workers need to know and prepare for
- Understanding the current proposed changes to day-one rights, zero-hours and non-standard workforce arrangements
- Understanding and overcoming significant challenges in the temporary labour market
- ‘Self-employment’ – what does the definition actually mean?
- Where are the legal grey areas and how to ensure you avoid them
- Benefits, tax and NIC updates
- Determining responsibility within your organisation
- Off-payroll: navigating the minefield
- Supply chain essentials
- Limiting HMRC fine risks
Talent procurement and retention 2025: key moves to stay ahead of the game
Tom Hadley
Business Coach & International Workforce Consultant , Hadleys Comment
Tom is an independent consultant and business coach specialising in high-impact strategic communication and workforce issues. Over the last twenty years, Tom has worked with global employers, international institutions, government ministers and two of the UK’s leading business organisations. He reaches into this to provide training and consultancy services in areas such employer brand, leadership, reputation management, research-led campaigning, employee engagement, public speaking and media training. Tom is the author of a number of White Papers and research reports on the evolving world of work and is a regular keynote speaker and media spokesperson. Campaigning activities have focused on Covid-19 business support measures, preparing for Brexit, promoting the positive role of business in society and making change happen on equality and inclusion. During his time as Campaigns Director at the REC, Tom also established the Future of Jobs Observatory to pre-empt future skills needs and the implications of AI adoption. His current work with the International Labour Organization (ILO) involves delivering advocacy training to business bodies from around the world and bespoke support in areas such as evidence-based advocacy and crisis management. Over the course of his career, Tom has been a representative on over a dozen government forums and served on the European board of the World Employment Confederation. He has a Masters in International and European Law from Assas University in Paris and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA). He is a qualified rugby coach and an unrepentant aficionado of 1980s French pop.
- Understanding where market dynamics are headed
- Implementing a timely review: audit & changes
- Smart solutions to access & engage contingent talent
- Lobbying: make your voice heard
Morning coffee and networking
Recruitment update
- Best practice on determinations
- Dealing with long contractor engagements
- Where should the responsibility lie?
- Differences between SOW and Resource Augmentation
Panel debate: tackling the skills shortage: global contract and temporary workers update
Chris Bryce
CEO , IPSE
An accomplished senior executive with a demonstrable record of achievement in leading major B2B/B2C transformational programmes and motivating and inspiring multi-disciplinary teams. Combining high levels of commercial acumen and integrity with exceptional management and leadership skills in identifying change requirements and implementing precise value-added solutions for improving operational performance and efficiency. A versatile, results driven and politically astute individual with a wide range of skills transferable across sectors, offering strong business leadership and 360-degree management capabilities. Chris also acts as a non-executive director, specialising in governance and overall strategic direction for a number of organisations both for and non-profit.
- Essential issues to consider in the global hiring market: changes and future possibilities
- What are the practical areas to concentrate on the remain compliant and competitive?
- Competitive advantage through flexible hiring: key strategies for your hiring process
Umbrella companies update
- Current and future updates: timeline and checklist
- Shaping placements inside and out: key steps
- Umbrella companies update: are you compliant?
- Blanket decisions – public and private sector considerations
- Know your contracts: key questions
- Understanding SDS
- The roles and risks of umbrella companies
Case study: reviewing and updating IR35 in practice
- Where we started – inherited issues and industry considerations
- Process and conclusions of reviewing inside and outside IR35 in the marine sector
- Making and communicating the decision
- Challenges and solutions
- Quantifying the benefits
- Cultural changes and future plans
Nancy Norris, HR Business Partner, Briggs Marine
Lunch and peer networking
Join facilitated discussion groups on real-life case studies, sharing challenges, and innovative solutions
Case study: implementing an ir35 review in the private sector
Case study: Minimising risk and addressing the skills gap in the public sector
- Reviewing internal processes to identify possible vulnerabilities
- What are the skills you need and how best to resource them?
- Essential contract questions: where might you come unstuck?
- Managing the supply chain to manage risk
- Third party and provider relationships: where can they add value and how to choose a partner
Paul Ewing, HR Systems Expert, Croydon Council
Afternoon tea and networking
Case study: the public sector experience
Michelle Rihoy, IR35 Contractor Project Manager, Birmingham County Council
Ensuring IR35/off payroll compliance: a comprehensive checklist for employers
Dave Chaplin
CEO , IR35 Shield
Dave Chaplin is the CEO of tax compliance firm IR35 Shield which enables firms, agencies and contractors to remain compliant with the Intermediaries Legislation (IR35) and Off-payroll legislation. Dave is the author of the Contractors’ Handbook Third Edition and more recently IR35 & Off-Payroll – explained. He assists with IR35 tax tribunals, has consulted on many occasions for HMRC, advises politicians and Government bodies on freelance tax matters, and is prolifically quoted in the trade and national press. In November 2020, Dave was included in the Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA)’ list of Europe’s 100 most influential leaders in the staffing industry.
- Protecting yourself
- Guidance versus the law
- HMRC How to Comply
- Tax Tribunals – an overview
- Best practice
- PGMOL judgement
Wrap up and end of conference
Event supported by
Contractor UK is home to the UK's IT contracting community. Online since 1999, offering daily news & guides, contract jobs, rates, calculators & an active forum with over 30,000 members. Contractor UK has everything for the successful contractor.
We are delighted to partner with Contractor UK to support our IR35 events, given their strong reputation as a leading resource for the contracting community. Their expertise and extensive reach align perfectly with our mission to provide comprehensive, practical guidance on IR35 compliance and its impact on contractors and businesses alike.
FCSA’s aim is to ensure all parties in the supply chain – especially those served by FCSA members – can expect the highest levels of compliance, transparency, and reliability. We hold our members to the highest standards of compliance in the industry, which drives market reputation and benefits workers.