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IT Contractors UK Forum

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Rates & Market Most Helpful response

Would you accept a £50/day rate reduction for a six-month contract extension?

A scenario that I suspect quite a few contractors will face at some point: You’re coming towards the end of a contract. The client wants to extend you for another six months, but says budgets have tightened and the extension will only be approved if you accept a £50/day reduction. Everything else remains the same. You know the client, the work and the team…

Contract ExtensionDay RateRate Negotiation

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Rates & Market

Contractors: are day rates actually falling in 2026, or does it depend entirely on the specialism?

This is something I’d really like the Community to build some collective intelligence around. There is a lot of discussion about pressure on IT contractor rates, but I suspect the reality varies considerably by specialism, seniority and location. Compared with 12–18 months ago, are the rates you are seeing now higher, lower or broadly unchanged? If…

2026Contract RatesDay RatesMarket Conditions

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C Contracting IR35, contracts, working practices and the realities of contracting. £ Rates & Market Contract rates, negotiation, demand, market conditions and benchmarking. J Jobs & Recruitment Recruiters, applications, interviews, CVs, clearances and finding contracts. M Money & Services Umbrellas, accountancy, tax, insurance, pensions, mortgages and contractor services. T Technology & Skills Technology, certifications, specialisms, skills and professional development. L Contractor Life Between-contract periods, travel, accommodation, career decisions and contractor life.