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Common Questions

How does Xchangeteam differ from recruitment companies and online directories?
  • We are industry experts, most of our agents have worked in the industry themselves.
  • Our true team approach ensures that you have access the largest pool of candidates and consultants. Traditional agencies incetivise their consultants through individual commission, whereas we incentivise the whole team to find talent.
  • We are award winning, being recognised for our customer focus and freelance services.
  • We offer innovative solutions to the current talent shortage - such as InterXchange and Next Generation.
  • We are leading the industry on ethical practice, setting up a code of practice in association with the REC.
  • We offer both freelance and permanent resourcing.
  • We are pioneers in the resourcing marketplace, seeking out talent and creating new flexible work arrangements tailored to the needs of organisations. We work in collaborative partnership with our clients, defining and meeting their requirements to find the best people for their business.
  • We have the most in-depth range of talented freelance consultants and permanent candidates with skills and expertise, at all levels and across all industries. They are attracted to Xchangeteam by our blue-chip client list, our specialist approach and the investment we make in supporting them.
  • Our registration processes are thorough and ensure that we only provide the most appropriate freelance consultants and permanent candidates, who have all been thoroughly vetted, thereby not wasting your time.
  • Ultimately, we offer you a personal, flexible service with integrity designed to be responsive to your needs.
  • If you are hiring freelance consultants only, our complementary online system "My Xchangeteam" allows you to manage your freelance workforce efficiently and effectively.

What do I get for my money?

Our introduction fee includes all these services:

  • attracting the very best consultants and candidates through our creative marketing and "word-of-mouth" recommendation
  • hands-on industry experience enabling expert selection and briefing of freelance consultants and permanent candidates
  • support and monitoring of freelance consultants' progress and achievements. If you are hiring long-term freelance consultants or permanent candidates we operate a unique aftercare service to ensure that the all important first few months go well. This mentoring system allows for any unforeseen issues or concerns to be addressed in an informal manner.
  • administration of contracts and payment
  • scheduling and management of on-going and rolling contracts
  • individual advice and guidance

How do you vet your freelance consultants and permanent candidates?

Before being accepted onto our register, all freelance consultants and permanent candidates complete our online registration process and are interviewed in person by one of our industry experienced agents who can assess their expertise accurately. If they are a freelance consultant they must provide two business references and sign the Xchangeteam contract which protects your confidentiality and has a non-competition clause. For freelance consultants, once they are on an assignment their performance is monitored and we ask all companies to give us feedback at the end.

Is it possible to find a freelance consultant or permanent candidate based locally to my business?

We represent freelance consultants and permanent candidates right across the UK and abroad, most of whom are happy to travel some distance. If there isn't a suitable person located in your business's immediate vicinity, we will always be able to present you with a suitable alternative solution and if you are hiring a freelance consultant they could work remotely from their own office.

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Questions for freelance consultants only

What sort of projects could I use a freelance consultant for?

We represent a broad range of freelance consultants with experience spanning all areas of communications and marketing.

Freelance consultants can be used to complement existing teams at a hands-on level; to provide holiday or maternity cover; strategic and directional input; or to outsource complete projects to. You can book freelance consultants on an ad hoc, part-time or full-time basis, working from your office or from their own. It's totally flexible - you decide.

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Won't it take a long time for the freelance consultants to get up to speed?

Freelance consultants are experienced at adjusting to new environments and absorbing information fast. Give them a clear brief, introduce them to the team and if working from your office, make sure they're familiar with your facilities and equipment, and they should be able to "hit the ground running" more or less immediately.

Will it take a lot of time to find a suitable freelance consultant?

Not at all - one of our agents could provide you with a suitable consultant today! However, we do advise that you give us as much advance warning as possible to ensure that the most suitable freelance consultants are available for your project.

Will I be able to keep booking the same freelance consultant for different projects?

Many of our freelance consultants establish successful long-term relationships with our clients. Some commit to a long-term assignment at the outset, others agree to rolling-on contracts required. However, it is important to remember that the best freelance consultants get booked up in advance, so if you wish to extend a contract you should give us as much warning as possible.

Once I have booked a freelance consultant can I cancel a contract if circumstances change?

You can cancel a booking during an assignment, as long as you comply with our standard/contracted notice periods. For assignments under three months in duration there is a notice period of seven days and for assignments over three months in duration there is a notice period of one month. This applies equally to both companies and freelance consultants and is for the benefit of both parties. During assignments we remain on hand to provide advice on any issues as they arise.

How do you ensure that a freelance consultant respects confidentiality and copyright?

All our freelance consultants have to sign a contract before being accepted onto our register which contains a client confidentiality clause and assigns copyright to our clients. This contract also covers non-competition. We do also recommend that companies ask freelance consultants to sign a company specific confidentiality agreement if the nature of the project is highly sensitive.

What happens if a freelance consultant is negligent?

A freelance consultant's professional reputation relies upon their performance, so 'negligence' is rare. If a dispute arises between one of our companies and freelance consultants, we will act as mediator and endeavour to resolve any issues. If it is clear that the freelance consultant has been 'negligent' they will be removed from the assignment and a suitable replacement will be sought. We take negligence very seriously, so any freelance consultants proved to have acted negligently whilst on assignment will automatically be removed from our register. We take great care to vet our consultants but it is the company's ultimate responsibility to ensure their suitability for the project.

If I book a freelance consultant through Xchangeteam, how will I be charged?

Our services are completely free until you book a freelance consultant. Once booked, you will pay a daily rate for their time plus a percentage of that rate as our fee. Some freelance consultants are paid by the PAYE system and in these circumstances National Insurance contributions and statutory holiday pay would be passed on.

How does overtime work?

A freelance consultant's daily rate covers a seven hour working day, plus one hour for lunch. In any week, if more than 40 hours are worked (inclusive of lunch), overtime will be charged at the standard hourly rate for any hour or part of an hour worked. Enhanced overtime for weekend working or public holidays is 1.5 times the standard hourly rate.

If a consultant comes to us on a freelance-permanent basis, how does your introduction fee work?

In these circumstances we charge a percentage of the first year's remuneration package as our fee.

Do freelancer consultants get holiday/sick pay?

Freelance consultants who are paid by PAYE are eligible for Statutory Holiday Pay (SHP) which is currently 24 days annually pro rata (which is approximately 1 day for every 9.83 days worked), but this does not include Bank Holidays being paid in addition to SHP. PAYE freelance consultants are also eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) subject to qualifying conditions.

Disclaimer: The above information and opinions are not intended to constitute advice or to be a complete statement of the law. You should consult your specialist advisers for detailed advice.

 

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