Growing Industry Backlash: Major Software Providers Withdraw from Professional Passport
The Industry Starts to Distance Itself
Following mounting scrutiny of Professional Passport’s (PP) accreditation model, several prominent software providers have now publicly confirmed that they are ending their partnerships with the organisation.
Within the space of just a few days, Kintec Software, Octopaye, and My Digital each issued statements on LinkedIn declaring they had withdrawn as business partners from Professional Passport, expressing appreciation for past collaboration but noting that their “visions no longer align.”
All three statements use strikingly similar wording, thanking PP for the partnership but signalling a clear and coordinated shift away from the accreditation body.
Industry Reaction: “A Sensible Choice Ahead of Legislation Changes”
The announcements quickly attracted attention and commentary from across the umbrella and recruitment sectors.
Under Kintec’s post, industry peers echoed support for the decision. One comment from David Smith, Sales Director at Pay Guardians, noted:
“I think most payroll software providers will follow suit!”
Similarly, reactions to Octopaye’s announcement included comments such as:
“Sensible choice ahead of legislation changes,” — David Whitehouse, Managing Director at a national recruitment firm and a succinct but telling response from Andy Hallett, a Fractional COO and industry advisor, who simply posted the “👀” emoji — a nod to the growing scrutiny surrounding Professional Passport.
Across the posts, reactions were overwhelmingly positive, with dozens of likes and supportive comments applauding the decision to withdraw partnership.
A Turning Point After Mounting Criticism
The timing of these announcements is notable. In a recent article titled “Who Knew”, PP’s CEO Crawford Temple wrote that “accreditations, in simple terms, offer no protection against JSL” — referring to the Joint and Several Liability legislation due in April 2026.
That statement prompted industry debate about whether PP’s accreditation process provides any genuine assurance of compliance. Critics argue that if accreditations offer “no protection,” then their purpose and value are fundamentally questionable — particularly given that some PP-accredited umbrella companies have previously been linked to tax-avoidance schemes.
This context makes the software firms’ decision even more significant. Their products power much of the umbrella and payroll industry, meaning their public withdrawal represents a major reputational blow for PP and may encourage others to follow suit.
The Industry Seeks Credibility and Alignment
Each departing partner emphasised the need for shared vision and integrity within the umbrella supply chain. While none explicitly criticised PP, the identical phrasing across all three statements suggests a coordinated move — likely driven by growing discomfort with the perceived direction and credibility of the accreditation body.
The decisions could mark the start of a broader industry realignment toward genuine transparency and compliance, rather than symbolic accreditations that lack enforceable oversight.
Looking Ahead
Professional Passport now faces increasing scrutiny and potential isolation within the compliance landscape. If leading payroll technology providers are severing ties, recruitment agencies and umbrella companies may begin to re-evaluate the value of PP accreditation altogether.
What once appeared to be a marker of trust is rapidly becoming a source of controversy. The industry’s message seems clear: credibility must be earned through transparency and accountability — not just accreditation.
