Churchill Knight Umbrella becomes Certified SafeRec Umbrella Company

Churchill Knight Umbrella is delighted to announce that we have become a Certified SafeRec Umbrella Company – adding even more protection to our employees. Please keep reading for more information, including an overview of SafeRec, why they are changing the approach to compliance and transparency in the sector and the benefits and reassurances available to every contractor and freelancer who uses Churchill Knight Umbrella for their payroll.

What is SafeRec?

Powered by groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI), SafeRec’s software revolutionises compliance within the umbrella company payroll sector. Simply put, SafeRec is an umbrella payslip auditing tool that runs a series of rigorous assessments on every payslip run by an umbrella company (a certified SafeRec umbrella) to ensure contractors and freelancers are being paid compliantly and that there are no signs of malpractice.

SafeRec has partnered with WTT Legal – a law firm specialising in the contractor marketplace. WTT Legal are key in ensuring the payslip auditing tool is current and can identify ‘red flags’.

The SafeRec website states:

“SafeRec, in partnership with WTT Legal, offers a comprehensive review of all aspects of [an umbrella company]. This includes an initial operational audit, during which WTT Legal evaluates how [an umbrella company] assesses compliance with laws and regulations, as well as ongoing, real-time auditing of all payslips [sent to umbrella employees].

SafeRec allows umbrella companies to share real-time reports with the employees they pay – proving whether or not they are operating compliant and paying workers precisely.

What are the benefits of SafeRec for contractors and freelancers using Churchill Knight Umbrella?

As a Certified SafeRec Umbrella Company, plenty of advantages are available to all of our umbrella company employees, as outlined below.

A new type of compliance review

With hundreds of registered umbrella companies in the UK, why not limit your search to the small number that are SafeRec certified? In the past, contractors and freelancers have been required to carry out thorough due diligence on an umbrella company to check it operates compliantly and will pay them correctly. We still highly recommend this approach, but now, choosing a Certified SafeRec Umbrella Company should help focus your search for your next umbrella company.

Scrolling through an umbrella company payslip is time-consuming and complex. Now, SafeRec provides an entirely new solution that has set a unique precedent for umbrella company compliance and transparency – and you can be part of it and start benefitting immediately with Churchill Knight Umbrella.

Easy to use

Every time you receive a payslip from Churchill Knight Umbrella, you will also be sent an audit report from Payslip Buddy. You will also have access to your own Payslip Buddy account, where you can log in and view the reports for each audited payslip.

Backed by legal professionals (WTT Legal), SafeRec’s AI software will check that every payslip has been processed compliantly and in accordance with HMRC’s rules and regulations. The results of each audit are straightforward to understand, and each payslip will be given a colour to reflect the results (green, orange and red).

Peace of mind

As a UK worker, you must pay the correct tax and National Insurance to HMRC. Failure to do so, even by accident, could result in a life-changing penalty from HMRC.

SafeRec adds an extra layer of compliance and transparency when being paid by an umbrella company. It’s all well and good if an umbrella company says they operate compliantly. However, SafeRec puts the power in the hands of the worker because every payslip you are issued is audited in real-time to check you have been paid ethically. If an umbrella company is responsible for malpractice – they have nowhere to hide when SafeRec is involved. And, if you’re not being paid correctly, you will find out immediately and can take necessary action without hesitation.

Free of charge

There is absolutely no cost to our umbrella company employees to use SafeRec – it is included in our service as standard.

Simple record keeping

Login to Payslip Buddy and see the reports for each payslip you have received from Churchill Knight Umbrella. Alternatively, simply save all the reports you receive via email and keep them safe.

“This level of transparency has never been seen in the sector before”

Ciaran Woodcock, Director at Churchill Knight Umbrella, explained the significance of being a SafeRec certified umbrella company. He said:

“I am delighted that Churchill Knight Umbrella is a Certified SafeRec Umbrella Company.

“By incorporating SafeRec’s valuable AI into Churchill Knight Umbrella’s business model, we are helping promote compliance throughout the supply chain. Firstly, SafeRec provides all our employees with real-time reports for every umbrella company payslip we provide them since becoming a certified member. This level of transparency has never been seen in the sector before.”

“SafeRec is capable of identifying suspicious activity, such as salary skimming. With the industry having undergone recent scrutiny, this is extremely valuable and will provide our employees with complete peace of mind. Essentially, SafeRec allows umbrella companies committed to compliance, like Churchill Knight Umbrella, to prove they abide by UK laws and can be trusted – which is fantastic.”

“SafeRec is also extremely beneficial for all of our partnered recruitment agencies. We can provide our partners with real-time reporting on the payslips we’ve processed for their candidates. This will help agencies ensure they’re referring candidates to a responsible umbrella that values compliance while ensuring they abide by the Criminal Finances Act and other important legislation.”

“Churchill Knight Umbrella has always prioritised compliance and service, and we’re proud to be an accredited member of the FCSA. However, by becoming a SafeRec Certified Umbrella Company, I’m confident our umbrella employees and partnered agencies will agree that we provide them with unrivalled value and a service they can entirely rely on.”

Existing Churchill Knight Umbrella employees can start benefitting immediately

If you are an existing employee of Churchill Knight Umbrella, you will receive an email from Payslip Buddy once we send you your first payslip as a SafeRec Certified Umbrella Company. Follow the instruction in the email to complete the Payslip Buddy onboarding process. You will then receive a real-time payslip audit report every time we process your payroll and issue you with a payslip – providing transparency like never before.

SafeRec is also available to non-Churchill Knight Umbrella employees too

Recently, the FCSA teamed up with SafeRec to offer a free payslip auditing solution for contractors and freelancers in the UK. If you are a contractor interested in reaping the rewards of SafeRec’s payslip auditing software, please click here to be taken to the FCSA’s website.

Please be aware that Churchill Knight Umbrella employees will receive instant payslip assessments, whereas those who use the FCSA’s auditing solution may have to wait up to 7 working days.

Interested in switching to Churchill Knight Umbrella?

If you want to join an FCSA and SafeRec certified umbrella company committed to compliance and transparency within the contractor payroll sector, don’t hesitate to contact Churchill Knight Umbrella today because you will be in the best hands!

To request a free, tailored take-home pay calculation, please click here. Alternatively, if you prefer to speak with one of our friendly Sales Consultations and request a calculation over the phone, please call 01707 871622.

Do you represent a recruitment agency?

If you represent a recruitment agency and are interested in adding Churchill Knight Umbrella to your Preferred Supplier List (PSL), please call our dedicated Agency Support Department on 0808 2525533.