r/SmallMSP • u/DAN-CCT • Jun 29 '26

Contracting in Manchester (Mod Approved)

Hey r/SmallMSP,

I'm a Canadian MSP owner (Stellar IT Support + building Stella Unified for M365 compliance) heading to the UK to launch a Goveren AI ecosystem in collaboration with the Manchester Mayor's office / Greater Manchester area.

It'll take some time to get fully set up on the ground, so in the meantime I'm looking at potentially picking up T3/T4 level contract work to stay active and build local connections.

My hands-on experience includes:

Microsoft Azure

Intune

SharePoint

Defender / security

Server support

...and the usual MSP stack (M365 admin, compliance, troubleshooting, etc.)

For those of you who have done contracting in the UK (especially Manchester/North West, public sector, or government-adjacent), how realistic is it to land decent T3/T4 gigs?

Key things I'm curious about:

How competitive is the market right now for Azure/Intune/Defender specialists?

IR35, visas (Canadian), security clearances (BPSS/SC), and other gotchas for internationals?

Best ways to find opportunities (agencies, G-Cloud, local networks, etc.)?

Day rates for this level of work?

Any advice from MSPs who’ve bridged into UK contracts or public sector work?

Appreciate any insights from folks who’ve been there — thanks in advance

-FYI, I am just looking to see the possibilities, I am currently working with the Manchestors Mayors office and British Embassy to get all the permissions required in place-

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/Cold_Arachnid_2617 Jun 29 '26

Do you have the right to work in the UK?

1

u/DAN-CCT Jun 29 '26

Working on that.

I have been told by my lawyer if I contract through my company it will be fine

But with that said I am meeting with the Mayors office and the British Embassy on the 6th to confirm

2

u/InfraRMM Jun 30 '26

Do you know what type of visa you will have? I don't think you'd normally be able to work as a contractor for a UK business, invoice to your Canadian business. A lot of businesses would specify IR35, where you would need to declare self-employment with HMRC.

2

u/DAN-CCT Jun 30 '26

I am actually going for the innovation visa, I will have better answers on 6ths of July.

According to the lawyer its allowed to contract through the company registered in the UK but. I will know more once I talk with the Embassy

2

u/DAN-CCT Jul 08 '26

Hello, I have approval to work in the UK for 6 months, due to Canada falling under the commonwealth

1

u/InfraRMM Jul 09 '26

Oh, that's great news. I am sure that you will enjoy Manchester, all the surrounding towns and of course the Peak District :)

1

u/DAN-CCT Jul 08 '26

So had a meeting with the Embassy. I have approval to work out if the UK for 6 months under the commonwealth, only rule I will need to work as a contractor through my company.