Built around the realities of recruitment
We understand the pressures that come with running a recruitment business because we work with them every day.
From contractor payroll and compliance to technology, finance and global expansion, Sapphire connects the expertise and infrastructure across the areas that keep your business moving.
Contractor Services
Compliant contractor payroll, engagement and workforce solutions that protect your recruitment agency and deliver a better contractor experience.
- Pay contractors accurately and on time, with clear communication throughout
- Protect your business with eight years of FCSA accreditation, SafeRec real-time auditing and APSCo Trusted partner status
- Reduce the admin and risk involved in managing a growing contractor workforce
Global workforce
Take recruitment opportunities into new markets with the infrastructure and expertise to operate compliantly across 102 countries.
- Remove the complexity of global workforce engagement
- Access intel on where international contractor demand is growing
- Navigate employment, payroll and compliance requirements with specialist support
- Follow clients and contractor demand into new territories with confidence
Operational Technology
Technology built around your recruitment operation, connecting workflows and reducing the manual work that holds your team back.
- Automate processes from assignment and timesheet through to payroll and invoice
- Connect your existing systems and reduce duplication across your operation
- Create greater visibility and control as your contractor base scales
Accounting & Intelligence
Recruitment-specific financial expertise that turns your numbers into insights you can use to make better commercial decisions.
- See how your business is performing through real-time financial intelligence
- Benchmark your performance against wider recruitment market
- Make more informed decisions around growth, investment and exit
We've shared more than £1m with our contractors
Sapphire has been employee-owned since 2021. As part of that model, qualifying longstanding umbrella contractors can share directly in our success through our contractor bonus programme.
More than £1m has already been shared with contractors.
It’s another reason for contractors to choose Sapphire, and another reason for agencies to feel confident recommending us.
£1m+
paid directly to contractors since 2021
12+Years supporting recruitment businesses
500+Agencies across the UK
£700m+Annual turnover
10,000+Contractor payments processed each week
100,000+Contractors supported
102+Countries supported
£1m+Paid in contractor bonuses since 2024
20%Year-on-year contractor growth
Top 5UK Umbrella/CIS market share
Sapphire is a trusted, compliance-first partner. Alex is always on hand, respectful of our preferred ways of working and quick to resolve queries and payment issues. As umbrella legislation changes, their audit-ready approach and clear, timely communication give us and our contractors real confidence.
Sophie Anderson, Associate Director, Venn Group
I have worked with Sapphire for a number of years and have consistently found their service and attention to detail in account management to be exceptional. Marcus, in particular, stands out — he resolves any issues quickly and, no matter how busy he is, always takes the time to personally speak with customers and clients. That level of dedication goes a long way. I would highly recommend Sapphire.
Jim Fleming, Director, Buildforce Solutions
I’ve worked with Sapphire for years and brought the relationship over to my own agency. They register temps quickly, keep us updated throughout and make sure they’re paid reliably each week. Any issues are resolved swiftly, allowing me to focus on placing temps with complete confidence. Jake’s guidance was also invaluable when launching my business, and the whole team consistently goes the extra mile. I see Sapphire as an extension of my accounts department and couldn’t recommend them highly enough.
Luke Lysandrou, Director, LLC Recruitment
We’ve worked with Sapphire for over a year and have found them an excellent company to deal with. The Quartz system is easy to use, but what really stands out is their proactive customer support and willingness to listen, adapt and accommodate the specific requirements of our business. Ray, Shauna and the wider team are responsive, practical and genuinely great people to work with. I’d have no hesitation in recommending them.
Steve Gearing, Managing Director, Gearing Recruitment Solutions
Stay in the know with intelligence for ambitious recruiters
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Accreditations
Frequently asked questions
What does Sapphire do?
We are an operations and infrastructure partner for recruitment businesses, combining contractor payroll, accounting intelligence, global workforce management and operational technology under one roof.
Where most providers solve one part of the operational puzzle, we connect all of it. Your contractor payroll, financial reporting, international placements and back-office technology work together, meaning less complexity for your team and a clearer picture of how your business is performing.
Who does Sapphire work with?
We work with recruitment agencies, from ambitious independents to some of the UK’s top 100 agencies, as well as contractors directly.
More than 500 recruitment businesses trust us to manage their contractor payroll, accounting and reporting and international placements. We also work directly with contractors, providing compliant umbrella employment services, fast and accurate pay, and access to financial services. If you run a recruitment agency or work as a contractor, our services are built around your needs.
What services does Sapphire provide to recruitment agencies?
We provide four connected services: Contractor services, accounting & intelligence, global workforce and operational technology.
- Contractor Services: compliant umbrella payroll, CIS, PEO and contractor management, with eight consecutive years of FCSA accreditation and SafeRec real-time auditing secured in 2025
- Accounting & intelligence: recruitment-specific financial intelligence, real-time dashboards, competitor benchmarking and fractional FD support
- Global workforce: employer of record (EOR), agent of record (AOR), international payroll and compliance across 102 countries, without the need to establish overseas entities
- Operational technology: Quartz, our cloud-based platform that automates timesheets, payroll and invoicing, reducing admin by up to 80%
Can one partner support multiple areas of our recruitment operations?
Yes. Sapphire is built specifically to support recruitment agencies across contractor payroll, financial intelligence, international workforce management and back-office technology – in one place.
Most agencies manage several separate providers for these functions, which creates handover risk, fragmented data and more complexity for your team. Because our services are connected, your contractor payroll can feed into your financial reporting, your technology integrates with your compliance processes, and your international placements are supported by the same team that handles your UK contractor base. You get a more complete picture of your business and a single point of accountability.
Why should a recruitment agency choose Sapphire over separate specialist providers?
We combine the depth of a specialist with the breadth of an integrated partner, which means you don’t have to choose between expertise and simplicity.
We connect your operational, payroll and financial information in one place, giving you clearer insight into how your business is performing. With eight consecutive years of FCSA accreditation, SafeRec real-time auditing and APSCo Trusted Partner status, your supply chain risk is managed by a partner who takes compliance seriously. And as an employee-owned business since 2021, our team has a direct stake in your success, which shapes how every client relationship is managed day to day.
