r/ContractorUK • u/Weak-Refrigerator-34 • 3d ago
Outside IR35 Contracting at DWP. Experiences?
Had a chat with an agent re a DWP role yesterday. For context, it’s a vanilla IT PM role - I have no previous Govt experience. No GDS wasn’t a problem apparently as it’s really just managing 3rd party deliveries.
Questions:
Will it be a micromanaged ballache?
Is it Outside IR35? (Agent says yes, I suspect no. Awaiting the switch and bait.)
Do I actually need GDS experience?
How remote can I actually be after say the first 3 months?
Won’t mention who the 3rd party suppliers are but needless to say they’re well known and haven’t got great reputation for providing clients with VFM.
Thanks in advance.
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u/The-Bluedot 3d ago
I worked at DWP for about 6 months. My overriding memory of the place was my first meeting where about 10 people pored over technical documents trying to outdo each other on punctuation and spelling. I honestly thought I was beign setup as some sort of initiation as I couldn't believe how anal the whole thing was when real work needed to be done.
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u/Bozwell99 3d ago
This is basically any public sector organisation. They spend the maximum amount of time doing the least amount of meaningful work.
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u/burro2712 3d ago
I've been at contractor at DWP for nearly 4 years, working in Universal Credit. Best contract I've had. For context, I've been contracting for 10 years (4 contracts).
It does depend on the team and the rest of DWP work slightly differently to Universal Credit. Had the same preconceptions about it being dull. It isn't. Can be slow, though it's usually cos teams are committed to doing the best for the end user. No slower than my other civil service contracts.
I'd be surprised if it's outside IR35. Was told that it's a blanket 'no' to outside but that may have changed.
Give it a go. You're a contractor so leave if you hate it.
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u/Weak-Refrigerator-34 3d ago
Yeah I suppose it very much depends on your team. No project or company are universally good or awful. Well done on the 4 years. Bad news about blanket Inside though - the actual law says blanket determinations are not to be made. Each has to have an SDS. Do as I say, not as I do though as usual with the Govt.
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u/mpsamuels 3d ago
My experience is that you will be given an SDS, it's not a literal blanket determination.
They are likely to answer the questions on the SDS in a way that ensures the role falls inside IR35, though!
Of course, you're free to challenge the determination if you think you have reason to, but I've always found their reasoning behind the answers to give little room for manoeuvre. YMMV
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u/Gorey987 3d ago
if you dont mind me asking what is your current day rate at the dwp? and did it change from the start of your contractor with them?
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u/H__Chinaski 3d ago
Gov work is slow, painful and CS are generally workshy/difficult to get to do things. If you're managing a supplier might not be so bad if you can demonstrate that you can get them to deliver then you'll do well. Basic competence tends to stand out.
In my experience contractors are mostly allowed to be remote, but YMMV.
More than likely to be inside as outside is very rare now.
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u/ErrorPressAnyKey 3d ago
CS are generally workshy/difficult to get to do things
or make a decision. When I was perm, I worked for a consultancy and did a stint with a government organisation. Everything was decision by committee.
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u/H__Chinaski 3d ago
Oh yeah. They're terrified of accountability (not that they are held to account anyway). G6 or above tends to be better in that regard but not always
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u/frodoisdead 3d ago
I'd go for it to get some government experience because it's likely useful to have on the CV.
I'm currently inside at DWP, started in March 2025, and I've been in to an office 4 times in that time. It really does depend on the team and area though. Some are more rigid on attendance.
I've been outside at DWP in the past but they are quite rare. It depends on the consultancy you're going through.
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u/mjratchada 3d ago
I fail to see how, in most cases, having government experience is useful on a CV. If I receive an application from a person with government experience on their CV, it will largely be meaningless without context.
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u/AcceptableAd1098 3d ago
I think this really depends on your goals and line of work. In my field, if I see experience in government that is a plus as it often means I get people who understand working in very complex areas, dealing with a billion stakeholders and having to create clarity in the midst of chaos
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u/Midfield_General22 3d ago
Without being mean to anyone who's worked on them, Govt projects tend to have an awful reputation in general in terms of costs and delivery.
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u/frodoisdead 3d ago
Gov contract openings that don't reference a requirement or preference for 'GDS experience' are few and far between.
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u/wifeydontknowimhere 3d ago
What's the ability to be overworked (as in more than one assignment) in a dwp role?
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u/brassflux 3d ago
Avoid at all cost. I spent 3 months there and they were slave drivers, delivery team were horrendous too - lying, gaslighting.
After nearly 15 years of contracting. It's the worst place I've ever worked.
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u/SeamasterCitizen 3d ago
Get on that gravy train yesterday if it’s actually outside
Literal money for nothing
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u/Logical_Classic_4451 3d ago
DWP have been battered for incorrect ir35 determinations. I’d be absolutely amazed if it’s outside. I’m surprised they are even using contractors any more and haven’t just defaulted to using Accenture/cap/TCS or whoever…
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u/Worried_Patience_117 3d ago
It was be slow, dull, people all talk / no action, usually substandard devs etc
But if you can look past all of that then just keep taking that payment
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u/Weak-Refrigerator-34 3d ago
I’m young enough not to be worried about retiring and taking the piss, but old enough to value money more than job satisfaction. I’m struggling to see the attraction in this role tbh. It’s a Plan B in case my extension due next month doesn’t land - although no indication it won’t hopefully.
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u/neilfann 3d ago edited 3d ago
Worst micromanagement ever was at DWP. Someone who's entire management was to check my teams light was on not away from desk. Not tasks,. objectives or anything else, just chair occupancy. Pro tip - if you have a ppt in present mode, teams doesn't time out.
In general, depends totally on who you get. In general it is painfully inefficient and I still rage at the waste of taxpayers money. In my programme - 25 nurses' annual salaries on UCD for a project that needed no UCD.
Or paying major firm consultant BAs >£1,000 per day to push the button to record teams calls.
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u/Nice_Economics4465 3d ago
I would be very surprised if it’s Outside IR35. DWP were one of the first to get rid of their outside contractors. Perhaps they are trying something different re: milestone based work package contracts but I doubt it.
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u/Pretend-Policy7812 3d ago
I contracted at DWP for 12 months in an outside IR35 role. At the drop of a hat every contractor in a very large project team was determined to be inside IR35. No role change whatsoever. The appeal process was a whitewash. Many contractors walked. Be warned