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PAYE or Umbrella: which option fits the way you work?

When you start locum work through Hunter Gatherer Mental Health, you’ll usually choose between PAYE and umbrella payroll.

Both are compliant ways to be paid. The right choice depends on how you work, how many agencies you use, and how much admin you want to manage.

Choose PAYE if:

You mainly work through one agency

  • If most of your assignments come through Hunter Gatherer MH, PAYE is often the simpler option.
  • Your tax and National Insurance are deducted automatically, with no separate umbrella margin to pay.

You want straightforward weekly pay

PAYE tends to suit clinicians who want:

  • simple payslips
  • fewer deductions
  • clear weekly income
  • minimal admin

Many locums who work consistently with one agency prefer this route for clarity and simplicity.

Choose umbrella if:

You work with multiple agencies

  • Umbrella payroll can make sense if you regularly move between agencies or contracts.
  • Instead of joining different payroll systems each time, you stay employed by the umbrella company while moving between assignments.

You prefer one continuous employment record

Some clinicians prefer umbrella arrangements because they provide continuity across contracts, particularly when moving frequently between NHS trusts or services.

You want payroll handled externally

Umbrella companies usually manage:

  • payroll processing
  • tax deductions
  • pension contributions
  • statutory payments

Some clinicians prefer having one provider handling this across all assignments.

What’s important either way

Whichever option you choose:

  • tax should be processed through PAYE
  • deductions should be clearly explained
  • payslips should be transparent
  • you should avoid schemes promising unusually high take-home pay

Since April 2026, umbrella compliance rules across healthcare staffing have become more strict, with greater accountability across agencies and supply chains.

If you choose umbrella payroll, we strongly recommend using one of the compliant providers on our approved PSL to ensure transparent deductions and full PAYE compliance.

Our approved umbrella providers

Hunter Gatherer MH works with a selected group of compliant umbrella providers who meet our payroll and compliance standards. Using a PSL provider can help ensure:

  • transparent payslips
  • compliant PAYE processing
  • clear communication around deductions
  • faster onboarding support where required

Timesheet

Understanding how to use our timesheet tracking system is essential for accurate and efficient time management. Below, you’ll find downloadable guides to help you navigate the system with ease.