The number of individuals working off-payroll, via their own limited company

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Our ref: FOI-1916-1718/GH

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 16 October 2017 asking for information about individuals working off-payroll. I am sorry for the delay in replying.

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.

Thank you for your request for information. I am now able to provide a breakdown of off-payroll agency workers at Transport for London since Q1 2016 as requested. In addition, I have also shown the number of agency workers on assignment to TfL who transferred from Limited Company status to PAYE or Umbrella status with their agency.

Transport for London (TfL) has worked tremendously hard to swiftly manage the impact of the new IR35 legislation to ensure that projects and services have continued with minimal disruption. TfL’s agencies now pay the majority of their workers via PAYE and where it makes sense for us to employ people on a permanent and fixed term basis we are doing so. We are confident that we will deliver our multi-billion pound investment programme that will significantly improve transport for all Londoners.

At the same time as the introduction of the IR35 legislation, TfL has been undertaking a root and branch review of how we are organised and operate. As part of this, we have seen the number of workers engaged through agencies fall by 50% since December 2015 with a significant reduction in agency fees.

TfL does not employ anyone directly on a personal service company basis, and its use of temporary workers is kept to a minimum. The nature of certain industries means that TfL needs to employ a few specialist temporary workers, largely in the highly competitive fields of engineering and IT. This recruitment, carried out through specialist agencies, is essential to TfL getting qualified people with the right skills to deliver its multi-billion pound investment programme, which is building the Elizabeth line, modernising the Tube network and making our streets safer and more appealing places to walk and cycle.

	Number of agency worker individuals operating as a Limited Company on assignment to TfL
Q1 2016	1965
Q2 2016	1891
Q3 2016	1706
Q4 2016	1494
Q1 2017	383
Q2 2017	351

	Number of agency worker individuals operating as a Limited Company who ended assignment with TfL (Ltd) (including those who left before their original agreed end date)	Number of agency worker individuals operating as a Limited Company on assignments to TfL where the contract was terminated before the original agreed end date including voluntary leavers who had other jobs *	Number of agency worker individuals operating as a Limited Company who transferred to full time employment with TfL *²
Q1 2016	307	0	0
Q2 2016	292	192	18
Q3 2016	266	242	16
Q4 2016	1135	304	42
Q1 2017	55	20	8
Q2 2017	28	4	55

* These numbers are included in the number of agency worker individuals operating as a Limited Company who ended assignment with TfL (Ltd).

*² These numbers are included in the number of agency worker individuals operating as a Limited Company who ended assignment with TfL (Ltd).

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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