Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How is using Partner Electronics more cost effective than using individual contractors?
  2. What is IR35?
  3. Fixed price or cost plus; which is best?
  4. Can you manufacture products?
  5. Can you test and verify? What about approvals?

 

  1. How is using Partner Electronics more cost effective than using individual contractors?

    When using Partner Electronics you pay only for the time and effort used on your project.  Whilst the hourly rate may be higher than for a contractor, there is no slack time. You are also utilising the experience and specialisms of a team of engineers, so less time is taken on picking up new skills
     
     
     
  2. What is IR35?

    "IR35" is UK tax legislation that came into effect from April 2000 aimed at contractors who could be considered as effectively employed by a company.  This primarily is a tax concern for the contractor, and is a vague and complex area, but if a contractor is 'caught' by IR35, then issues such as employee rights and tax may affect the employer.
    Since Partner Electronics is a design services company with numerous clients and projects, issues with IR35 are avoided
     
     
     
  3. Fixed price or cost plus; which is best?

    This depends on the project and your preference. Neither is always best. 

    Fixed price requires much greater definition and risk mitigation before the project. Where the unknowns are few and the work is well defined, fixed price is the most appropriate.  With fixed price contracts, significant changes to the specification will require a project plan and cost review.

    Cost plus is a more flexible approach, better suited to projects with significant risks or unknowns or where the specification is expected to evolve during the projects. It is also best suited when simply boosting a teams resource to accelerate a project.  This provides the most reactive and least administrative solution

    Either costing method can be provided by Partner Electronics.
      
     
     
  4. Can you manufacture products?

    Partner Electronics is a design services company and not set-up for manufacturing in significant quantities. We have a well equipped engineering office at Silverstone and can produce and test prototypes, and initial build units as required. We will then assist in identifying and bringing a suitable manufacturing facility into production
     

     
  5. Can you test and verify? What about appovals?

    We have significant experience of evaluating and testing components and subsystems, and preparing products for production including reliability testing, EMC and standards approval. We are also located close to a leading EMC/CE test facility