At Pivotal House, smart contractors and ambitious agencies become Housemates — unlocking better ways to work, earn and grow. Freedom has a home here.
Contractors join our umbrella for simple, stress-free support, fair pay, and real mentorship.
Agencies that meet our standards earn the title of Housemates, gaining access to investment, partnership and lasting opportunity.
Smarter Contracting. Real Growth. One House.
At Pivotal House, we make contracting simple — and growth sustainable. Our umbrella service sorts your PAYE deductions, offers flexible pension options, and gives you full mobile access to your pay and records. No paperwork. No chasing.
Same-day Faster Payments are standard.
Contractors choose Pivotal House for quick answers, fair support, and a service that just works. Complete your timesheets and we’ll do the rest — often without you even needing to send them, thanks to our agency partnerships.
For agencies, Pivotal House unlocks even more. We invest in proven partners who meet our standards, bringing them into the group as Housemates — with real backing, shared services, and a path to long-term growth.
Whether you're a contractor or an agency, freedom has a home here.
What could joining mean for your contracting career?
Find out in under 10 seconds.
Enter your rate. See your real take-home pay.
How Contractor Housemate Pay Works, Simply Explained
When your agency gives you a rate, it's usually the limited company rate — not your personal pay.
This can be confusing. Here’s how it really works:
From the agency rate, we deduct Employer’s National Insurance, Apprenticeship Levy, any Employer’s pension contributions (if applicable) and Pivotal House’s margin (A minor fee and 5%).
What’s left is your taxable gross pay.
PAYE tax and Employee’s National Insurance are then applied.
Under the government's Good Work Plan, agencies must provide a Key Facts Document that breaks this down clearly.
If you haven’t received yours yet, ask for it before you start.
Other key points to know:
Salary sacrifice pensions save you both tax and employer’s NI. For every £2,000 you contribute, it costs you about £1,130 as a basic rate taxpayer or £850 as a higher rate taxpayer.
Workplace pensions: if you qualify, you’ll be auto-enrolled after 90 days. You can opt out if you choose.
Travel expenses: if you aren’t under supervision, direction or control, you could claim home-to-site travel. We’ll guide you through a simple check to confirm eligibility.
Pay structure: your gross pay includes Basic Pay and a Conditional Payment.
Holiday pay: included in your pay upfront (rolled up and pre-paid).
Tax assumptions: based on the 1257L tax code, with correct handling for basic, higher, and additional rates — and tapering for incomes over £100k.
Umbrella Plus Package: if you join, the weekly margin increases by £3.75, reducing your net pay slightly — by £2.35 (basic rate) or £1.89 (higher rate) per week.
Margin: your illustration assumes a £22 weekly margin plus 5%. This can vary based on the package you choose.
For a personal, exact breakdown based on your setup, call our Welcome Team at 01603 630 016.
Contractor FAQ
What is Pivotal House?
For contractors, Pivotal House is where smart people join forces under one trusted roof — combining the freedom of independent work with the security and support of a world-class umbrella.
How does joining as a Housemate help me?
You get:
Same-day Faster Payments
Full PAYE compliance with no hidden costs
Mobile-first access to pay, timesheets, and records
Pension options built around you
Real human support, not call centre scripts
How do payments work?
Once your agency confirms your hours, we process your payment through Faster Pay — meaning your money usually lands the same day it's released.
You focus on the work. We sort the boring bits.
Will I still be independent?
Yes.
You're free to choose your assignments and agencies — we just handle the admin, pay, and support behind you.
Think of it like having a world-class finance, HR and compliance team — without giving up your freedom.
What happens with tax and National Insurance?
We take care of it for you.
Your taxes and NI are deducted automatically before your pay hits your account.
You’ll get clean, clear payslips — no surprises, no chasing.
What about pensions?
You can opt in to a workplace pension, or we can help you set up a private salary sacrifice pension — which can save you even more on tax and NI.
Is there a margin or fee?
Yes.
At Pivotal House, we keep it simple and transparent:
We charge just 5% of your gross revenue,
Plus a small, fixed weekly fee — similar to what other leading umbrellas charge.
There are no hidden deductions, stealth costs, or surprises.
You’ll always know exactly what you’re paying — and exactly what you’re getting.
Can I claim expenses?
If your role meets the government’s "no supervision, direction or control" (SDC) test, yes.
We'll guide you through a short validation process if you're eligible — and handle the rest.
What if my agency doesn’t mention a Key Information Document?
Legally, they should.
If they don’t, we’ll help you chase it — because you deserve to know your true pay rate and deductions up front.
How do I join?
Simple.
Fill out a quick application, send over your ID and basic details, and we’ll get you set up fast — usually within 24 hours.
What could joining mean for your agency?
Find out in under 10 seconds.
Enter your numbers. See your future.
Ready to unlock real value without selling your soul?
Now, you can.
Get in touchAgency FAQ
What is Pivotal House?
Pivotal House for the agency is a creative group built by founders, for founders.
We invest in high-performing agencies, helping you scale faster, protect your culture, and build long-term value — without giving up control.
How does the Housemate model work?
We invest a 51% stake in your agency, giving you an upfront payout while you retain 49%. This can be all cash or part cash and part ownership in Pivotal House (as an investor yourself).
You keep your brand, your leadership, and your team — but now with shared services, strategic support, and a wider network behind you.
What are the benefits of joining?
Immediate liquidity without losing your independence
Shared services (finance, HR, ops, marketing) to cut costs and free up focus
Access to group-wide clients, leads, and deals
Growth coaching and operational support
Optionally use your 49% equity to re-enforce your senior leadership team
Am I locked into selling the rest later?
No.
You control your future.
You can hold your 49%, sell it later, stay long-term, or offer it to Pivotal House when you're ready. We can also help you create management buy-out options with your team, if you'd like.
There’s no forced exit clock ticking behind you.
What types of agencies are you looking for?
We focus on creative, digital and marketing agencies that are:
Profitable and founder-led
A strong cultural and strategic fit
Experts in branding, UX/UI, creative tech, performance marketing, content, or communications
How does the group fee work?
Each agency contributes 15% of gross revenue to Pivotal House Group.
This funds shared services, cross-sell opportunities, group branding, and central growth initiatives — all designed to multiply your long-term value.
What happens after I apply?
We’ll arrange a confidential chat first.
If it feels right on both sides, we’ll move into a light due diligence phase to confirm fit, culture, and numbers — fast and founder-friendly.
Pivotal House
Red Lion Street, Norwich NR1 3TB.