Umbrella vs PAYE?

Hi Everyone,

I just received an offer to work for a council as a social worker, but I went through a recruiting agency so I wouldn't technically be employed by the council.

Essentially, I need to decide whether I want to go the PAYE route and technically be employed by Reed (the recruiting agency) or to go through an umbrella company.

Pros/cons of Umbrella vs PAYE?
Is it worth it to go PAYE and get the benefits of Reed, but get paid less hourly?
Does anyone have an umbrella company that they recommend?

I've never gone through a recruiting agency or an umbrella company before, so I need as much advice as possible!

Thanks!

The only benefit of an umbrella company is if you can expense things. Unless you're planning on swapping jobs, I'd go with PAYE as there's less paperwork (like expenses). I worked for an umbrella company for 3 months and expensed travel (underground) and lunches, but then swapped to a limited company so that I could have more flexibility. When I stopped contracting, I went PAYE with my permanent position.

As a social worker, I've only ever heard of going PAYE through an agency and know of no umbrella companies specialising in social care, though, of course, they may exist in London / the southeast. PAYE means you won't have to deal with the hassle of sorting paying tax yourself - essentially, this is a function of an umbrella agency. I'd just do the PAYE through Reed TBH.

HTH.

Thank you both!  It's less money, but it does seem like the easier and less confusing option...

Not really less money, because you'll have to pay tax in some format; it takes away the hassle, though.