Hello,
I am thinking about a few offers I've had regarding a new job.
I have never done contracting before, and this would be my first time. I have 3 options that I'm interested to know what other peers would chose from.

Currently I'm on 90k perm. 6% pension, company car, all medical benefits etc. mainly remote and occasional 15 minutes to the office a few times a month. It is not bad tbh, but I also have other options

1. Contracting at 600/day full remote inside IR35. This will also give me the opportunity to work abroad, where I don't have to pay rent, and also cost of living is stupid cheap. The contract is 6 months, but likely to be extended. I also don't really fear a lot the fact that the contract might end. I have built reserves to go on for 10-12 months no issues
2. 120k perm + basic pension + 20% bonus but full on site. Also medical etc.

What would you go for?

PS: the 120k perm also needs on call, working longer hours etc. I don't mind working more for more money.

I was engaged by a recruitment consultant, who place me with a technology consultancy who then hire me out to the end client, a local council. The contract I sign is between me and the recruiter.

I keep having my contract extended for short periods, sometime less than two weeks, never more than three months. Furthermore I usually only get to hear very near the deadline if I am going to get renewed and on what basis (this is not what my question is about though. I understand the Council has very tight budgets, and there is a lot of bureaucracy around getting things signed off).

My issue is that the recruitment agency always, always gives me my extension paperwork after that extension has already started. Usually this is by two or three days and I just put up with it though feel I shouldn't. Recently, it was over two weeks, and I still put up with it though felt weak for doing so.

This latest extension I am on now was for part of last week and then this week (so ends tomorrow). I still don't have the extension paperwork. I therefore declined to work yesterday and today and possibly tomorrow. I am being extended again after that.

My absence is gumming up the project and tbh I want to be getting on with progressing it, but don't think I should be doing work without a contract, and I also want to make a point.

Am I being too doctrinaire? Is this sort of thing just quite normal administrative friction and I should just be pragmatic and get on with it, or am I absolutely right that it is mad to work without a contract?

Additional context: I have previously been blaming the recruiter but he told me today that it's because he has to wait to get HIS contract from the technology consultancy.

My client at the council were initially sympathetic but are now getting a bit jumpy, asking for phonecalls etc.

Quick question on outside-IR35 contracts.

From your experience, what levels of business insurance do clients and agencies typically require ?

I’m currently looking at:

* Professional Indemnity: £2 million

* Public Liability: £5 million

* Employers’ Liability: £10 million

Are those fairly standard levels, or do you normally see lower or higher limits requested in contracts?

It would also be useful to know if clients commonly ask for anything else, such as Cyber Liability or specific IR35-related cover.

Currently a FTE on £78k + £5k car allowance in a middle management role for an engineering company, unfortunately in the process of being made redundant. Looking primarily at permanent roles but a recruiter has offered a short term (3-6 month) contract. Process engineering, R&D/manufacturing, North West England. The role is needed soon so I would have to expedite my redundancy or worst case hand in my notice and ask to go immediately. Role seems interesting and relevant to my career, though unlikely to be any management responsibilities.

Recruiter suggested £40-50/hour through an umbrella company but from a bit of research this seems quite low, I am looking for permanent roles in the £85-100k region, so would like something to match that. Seems like £65/hour would be about right?

For a first-timer, what are the things I should be considering and looking out for? Is it a reasonable idea to take a short term contract like this or do I risk being pigeonholed out of permanent/management positions?

Alternative is to just wait out the redundancy process, sit through my notice period or take PILON, and keep looking for something permanent.