NHS Bank vs. Agency vs. Permanent Calculator (2026/27)The Real Take-Home Pay Comparison: Umbrella Deductions vs. 12.07% WTR Holiday Pay
Compare what you actually take home in your bank account between Permanent Substantive AfC, Trust Staff Bank (+12.07% holiday uplift), and Agency Nursing Inside IR35 after 13.8% Employer NI and umbrella fees.
Under UK Agenda for Change rules, an NHS Staff Bank shift includes a statutory +12.07% Working Time Regulations (WTR) holiday pay uplift with zero middleman deductions and access to the 2015 CARE pension (+23.78% employer deposit). Conversely, Agency nursing inside IR35 requires the worker to pay Employer NI (13.8%), Apprenticeship Levy (0.5%), and weekly umbrella fees (£20–£30/wk) from their headline rate, eroding 35% to 45% of the advertised pay.
Contract Comparison Setup
AfC Substantive • Trust Staff Bank • Agency Inside IR35
Bank workers can contribute to the CARE pension, building guaranteed retirement income with tax relief.
Permanent NHS AfC
Contractual security, sick pay, annual leave & 2015 CARE pension
£2,040/mo
£32,073/yr grossTrust Staff Bank
Includes statutory +12.07% WTR Holiday Pay uplift on every hour
£2,251/mo
£35,944/yr grossAgency Inside IR35
Worker pays Employer NI (13.8%), Levy (0.5%) & Umbrella fee
£3,793/mo
Effective: £23.28/hr/hr net+£1,753/mo
Agency puts more immediate cash in your bank.
£3,117/mo
Includes £636/mo pension + £361/mo holiday pay.
At a high agency rate of £36/hr, agency take-home pay overcomes the lost benefits package by approx. +£676/month, assuming consistent shifts with zero unpaid time off.
Contractual Deductions & Employment Rights Comparison
A line-by-line comparison of hidden costs and employment rights across all three contract models.
| Feature / Employment Right | Permanent Substantive | NHS Staff Bank | Agency (Inside IR35) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractual Security | Guaranteed permanent hours | Zero-hours flexibility (no minimum) | Zero-hours (vulnerable to shift cancellations) |
| Holiday Pay Accrual | 27–33 days + 8 Bank Holidays paid | +12.07% WTR uplift paid on every hour | Rolled-up from headline rate (no extra funding) |
| Employer NI (13.8%) | Paid by NHS Trust (zero worker deduction) | Paid by NHS Trust (zero worker deduction) | Deducted from worker assignment rate |
| Apprenticeship Levy (0.5%) | Paid by NHS Trust | Paid by NHS Trust | Deducted from worker assignment rate |
| Umbrella Company Fee | £0 / None | £0 / None | −£20 to −£30 per week (−£100/mo) |
| NHS 2015 CARE Pension | Automatic (1/54th pot + 23.78% employer) | Opt-in available (Trust contributes) | Zero NHS pension (usually basic 3% NEST) |
| Occupational Sick Pay | Up to 6 months full + 6 months half pay | Statutory Sick Pay only (after 3 days) | Statutory Sick Pay only (£118.75/wk) |
| Death in Service Benefit | 2x annual salary tax-free lump sum | Eligible if contributing to NHS pension | Zero life assurance coverage |
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