Orca Pods
I have been involved in the Umbrella and Payroll Industry for nearly 20 years. Whilst I have seen the industry change profoundly, one thing that remains is that it’s still unregulated. With monies circulating the industry that rival the Premier League, these no holds barred Orca Pods we will be swimming in shark infested waters, discussing the topics no one wants to speak about, the hidden and shadowy practices and what is being done to change the industries perception and its very survival.
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Episodes
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Is your company doing the right thing with people’s data?
We all hear about data protection. We all see it on websites we visit with Cookie pop ups all over the place. But are managing it in an ethical way?
I wanted to explore this hugely important topic for umbrella companies with Luke Beckley, a data enablement specialist.
There have been several high-profile data breaches in the umbrella industry and it’s our obligation to get it right. We cover a lot of ground from the introduction of GDPR in 2018 to the impacts AI has had on data mining.
Luke highlights the need for organisations to understand and adhere to data protection principles. He also emphasises the importance of transparency and informing individuals about how their data is being processed.
There are risks and consequences of data breaches and the collection of personal data by organisations. We need to go beyond tick-box compliance and truly prioritise data protection.
“We need to ask, are we doing the right thing for the individual?” – Luke Beckley
You'll hear about:
01:53 - The changes in data regulation over the last 10 years
06:13 - The differences pre 2018 to now with GDPR
10:08 - The principles of GDPR
16:50 - What you need to know about Cookie policies
20:26 - Should you read every privacy policy?
24:24 - Data breaches in the umbrella industry
32:18 - HMRC demands on Data storage
40:05 - Making yourself as bullet proof as possible
43:06 - The risk of data Armageddon
49:48 - The obligations of recruiters
54:41 - The risk of AI to data
01:06:31 - Luke's final advice on data
Connect with Luke Beckley:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-beckley/
DC-Harmonised on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/dc-harmonised/
My resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-sharp-a9530142/
Orca Pay Group - https://orcapaygroup.co.uk/
Tuesday Aug 06, 2024
Tuesday Aug 06, 2024
The umbrella industry is full of challenges and opportunities.
Done right the perception of the industry could change for the better.
In this episode I am joined by Luke Shannon-Little, Managing Director of Bishopsgate Group and Founder of the Umbrella Leaders Association. Luke shares his journey into the industry and his specialism in the construction industry.
We delve into the different accreditations in the umbrella industry and the challenges they face in making a difference. We also talk about the lack of a regulatory body and the minimal government involvement in creating this.
Luke believes that collaboration and promoting the industry's positive aspects are key to creating change, as he has shown through his work with the Umbrella Leaders Association. He also suggests ways exploitation in the industry could be prevented.
Luke is testament to the fact there are good people in the industry creating the positive change that it needs.
“More businesses are starting to see the value of umbrella companies and the importance of doing things right.” – Luke Shannon-Little
You'll hear about:
00:00 – Start
00:48 - Luke's journey to Bishop's Gate
06:11 - The perception of umbrella companies’ importance
11:38 - Payment model compliance
15:30 - The construction model
20:43 - The Umbrella Leaders Association
32:34 - How do we shine a positive light?
36:55 - Luke's thoughts on accreditations
50:42 - What 3 things would Luke change?
54:03 - The enormity of the problem
01:00:22 - The power of technology and data
Connect with Luke Shannon-Little:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lslittle/
Bishopsgate Pay - https://bishopsgatepay.co.uk/
My resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-sharp-a9530142/
Orca Pay Group - https://orcapaygroup.co.uk/
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
Wednesday Jul 03, 2024
This man needs no introduction to those in the umbrella industry.
Known for speaking his mind, shaking up the sector and not giving a shit if he ruffles feathers.
Drey Francis may well be the most hated person in the umbrella industry, which is why I wanted to find out what makes him tick.
He is CEO of Compass Contracting, having worked in the industry for 14 years. His aim, in his own words, is to achieve the unachievable and make an umbrella company a valuable asset while maintaining morals and putting people first.
In this conversation we discuss the challenges and issues faced by umbrella companies, the need for regulation, and the role of technology in improving compliance. Drey expresses his vocal and controversial stance on industry practices and emphasizes the importance of running an honest company.
He also addresses the criticism he receives and the impact it has on his business. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for education, transparency, and ethical practices in the umbrella industry.
“I really don't give a shit what a lot of my competitors think about me.” – Drey Francis
You'll hear about:
00:00 – Start
01:08 - Who is the real Drey Francis?
03:28 - How Drey's mindset has been shaped
08:04 - How has the industry changed?
11:54 - What does regulation look like to Drey?
18:02 - What happens if everyone adopted technology?
22:05 - The vast majority don't give a fuck
29:09 - Is Drey the most hated man in the umbrella industry?
33:32 - Is there a better way to voice opinions?
40:46 - The impact the election will have
47:05 - Mini umbrellas
53:08 - HMRC enforcing consequences to the supply chain
55:14 - What happens when we work together?
59:12 - Would Drey have done anything differently?
About Drey Francis:
Compass Contracting - https://compasscontracting.co.uk/
Compass Contracting on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/compass-contracting-employment/
Drey on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dreyfrancis/
My resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-sharp-a9530142/
Orca Pay Group - https://orcapaygroup.co.uk/
Tuesday Jun 04, 2024
Tuesday Jun 04, 2024
For decades umbrella companies have had no regulation.
This meant a lack of protection for workers and umbrella companies being non-compliant in their practices to avoid taxes.
But now SafeRec is a company looking to change all that, and in this episode I am joined by the CEO Sébastien Sauca. He has spent nearly a decade working in the recruitment industry, proving himself as a successful Sales Director.
But even with all of his success, Sebastien saw room for improvement in the field of payroll compliance in the UK. That's why he started SafeRec with Jule Marcoueille to bring an AI-Driven solution dedicated to protecting temporary workers, agencies and end-hirers from payroll non-compliance.
Listen as Sébastien shares his reasons for starting the company and what the company is doing to revolutionise the payroll industry.
“We has something that is impossible for umbrella companies to beat the system” – Sébastien Sauca
You'll hear about:
00:58 - What drew Sébastien to tech and compliance?
07:57 - The introduction of the criminal finances act
10:45 - Was Safe Rec always a big vision?
19:31 - How long did it take to come to market?
21:07 - How does SafeRec technology work?
25:40 - How SafeRec gathers information
31:22 - The hurdles SafeRec have to overcome
38:07 - What is the SafeRec certification?
41:29 - Why is everyone not using SafeRec?
44:22 – Sébastien’s thoughts on regulation
54:19 – Sébastien’s thoughts on the online payslip checker
57:19 - What's next for SafeRec?
About Sébastien:
SafeRec - https://saferec.co.uk/
SafeRec on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/saferec/
Sébastien on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastien-sauca/
My resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-sharp-a9530142/
Orca Pay Group - https://orcapaygroup.co.uk/