Fixed term contract - advice from people in the know!

[NoUpcomingDramas]

I am on a fixed term contract which was due to run out next March. It has been extended until July. Depending on funding from charity and government, this may be extended. But what does the law say about fixed term contracts? The end of the contract in July will be 22 months. What are their options?

What are whose options? The law in respect of what? Think you need to be clearer about exactly what you're asking here.

They can continue to extend the contract in perpetuity as long as you keep agreeing to it.
What options are you expecting?

I think that 4 years of fixed term they're legally obliged to offer permanent employment. That's how it worked with my job anyway (HE sector)

What are you asking exactly?
I am on a third round of Fixed term now. Similarly, contract gets extended for three months around January to give us breathing room if there is suddenly no funding in April. The contract then either gets extended or not.
Typically, after 4 years you are classed as a permanent employee. Practically, however, your employer doesn't have to do it if they can demonstrate how it won't be feasible from the business perspective. If you are in a public/charitable sector, I imagine it is quite easy to do if there is simply no more funding available.

I'm also in HE, and our Institutional policy is that after 3 years of FT you get switched to open ended - unless there's a clear end date on funding, such as research grant/buyout/maternity cover, etc.
So, I'm currently on a second extension to a FT contract, after 20 months, and I've been given another 3 years. It's FT because it's on an investment fund grant.
It's likely I will get open ended (either in this role, or another) before the end of that 3 years, but it's legal. You've got exactly the same protection, etc. after 2 years of employment anyway. Anyone can be made redundant!

After 2 years you get redundancy rights. Good info here
https://www.gov.uk/fixed-term-contracts/employees-rights

Thanks for answering. If I wasn't clear, what I'm asking is, what are the options for the employer as to what could happen? I don't know anything about employment law and HR. I was a teacher for many years so also not used to the world of fixed term contracts.

You have a fixed term contract .. I have FTCs in my team that I manage.

I sm going to assume that you are an FTC employed by the firm in question, and not a Contractor, or supplied by anyone else.

As an FTC you will have received a contract when you started work, giving the end date of your contract, and also a notice period in case they need to end the contract early.

Your employer can extend your FTC, if you are agreeable, at that point they will send you a letter to confirm the ammedments to your contact. Until you get that letter, your end date is as it appears on the original contract.

Your clarification doesn't make it any clearer. Options for what? Employer can either extend your contract or not. These are their options: they can find the funding and extend your contract, they can find the funding and hire someone else and let you go, they can fail to find the funding and lose the position.

I know when I worked in HE and we had a lot of people on fixed term contracts, if they couldn't secure continuation funding, if the person was really good, they'd work hard to find them something else, particularly for people in project management or support.

At my place, if you've been employed on a FTC for 24 months and they don't extend it further then you are placed on the redeployment register and they are obliged to try and find you an alternative role in the company. You have to meet the criteria for the role, but essentially you're guaranteed an interview.

Why are people so aggressive in their responses? There is no need to be so blunt. Ok so my explanation has not been great. Probably because I do not understand the situation very well hence the reason I came here. Thanks to those of you who have bothered to word your replies sensibly and kindly.