Almost half of contractors and temporary staff think that continuity of relationship with their recruitment consultant is what they would most value from their recruitment agency, according to a survey from the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo).

Information on taxation and contractual issues was seen as the second most important service provided by staffing agencies (29%), social and networking events only received 2% of the contractors’ votes.

Ann Swain, ATSCo chief executive, says: “This confirms what many agencies know - that contractors are ultimately interested in services that will have a tangible impact on their income. They want a consultant that knows their skill sets and job preferences well enough to provide back-to-back contracts and can help them manage their tax bill through a thorough understanding of IR35 and other relevant legislation.”