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SAIL and other providers of Limited Company Accounting Services may look likely to be kept busy over the coming months and years by an incoming business-friendly majority Conservative government, but that does not mean that independent professionals have been shy to indicate what they would like to see from David Cameron's new administration. With a wish list including conciliation service for unpaid contractors, new ministerial posts and an immigration policy that emphasises skills, important bodies from the contracting community are already pressing the Prime Minister for the changes that they believe will be crucial for the continued growth of the sector. Not only have two contractor trade groups, IPSE and the FCSA shared their thoughts, but verdicts have also been forthcoming from two staffing bodies, APSCo and the REC. Chris Bryce, Chief Executive at the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE), perhaps summed up the sentiments of many sector observers in declaring: "A majority government brings stability and certainty that is good for business." Bryce described his body as enjoying "an excellent working relationship with the Conservative Party, as indicated by the appointment of an Ambassador to the self-employed. We hope the Ambassador's role can grow into a ministerial role in the new Parliament to reflect the increasing importance of the self-employed to the UK's economy." He also expressed hope that "a new business conciliation service would help address some of the issues stemming from late payments". The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), meanwhile, warned of the uncertainty that could arise due to the government's EU referendum promise, who also urging a "sensible and balanced approach to immigration, so that UK businesses can hire the talent and skills they need to succeed." Another issue to be highlighted was a proposed withdrawal of tax relief on travel and subsistence (T&S) expenses, the Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) observing that "the T&S legislation would have a negative effect on the working lives of many contractors". The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) voiced similar concerns, stressing that it would be "pushing" the new government to devise a "new regulatory framework that differentiates highly paid, highly skilled" contractors from more "vulnerable" independent workers. The body added that "allied to this, we will pursue the appointment of a junior minister with a specific remit over flexible staffing."
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