Telephone research

Data to include: We're an accountancy firm who specialises in supporting contractors and freelancers. We're now looking to increase the number of IT contractors who select our firm for their accounting needs. We're looking for someone to conduct telephone based research with recruitment agents who specialise in placing IT contractors.

Background

When an IT contractor starts work, they're not employed directly by their client. Instead, they must either set up and run their own limited company, or use a specialist service - called an umbrella service. (See http://www.contractoruk.com/first_timers/choosing_limited_or_umbrella.html for the background). We help contractors who choose to set up their own limited company.

Around 50% of IT contractors find work through an agency, and often they'll turn to the agency for advice on getting started and selecting an accountant. Our objective is to build a proposition for agencies, and to encourage them to refer clients to us. However, we know very little about the world of agencies, and we'd like you to help us find out more.

Your objectives

We'd like you to contact these 13 agencies and attempt to glean an insight into how they work with accountancy firms: http://www.contractoruk.com/directory/it_contrator_recruitment_agencies.html

Specifically:
* Do they advise contractors on how to get started & the differences between using an umbrella or a limited company?
* Do they currently have a preferred accountant who they refer contractors to?
* If so, do they have different accountants for contractors who want to use an umbrella, versus those who want to use a limited company?

* If they have a relationship with an accountant, can you find out as much as you can, for example:
* How long have they been working together?
* Is it an exclusive / contractually bound relationship?
* How much contact do they have with the accountant, and how do they communicate (face to face, phone, etc)?
* Are they happy with the relationship?
* What specifically do they like about the relationship?
* How could it be improved?
* How could an accountant make their job easier? (e.g. by providing training and tools for the recruitment agents, etc)
* It's probably a delicate subject, but it would be interesting to find out if there's a commercial relationship there (e.g. commission for referrals).
* Any anything else you think that is relevant

This isn't lead gen work - it's just a deep dive into understanding how agencies work with accountants. Based on this work we'll build a proposition for agencies and start additional lead gen activities.

This initial exercise should be undertaken without referencing our company.
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