EU referendum result 'could boost contractors'

The outcome of tomorrow’s EU referendum could benefit contractors regardless of whether Britain votes to leave or remain, says SJD Accountancy.

The accountancy firm was not speaking in relation to tax and endorsed neither the ‘in’ nor the ‘out’ camp, although it says a victory for either has the potential to boost contractors.   

If ‘leave’ prevails, the firm envisages that uncertainty while the government negotiates and draws up treaties might make hirers favour temporary staff, such as contractors, over permies.  

But if ‘remain’ prevails, SJD says projects which have been put on hold in the run-up to the referendum will likely be taken off the shelf and onto the contractor labour market.

“Contractors [should perhaps] be upbeat whatever the outcome”, the chartered adviser said, referring to tomorrow’s referendum, the result of which could be known by dawn on Friday.

Simon Curry, SJD’s CEO, believes that a Brexit would likely create a lot of one-off business transformation projects at firms and financial companies that transact business in the EU.

These projects would create opportunities for skilled contractors, as would the ‘business-as-usual’ scenario, he says, brought about if the UK votes to retain its EU membership.