Thorn Baker Group: Our Commitment to Fairness:

Navigating recruitment in the construction sector in 2025 isn’t easy. With an ageing workforce, a growing skills gap, and countless recruitment agencies to choose from, outsourcing can feel like a gamble. Add in the recent rises to the National Living Wage and National Insurance, and it’s no wonder budgets are feeling the strain. So how do you find a recruitment partner you can trust, one that delivers the right talent without surprising you with hidden fees?

That’s where Thorn Baker can help. At the heart of our recruitment service is a commitment to fairness, transparency and straight-forward billing. Unlike some of our competitors, we ensure you only pay for the services you use – so no hidden costs or unexpected charges.

How We Keep Billing Fair:

1. Verified Hours Worked:

To guarantee accurate billing, our dedicated in-house payroll team rigorously verifies every hour worked. We follow strict internal KPIs to ensure complete accuracy, so you’re only ever billed for the actual time spent on site - no discrepancies, no surprises.

2. No Unauthorised Hours:

Integrity is central to everything we do. We will never charge for hours that were not worked. Our transparent tracking and reporting system makes sure you are billed solely for the workforce you have utilised, giving you complete peace of mind.

3. Regular Candidate Check-ins:

We check in with our candidates’ multiple times throughout the week to ensure they’re prepped for their next day of work. Disruptions can happen, and circumstances change, and if a worker decides the role isn’t right for them, you’ll be the first to know and we’ll jump in fast to find a replacement, so your project remains on track.

4. No Charges for Bank Holidays (Subject to Conditions):

We understand the unique demands of the construction industry and its scheduling challenges. That’s why we guarantee no additional charges for bank holidays unless workers are actually deployed and work on those days.

5. Reach Us Bright and Early:

Thorn Baker Construction’s mornings kick off as early as 6am with our consultants checking in with our workers, making sure they have the right PPE for site and tackling urgent requests from clients who need last-minute help to cover issues like sickness or no-shows. So you can be reassured that a point of contact is available exactly when you need it.

6.Mini-Umbrella Companies (MUCs) are a Hard Pass:
We’re regularly audited by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and partner only with reputable umbrella companies. These trusted partners work closely with our in-house payroll team to ensure our temps are paid accurately, on time, every week, and fully compliant with tax regulations. In a landscape where many businesses are caught out by the false promises of mini umbrella companies (MUCs), we prioritise transparency and compliance, protecting both our workers and our clients from financial and legal risk.

Having been in business since 1988, we’ve seen many companies come and go, often as a result of cutting corners and losing sight of their principles. Our commitment to doing things the right way reflects a deep understanding of our clients’ needs and a dedication to building long-term partnerships based on trust and respect. By providing fair and transparent billing, we aim to support the success and efficiency of your projects - not just today, but for the long haul.

If you’d like to know more about our billing practices, or discuss how we can support your recruitment needs, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team here.