Whilst legal, I think my employer is BU?

YABU. It’s a one week notice fixed term contract and they don’t know what’s happening yet. I understand it’s like being in limbo but you don’t have to sit like a duck and wait around for them to decide what your future looks like, you can start looking elsewhere

You sound quite naive about contracting OP, you might want to look for a permanent role if you’re not happy with the uncertainty!

Their preferences will always to be stay employed.

Your ideas are ‘nice’ but they’re not what employment law requires.

Anti poaching pretty much doesn’t apply to fixed term contracts.

It's an FTC. You signed it. They have fulfilled it. You rightly have no idea what's going on with other people's contracts. The shortsighted one is you.

You're also coming across as quite entitled. Please don't make any of these comments to your colleagues or the company you have been implanted into - if you do, you will guarantee that your contract will not be extended.

So the sponsor of your role says they want it to continue for two years. But it isn't necessarily you that'll be doing it as you are just one of many. Your contract finished and then presumably you plus others could be in the running to work with this sponsor in future?

But you know your contract is over. The position of the sponsor isn't an indication you'll definitely get another job with them. And the employer can't make any decision on it if other sponsors have yet to commit to further work.

This is the deal with FTC. Honestly you can expect uncertainty until the day your contract expires, I've seen HR teams processing extensions at 4pm on the day.

Yes basically the anti poaching is usually a contract between the 2 companies involved and sometimes there are restrictions in employment contracts saying you cant work for x, y, z companies for something like 6 months post departure from the company.

However in practice ET will support the individual trying to find employment so if you see a role that's advertised and apply for it and it so happens that is for Company y that you are doing work with and company x which employs you has already told you your job is at risk, they (company x) wont have a leg to stand on in bringing a claim

You nailed it, OP - it's legal. This is how fixed contracts work, so I don't know what else you expect?

You do have certainty. You don't have a contract after April, so you need to look for something else. Where has the expectation of permanence come from?

If I were in charge I’d speak to everyone and find out their preferences and try to find solutions rather than stonewalling but what do I know.

well this screams of inexperience for a start

I don't understand the problem. They may extend it, but they can't give you an official answer now. I'd ask for a date when they're expected to have a definite position.

That's not how it works though. The money is there (at least verbally, maybe not contractually yet... it's a bit soon for them to have signed contracts on it yet IMO), but it isn't assigned to you. It's assigned to a role, that many people can do.

You, along with others, will be told the next steps when the Company know. They can't tell you before they know.

They aren't stonewalling, though? They have been very transparent about the current situation.

And based on your OP, they don't know yet that the money is out there to extend everyone's contracts. I'm not sure how you think they can "find solutions" until the wider funding questions can be resolved.

What exactly do you think is unreasonable about it OP?
They don't know if they'll renew your contract so they have been clear on that.

Did you not understand what a FTC entailed when you took the job?

This

They are obviously going to be priority

in your shoes, I’d be job hunting

So inevitably they're going to be the priority because the employer has a legal duty to them which they don't have to you.

You haven't said how you would have expected them to handle it differently?

Would you have preferred it if they just told you that your contract would be terminated and that you should look for another job? Because that would be their only other option really. Isn't it better to keep your options open while there is still uncertainty?

They will have acquired more rights as they are over 2 years. So it will be easier to lose you then them. I am sorry OP but in your shoes I'd be looking for another job.
Is it worth making enquires at company that you're currently doing the work for ? Most places have anti poaching clauses but they are virtually unenforceable!

Unfortunately their duty will be to those who are on permie contracts. So if someone else does not have work and can do the role that you do, they will be better off releasing you before the 2 yr point. That's the whole point of a FTC. Sorry

They could give you certainty by telling you it’s not being extended.

They can’t extend your contract knowing that permanent staff may the be made redundant.

This is the pro and the con of contracting. You can leave, they can leave. You are likely (hopefully) being paid more then an equivalent permanent employee and the consequence is lack of job security.

That’s one of the points of FTCs though. So the organisation doesn’t have to decide until fairly late in the day if the money is there to continue the role. If you don’t want that uncertainty you have to just do the other thing, and find a permanent job.

Do you work in the charity sector? Because this is very common