Q for any legal eagles out there! Contract vs written statement

[HmmmIwonder]

It says here www.lra.org.uk/index/employment-questions-and-answers/contracts_of_employment.htm
that Employers have legal obligation to give you a written statement covering what you'll do, what you'll be paid, how much leave etc. But is that the SAME thing as a contract? If not, what's a contract for and should I have one?

No real difference between the two. A statement can be unilateral but a contract will have two parties, so if you are being asked for obligations (confidentiality, etc) strictly it's a contract.

What matters is what the document says, not what it's called. You don't particularly need one or the other, just to be happy about the content.

If its looks like a duck and quacks its probably a duck :)

Thank you!