Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Matt Fryer
Exposing Golf's Biggest Driving Distance Killer (And My Simple 3-Step Fix)
Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter The biggest driving distance killer in golf plagues the game of many amateurs, but we don't have to put up with meek efforts off the tee any longer. With any issue related to the big stick, it's always worth consulting the 20 best driving tips and drills from expert coaches, but that's not the only way to solve the issue.
The Conservatives' IR35 reform vow: unpicked for contractors
The off-payroll working rules have returned to the political agenda with Andrew Griffith MP vowing that the Conservatives would "look again at reforming IR35". Reform of IR35 reforms: question, answer and guess Is looking at reforming IR35 a realistic and sensible thing to do, or merely a potential vote-winning opportunity? I guess the answer to this question is how far any reform of the IR35 reforms might go, writes chartered accountant Matt Fryer, managing director of Brookson.
How To Hit The Club That Loses Every Golfer The Most Shots
How To Hit The Club That Loses Every Golfer The Most Shots. While we all fall out of love with every club in the bag at some point during our golfing careers, there’s usually one that stands out as being especially difficult to hit. This will vary from player to player but according to data from Shot Scope, there’s one that, on average, loses golfers the most shots during a round. And the guilty club is... the five-iron.
How To Hit The Club That Loses Every Golfer The Most Shots
While we all fall out of love with every club in the bag at some point during our golfing careers, there’s usually one that stands out as being especially difficult to hit. This will vary from player to player but according to data from Shot Scope, there’s one that, on average, loses golfers the most shots during a round. And the guilty club is... the five-iron.
HMRC's Umbrella Tax Liability Shift: Why Recruitment Agencies Face New Financial Risk
Matt Fryer, Managing Director at Brookson Group, a People2.0 company, explains that recruitment agencies must get on top of new compliance obligations by September 2025, to avoid missing the boat. HMRC’s April 2026 tax liability shift – set to be confirmed in mid-July – will be the biggest change in umbrella sector accountability and comes along at the same time as fundamental changes are being proposed to employment rights legislation in the form of the Employment Rights Bill.
How to spot a compliant umbrella company
The debate around umbrella company regulation is gaining momentum following the Government’s “Tackling non-compliance in the umbrella company market” consultation. With the UK Government continuing discussions on how to safeguard temporary workers and improve compliance in the labour supply chain, it has never been more critical for recruitment agencies to understand what ‘good’ looks like and, importantly, what to avoid. As an industry, we’re at a pivotal point.
New solution spells end of dodgy umbrellas
For years, non-compliant umbrella companies and unscrupulous intermediaries have tarnished the reputation of the flexible workforce industry. HMRC’s latest consultation, quietly announced alongside the Chancellor’s Spring Budget, may finally be the turning point we need to clean up the market. This consultation, entitled “Closing in on promoters of tax avoidance,” represents one of the most effective proposals yet to tackle tax avoidance in the umbrella sector.
Getting ready for workforce reforms
The past year has seen sweeping legislative changes that are reshaping the way businesses engage contractors and freelancers. As we move into the new financial year, the impact of the Government’s policies on off-payroll working, umbrella company regulation, and employment rights is becoming clearer. This creates both challenges and opportunities for businesses that HR leaders need to be ready for.
Autumn budget: what’s the impact on flexible workers?
The flexible workforce contributes £331bn annually to the UK economy, helping to deliver essential public services, fix infrastructure and grow industries such as engineering, IT and financial services. But the first budget under the new Labour government demonstrates that it has yet to understand the nuances of this vital market.
The political pledges attempting a balancing act for the flexible workforce
In the lead up to the UK General Election the main political parties are making campaign pledges to support the flexible workforce and hopefully sway self-employed voters. But what exactly are the Conservative and Labour parties promising, and how will it actually impact the flexible workforce? One of the key pledges from the Conservative party to support the four million self-employed workers in the UK is to scrap National Insurance (NI).
A Borderless Temporary Workforce for a Global Energy Transition
As global leaders meet at COP 28, the UN’s climate change conference, in December, the recruitment industry is looking for one key issue to be addressed: What can be done to deliver the skills and resources required for building climate-proof infrastructure worldwide? The International Energy Agency has already warned that a failure to deliver approximately 50 million miles of new and replacement electricity grids in the next two decades could jeopardize the transition to clean energy.
Is it time to welcome back personal service companies?
The UK's contractor engagement landscape has been fraught with liability since changes were introduced to the off-payroll working rules, or IR35, making hirers accountable for any taxes unpaid by the independent contractors they work with. This has increased the cautiousness associated with hiring independent contractors, even for companies that have invested in the appropriate compliance and training.
Reading in Between the Lines of the IR35 Report
At the end of last year, HMRC released its report on the short-term effects of the 2021 off-payroll working rules, also known as IR35. The rules were changed in 2017 for public sector organisations and 2021 for private sector businesses, shifting responsibility for determining a contractor’s employment status to the hiring organisation rather than the individual. After digesting HMRC’s reports, it’s clear to see we aren’t getting the full picture.
How to Avoid Reputational Risk in Your Supply Chain
The contractor market was rocked this month by allegations that several umbrella companies are skimming from the salaries of their workers through unspecified “employment costs.” This situation has come about through a combination of bad actors, lack of transparency and badly designed government legislation, but as usual it’s agencies who find themselves trapped in the middle. So, what can be done to avoid reputational damage and compliance risk created by suppliers?
The IR35 Pressure Is Back On - What Can Be Done to Reduce it?
Liz Truss’ short-lived proposal to repeal the 2017 and 2021 off-payroll working rules was met with a collective sigh of relief from the market. It felt as though the pressure of the last few years had been lifted, along with this barrier to the engagement of flexible workers. The pressure is now back on, but there are lessons we can learn from this temporary relief. Reasons for repeal.
What Does HS2’s Latest IR35 Fine Mean for Businesses, Agencies and Contractors?
Another high-profile public sector organization has fallen afoul of IR35. High Speed 2 (HS2), the public body responsible for developing the UK’s high-speed rail network, is anticipating a £9.5m IR35-related tax bill. However, HS2’s breach of the legislation lies with how the organization works with third party organizations acting as consultancies. These distinctions made by HMRC have important implications for agencies offering project-based products and SOW-based IR35 solutions.
IR35: A Force for Good
Changes to IR35, the off-payroll legislation that came into effect in the private sector in April 2021, have been painted in a bad light since they were first introduced. With high profile penalties in the public sector and criticism of the government’s CEST tool, this is understandable. However, the purpose of the legislation is to provide an effective tax framework for the engagement of a flexible workforce.
IR35 Reviews Deliver Food for Thought
As HMRC’s soft-landing ends for the new off-payroll working rules — known as IR35 — organizations should heed the potential warnings from the recent review of IR35 in the public sector released by the National Audit Office (NAO) and the recent House of Lords enquiry. Learnings from the public sector. The NAO report “Investigation into the implementation of IR35 tax reforms” is far more balanced than HMRC’s recent attempt to mark its own homework.
The End of the Soft-Landing: The next IR35 milestone
Home Buyers The End of the Soft-Landing: The next IR35 milestone The end of HMRC’s soft-landing period for the “off-payroll working rules,” also known as IR35, is nearly with us. In April, HMRC will move to enforcement of the new legislation. What does this mean for businesses and what do they need to consider? When might HMRC begin issuing tax bills and fines?
Beware of the Potential IR35 Confidence vs. Compliance Gap
Home Europe Beware of the Potential IR35 Confidence vs. Compliance Gap In April 2021, HMRC gave private sector businesses a year of “soft landing” for the changes to IR35, which saw responsibility for determining contractor employment status move from the contractor to the end hirer. As that deadline approaches, how confident should organizations be that they’re compliant? Conflicting data.
Could IR35 be a force for good in a flexible labour market?
To continue reading please register or login to your OHW+ account. It’s hard to avoid negative headlines surrounding the IR35 or off-payroll legislation since it came into effect for private sector employers last year. But with a robust strategy in place, employers can still attract the best flexible talent, argues Matt Fryer. There are many who are still keen to repeal the IR35 changes that came into effect in April 2021.
Perfect storm sending contractor rates skyrocketing
Contributor: Matt Fryer, Head of Legal Services - Brookson Legal | Published: 19 December 2021 Matt Fryer, Head of Legal Services - Brookson Legal 16 December 2021 UK businesses using contractors and freelancers have faced significant cost increases since the introduction of changes to the ‘off payroll working rules’ or IR35, research by Brookson Legal has revealed.
Three reasons why an automated tool doesn’t guarantee IR35 compliance
12 October 2021 7 October 2021 Nearly six months on from the introduction of IR35 into the private sector, many businesses are still early in their IR35 journey and yet to embed their practices and processes into business as usual. But with many high-profile government bodies hit with IR35 tax bills this year, now is the time to question if your IR35 approach is compliant, particularly if an automated tool was used.
IR35 reforms: Tech firms warned off relying on high-risk compliance workarounds
Several months have passed since the onset of the IR35 reforms in the private sector, but compliance with the rules remains an ongoing process, warns Brookson Legal’s Matt Fryer By Matt Fryer, Brookson Legal Published: 16 Sep 2021 Since the roll-out of the IR35 tax avoidance reforms to the private sector in April 2021, it is clear that the IT sector has a greater understanding of these rules than some other professions.
Preparing for the Autumn Spike in Contractor Demand
Home Economy Preparing for the Autumn Spike in Contractor Demand September has historically tended to mark the beginning of a busy period for businesses and the engagement of contractors. However, with increasing competition for talent amidst a shortage of skills impacting certain markets, the way that firms responded to the introduction of new IR35 off-payroll legislation earlier this year could have an impact on their ability to engage talent and subsequently meet their commitments.
The response to the IR35 changes is a risk management issue
Article by Matt Fryer 21 June 2021 21 June 2021 April 2021 saw the much-anticipated roll out of the IR35 changes into the private sector. Whilst there had been a significant lead time for end hirers and their supply chain to make adequate preparations there was still a large proportion of the market that was not ready for the changes or rushed in place inadequate processes in an attempt to comply.
Tax compliance: it’s vital to audit your resource supply chain
Photo: Shutterstock With revelations about the use of umbrella companies and the advent of IR35, companies need to urgently examine their supply chains for compliance issues, writes Matt Fryer. The recent implementation of new IR35 legislation has focused attention on resource supply chain compliance.
Next Steps in the IR35 Journey
On April 6changes to IR35 legislation came into effect for the private sector, making businesses responsible for determining the tax status of their contractors and ensuring compliance. This date does not mark the end of the journey, however, it’s just the beginning. Many will have rushed to get a IR35 solution in place ahead of the deadline, with corners cut and mistakes made, while others will only now be looking at adopting a solution.
IR35 private sector reforms: What firms need to do now the start date has passed
While the start date for the onset of the IR35 private sector reforms may have passed, firms in-scope of the revamped tax avoidance legislation may find themselves still with plenty of compliance work still to do By Matt Fryer, Brookson Legal Published: 28 Apr 2021 While many medium to large private sector firms have been rushing to meet the IR35 deadline, it’s important to remember that April 6 2021 is just the beginning of these changes coming into effect.
A career at sea
Last month marked a considerable milestone in my career as a seafarer. After over 10 years at sea, I finally achieved my Master 1 Certificate. This ticket allows me to be the captain of any vessel anywhere in the world. I wanted to take this article as an opportunity to give a very brief recap on my career at sea, a career that I have loved and one that I look forward to continuing for many years to come.
Loving the sinner not the sin
I think that we all understand that it is God’s will for us to love one another. The Bible is clear in this regard and it is something that all Christians would agree on. In theory it is an easy concept for us to understand. We know what love is and how to practice it but to apply the concept of loving everybody is very challenging. We are living in an imperfect world that is affected by hate. We get angry, jealous and proud, we gossip and discourage.
Back sliding
I think that most Christians can, in one way or another, relate to having their journey of faith compared to a roller coaster ride. There are many ups and downs and twists and turns when living life as a follower of Christ. It is in many ways, both inherent and biblical, that we will encounter various trials and tribulations. The very nature of human beings dictates that we will not only encounter variations in our circumstances but also in our convictions.
What next for IR35?
Temporarily returning responsibility for IR35 back to contractors has allowed companies to focus their resources on their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. With pressure on HMRC to recover tax revenue in 2021, however, it will be a mistake for hirers to kick the issue too far into the long grass. The legislation has now been incorporated into the 2019/20 Finance Bill, so we now have certainty on what the changes will be, when they will be introduced and what must be done to prepare for them.
Living for eternity
During my recent time in Papua New Guinea I had the pleasure of meeting a number of amazing people. Two of these people where Wil and Trina Muldoon. Wil and Trina are a missionary couple from America. I met them when our ship visited the Gulf province village of Baimuru on the Pie river. Wil is a retired Baptist minister, he and his wife Trina run a bible school in Baimuru.
Real believers
A couple of months ago I wrote an article titled “We are Christians but do we really believe” The article looked at the story of Jesus and the fig tree. Jesus had said to the disciples that if they are to pray in belief without doubt then they will receive whatever they ask for. This week I had a conversation with a friend on the topic of belief. We discussed how our complacencies with Christian doctrine can often lead us to be deceived about our faith.
Some thoughts about missions
In January this year I returned home from Papua New Guinea where I had been serving on the medical ship the YWAM PNG since July last year. As I have shared in my previous columns the time that I spent in this ministry was life changing. The experiences that I had during my time on board were amazing. The people that I had the pleasure of working with came from all around the world and brought the whole operation to life.
We are Christians but do we really believe?
In my first article I had mentioned that my time on board the YWAM PNG had led to a change in my perspective on life. The ship provided a time for me that was Christ focused. Many of the people I worked with on board were open to challenging conversations. This created a healthy environment to discuss and gain understanding ofthe truths of God’s word.
A wet ride | ChristianToday Australia
I have recently returned from six months on board the medical and training ship YWAM PNG, which operates around the PNG coast providing free health care and training to some of the world’s most remote villages. Last time I detailed the events that led me to be working on board this ship. My time on board was definitely a life changing experience and a significant milestone in my journey of faith. I would now like to share a bit about the ship’s operations and a story from my time on board.
Time to follow the call
Mission Ship ‘YWAM PNG’ at Raba Raba | Andrew Gilliland I have always had a love for the ocean. As a child I spent every moment that I could down at the beach, fishing in the creek or out in the bay on my grandfather’s boat. As soon as I had finished my schooling I left home and moved away to begin my studies as a maritime officer. I was soon working at sea as a navigational officer. A lot of my career was spent working for a Canadian company on self-discharging bulk carriers.
Matt Fryer: What advice should you take in the countdown to IR35?
There has been much debate about the upcoming changes to the Off-Payroll Working Rules and in particular, the introduction of IR35 to the private sector. The new rules require businesses to assess whether a contractor is genuinely self-employed or, in the words of HMRC, a “disguised employee”.
Matt Fryer: What advice should you take in the countdown to IR35?
There has been much debate about the upcoming changes to the Off-Payroll Working Rules and in particular, the introduction of IR35 to the private sector. The new rules require businesses to assess whether a contractor is genuinely self-employed or, in the words of HMRC, a “disguised employee”.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Matt
Contact Matt, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack