Not in a dramatic way.
Not with big announcements.
Just… thoughtful questions being asked behind closed doors.

Most agencies I speak to aren’t anti-umbrella.
They’re just more aware now that risk doesn’t transfer as neatly as it used to.

Joint & Several Liability, supply-chain scrutiny, end-client pressure — all of it has shifted the conversation from convenience to control.

And that’s where the change is happening.

Some agencies are:

• Bringing elements of payroll and compliance in-house

• Outsourcing to specialists, but on their own terms

• Reducing umbrella reliance to a smaller, tightly managed panel

• Or redesigning processes so decisions are evidenced, explainable, and defensible

What’s interesting is that this isn’t about chasing margin.
It’s about sleep-at-night confidence.

The agencies moving first aren’t trying to become payroll experts.
They just want:

• Clear visibility of deductions and liabilities

• Fewer third-party explanations to give to HMRC or clients

• Systems that stand up to scrutiny without drama

Umbrellas were once seen as protection.
Increasingly, agencies are asking whether simplicity and ownership might actually reduce risk more effectively.

There’s no single “right” model — but there is a clear shift towards understanding, not outsourcing, responsibility.

And that feels like a healthy place for the market to land