You make the placement
You retain the relationship with your client and identify the worker you want to place.
Employer of Record services for recruitment agencies
Place workers globally without setting up a local entity
Sapphire’s Employer of Record (EOR) service enables recruitment agencies to employ workers in international markets without establishing their own local entity.
We manage the employment, payroll and in-country requirements behind the placement, helping you get workers onboarded correctly and keep opportunities moving.
Employer of Record support built for recruitment
Enter new markets without setting up an entity
Make placements in countries where you don’t have an established business, without taking on the cost and administration of creating a local entity.
Manage local employment and payroll requirements
We manage compliant employment contracts, payroll, tax, social contributions and statutory requirements according to the rules in each market.
Get workers onboarded without unnecessary delays
Our international specialists manage documentation, registration and onboarding, helping your candidates get assignment-ready as quickly as local requirements allow.
Scale international placements through one partner
Start with one placement and add countries as opportunities develop, with dedicated account management and local expertise supporting you along the way.
Sapphire employs the worker locally
We put the appropriate employment structure in place and manage locally compliant contracts and onboarding.
We manage payroll and employment requirements
Sapphire manages payroll, relevant tax and social contributions, statutory requirements and ongoing employment administration.
You focus on the client and placement
We manage the employment infrastructure behind the scenes, with dedicated support throughout the assignment.
Local employment expertise
Contracts, worker classification, statutory benefits, tax, social contributions and termination requirements can all vary significantly between markets.
Our Global Workforce specialists help you understand the requirements behind each placement and put the appropriate employment structure in place, giving your agency and your client greater confidence before the worke
When should a recruitment agency use an Employer of Record?
An Employer of Record can be a good fit when you have an international placement opportunity but don’t have the local employment infrastructure to support it yourself.
Not sure whether you need EOR or AOR? We’ll help you understand the appropriate route.
| You're making your first placement in a new country | |
|---|---|
| An existing client wants you to support roles internationally | |
| You need to employ a worker where your agency doesn't have an entity | |
| Setting up a local company isn't commercially justified | |
| You're testing demand in a market before making a longer-term investment | |
| You want one partner to support placements across multiple jurisdictions |
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
Keep ahead with international recruitment intelligence
Stay ahead of the regulatory and market changes shaping international recruitment.
Germany’s Temporary Employment Act: What Recruiters Know
Kris Simpson discusses the Dutch labour market
Kris Simpson on France taking steps to reduce abuse of fixed-term contracts
Managing global contractors and payroll with an EOR
What is an Employer of Record, and why do growing businesses need one?
Understanding bogus self-employment in Germany: how contractors and clients can stay compliant
Income illustrations: Knowing what is right
Kris Simpson on Sweden’s Economic Employer Legislation 2021
One partner for everything your agency needs
International placements are just one part of running a growing recruitment business. We bring together the services you need across the full cycle, so you’re not managing a different provider for every function.
Contractor services
Fully managed UK and international contractor payroll, with FCSA-accredited compliance built in.
Operational technology
Purpose-built tools that automate timesheet processing, compliance checks and reporting.
Accounting & intelligence
Real-time financial insights and benchmarking to help you make faster, better-informed decisions.
Trusted by agencies
Trusted by 500+ recruitment agencies, with eight years of FCSA accreditation and an Excellent Trustpilot rating from 5,000+ reviews.
Accreditations
Frequently asked questions
What is an Employer of Record?
An Employer of Record (EOR) is a third-party organisation that takes on the legal responsibilities of employing workers on behalf of another business. In practice, that means the EOR handles employment contracts, payroll, tax, local compliance and terminations, while you retain day-to-day control of the worker’s activities.
For recruitment agencies, an EOR removes the need to establish a legal entity in every country where you place contractors or employees. You can make international placements quickly, without the cost or complexity of setting up a local company.
How does an EOR service work for recruitment agencies?
You identify the candidate, Sapphire handles the employment. Once you’ve confirmed a placement, Sapphire’s EOR service employs the worker locally in the target country, manages onboarding and contracts, runs payroll in line with local rules, and takes on the associated compliance responsibilities throughout the assignment.
The process covers:
- Drafting locally compliant employment contracts
- Registering and onboarding workers in-country
- Processing payroll with accurate local deductions
- Managing tax filings and statutory obligations
- Handling terminations compliantly when assignments end
When should a recruitment agency use an EOR?
Use an EOR when you need to place a worker in a country where you don’t have a legal entity and setting one up isn’t commercially justified. That covers most international placements, especially in early-stage market entry or project-based work.
Sapphire’s EOR service is particularly well-suited for agencies:
- Making their first placements in a new country
- Supporting clients who win international contracts
- Placing contractors in markets with complex local employment laws
- Scaling international activity without building overseas infrastructure
If you’re placing workers across multiple jurisdictions and want a single compliant structure to manage them all, an EOR is almost always the right model.
Can agencies employ workers overseas without setting up a local entity?
Yes. Sapphire’s EOR service lets you employ workers in 102+ countries without establishing a local entity. Sapphire becomes the legal employer in the worker’s country of residence, which means you’re not exposed to the costs, timelines or ongoing obligations that come with registering a foreign subsidiary.
This matters commercially because entity setup can take months and involve significant legal and administrative cost. With an EOR in place, you can onboard workers in days, not months, and exit a market cleanly when a contract ends.
What does Sapphire's EOR service manage?
Sapphire’s EOR service covers the full employment lifecycle in each country. That includes:
- Locally compliant employment contracts
- Worker onboarding and in-country registration
- Payroll processing and salary payments
- Tax withholding and statutory deductions
- Compliance with local labour law and employment standards
- Termination management in line with local legislation
In Spain, Sapphire’s EOR also includes civil liability insurance of up to £3m, covering consultants, client work and third-party exposure. That gives you and your clients additional protection throughout the assignment.
What's the difference between EOR and AOR for international placements?
An EOR employs the worker directly and takes on full legal employment responsibilities, including payroll, tax and compliance. It’s the right model when the worker needs to be employed locally and you don’t have a legal entity in that country.
An Agent of Record (AOR) is designed for self-employed contractors who already have their own business structure. Rather than employing them, the AOR engages them in a compliant way and manages payments and contracts on your behalf.
The key question is the worker’s employment status. If they need to be employed, use an EOR. If they’re already operating as self-employed or through their own entity, an AOR is likely more appropriate. Sapphire offers both, and its international specialists will advise on the right structure for each placement.
How quickly can I onboard workers through an EOR service?
Sapphire can typically onboard workers within a few days of confirmation, depending on the country and the complexity of the engagement. The service is designed for speed. It matters because slow onboarding creates risk: contractors who can’t start on time can affect client relationships and your agency’s reputation. With Sapphire’s EOR, the legal and administrative steps are handled by specialists who know the local requirements and work to get workers engaged as quickly as the rules allow.
