Former IT contractor Rob Crossland co-founded Parasol after becoming frustrated with the paperwork involved with freelancing. He spotted a gap in the market for a company that could streamline the process and help freelancers and contractors maximise their income whilst minimising the hassle of being self-employed.

Rob started to develop the service in 1999 as joint venture between an IT consultancy and an established accountancy practice, offering payroll services to IT contractors. Parasol was formally launched in 2000 and rapidly built a healthy base of contractor and freelance employees, largely by developing partnerships with the recruitment agencies who hire them.

Now in its seventh year of business, Parasol currently looks after the needs of over 20,000 contractors and freelancers and this figure continues to increase as the company expands into new market sectors across the UK. Parasol's impressive base of 2,500 recruitment agencies is second-to-none with industry leading companies such as: Hays, Kelly, Reed and Spring.  

In November 2006 Rob Crossland led an MBO of Parasol, backed by the private equity firm, Inflexion.  

Parasol has achieved tremendous average annual growth of 280% and now boasts a turnover of in excess of £244m. The company employs over 85 staff at its head office in Warrington, Cheshire and has recently established a regional sales office in London with a further regional sales presence in Scotland.