Introduction
The UK public sector is under mounting pressure to balance workforce flexibility with robust compliance. Contingent labour remains essential across government departments, NHS trusts, and local authorities, yet scandals in umbrella payroll fraud, IR35 misclassification, and supply chain malpractice have exposed serious weaknesses. High-profile cases such as the £171m Ducas fraud and £263m of IR35 liabilities reported by the NAO underline the risks. Ultimately, the taxpayer bears the cost when oversight fails.
