Remote work in the
UK

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Remote work in the UK — Overview

The number of people working from home has more than doubled when compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to official homeworking statistics for the UK. In 2022, 30.6% of workers worked from home, compared to 14.5% in 2019.

Remote work in the UK — Laws & Regulations

The UK does not have a specific provision for remote workers (unlike, for example, Spain’s remote working law). However, visitors are permitted to undertake activities in the UK relating to their employment overseas. This may include taking phone calls or sending emails. The main purpose of the trip must be for a permitted activity, and the visitor cannot come to the UK specifically for the purpose of working remotely. If they are working remotely, they must be genuinely employed overseas and not seeking work in the UK.

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Hiring in the UK, Made Easy

Your business can easily hire employees in the UK without opening a local entity. We handle local employment law, complex tax regulations, and international payroll in 185 countries worldwide. All you need to do is focus on your business.

FAQs

Is the United Kingdom a good country for remote work?

The UK is a great place to work remotely for a number of reasons. First, there is a good infrastructure in place for remote working, with fast internet speeds and good mobile coverage. Second, the time difference between the UK and other parts of the world is relatively small, making it easy to stay in touch with colleagues and clients. Finally, English is the main language spoken in the UK, which makes it easier to communicate with people from all over the world. All of these factors make the UK an ideal place to work remotely.

However, remote workers in the UK must already have the right to live in the UK or must be in the UK for a permitted activity as the main purpose of their visit.

What are my options if I want to hire a remote employee in the United Kingdom?

There are several options for hiring remote workers in the UK:

Open a subsidiary or a branch office
Hire contractors/freelancers
Use an Employer of Record (EOR) or Umbrella Company like Horizons (this is fastest, safest, and most affordable option).

Success stories from businesses we’ve helped enter and grow in new markets.

Client Testimonials

"As a seed-stage, London-based startup, we were initially hesitant to expand internationally due to the administrative workload involved. Horizons completely took the headache out of the process, allowing us to hire a team of software engineers in Germany."

Gabor SzedlakCo-founder & COO

"I truly appreciated the thoroughness and the professionalism of Horizons personnel while we hired internationally with them. When they advised our international expansion, they spoke confidently and were knowledgable on all subject matters pertaining to international employment."

Gary PaskyVice President of Software Development

"On deciding to begin commercial activities in Asia Pacific, we needed a provider to handle the employment and remuneration of our workforce. With Horizons the result was fast, efficient, and fit-for-purpose. We recommend Horizons as an EOR provider.”

Chris MorrellManaging Director

"The collaboration with the Horizons team is excellent. Both our local employee as well as our HQ in Germany are more than pleased with the support provided and the simplicity of the service. We can highly recommend the Horizons solution to anyone."

Christoph EngelbertCo-Founder & CTO

"We needed an EOR that could provide expert support for payroll in APAC. We are pleased with Horizons’ expertise and the fact that they are flexible, responsive, and easily accessible from Belgium. They were able to provide services within the short timeline we required."

Katia FlamandHuman Resources

Horizons has been very effective in providing our company support in all the administrative procedures, sometimes complex, required by the Singaporean administration.

Gerald iannoneSales Director

Horizons’ team provided a superb service from start to finish, making a complex process a simple one. Everything was taken care of in an efficient and accurate manner, with quick communication whenever required. Highly recommended and would use again in the future if the need arises.

Philipp RinbergerManaging Director