SMARTER FREELANCING SEMINARS

PCG is organising a series of information-packed seminars for freelancers during February and March, to take place in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Swindon, Croydon and Southampton. Open to PCG members and non-members alike, the sessions will be geared towards the needs of established freelancers, new freelancers and those who are thinking about freelancing.

Delegates will have the opportunity to hear the latest news, views and advice on tax and accountancy issues, and to ask questions. As a bonus, they will also receive expert advice about anticipated tax changes, after the Budget in March.

Part of the programme will also focus on how to update skills to meet market needs, developing "soft skills" and learning to be more productive and effective at marketing and networking, adapting to meet changing market demands and becoming a trusted adviser.

The choice of the first seven seminar locations was based upon feedback from respondents to a survey commissioned by PCG, and it is possible that further seminars will be planned for Edinburgh, Glasgow or Aberdeen, Cambridge and other locations around the UK.

Full details can be found at www.pcg.org.uk/seminars2004, with an online booking facility. Numbers will be limited, so please register via the website as early as possible.

PCG SUPPORTING EARLY DAY MOTION ON IR591

Shadow Paymaster General, Mark Prisk MP, has written to Ian Durrant, PCG's Director of External Affairs, requesting support for an early day motion. He wants all MPs to support his call to ask the Chancellor to consult small business groups about the measures outline in paragraph 5.91 of the Pre-Budget Report, being widely dubbed as "IR591". Details of the proposal to ensure that small business owners "pay the right amount of tax" are not yet known.

Welcoming the call to action, Ian Durrant urged PCG members, freelancers and small business owners to contact their respective Members of Parliament. "The more MPs from all parties that sign this early day motion, the better chance Mark Prisk will have of challenging Ministers on the subject. PCG believes that the small business community should be consulted about any proposed measures, as outlined on our dedicated website, www.ir591.org.uk."

A former freelancer himself, Mark Prisk has used a parliamentary device called an early day motion (number 501) to try to increase the pressure on the Chancellor to rethink. He is asking MPs to sign up to the following: "This House notes the Government's plans to reverse its tax treatment of owner managed businesses; is deeply concerned that this could result in severe financial hardship for thousands of family businesses and thus damage enterprise; asks the Chancellor to explain why his tax incentives went wrong; and urges him to meet with and consult small business representatives prior to the Budget."

Freelancers and small business owners wishing to support the action should encourage their respective MPs to add their names to the list, if they have not already done so. You can check whether your MP has already signed EDM 501 online. This needs to be done before Budget day on 17 March.

"You can write to your MP at the House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA," said Ian, "or send a fax through www.faxyourmp.com, typing your postcode will identify your constituency MP."

Mark Prisk's communication to Ian Durrant followed the Conservative Party Small Business Summit on 28 January, to which both Ian Durrant and David Ramsden, Senior Policy Adviser, had been invited to participate in setting policy for small businesses.

PCG'S NEW PROFESSIONAL EXPENSES INSURANCE (PEI)

PCG's new Professional Expenses Insurance (PEI), included within the membership fee, covers members for professional fees relating to any tax investigation, including those on IR35, S660A, PAYE and VAT.
It offers the following additional benefits:

1. 50% cover increase from £50,000 on any one claim to £75,000.
2. Normal business records are sufficient to ensure cover.
3. No P35 exclusion.
4. Aspect enquiries are specifically included.
5. No exclusion for contracts submitted to the Inland Revenue
6. Members who have had a submitted contract "failed" are also covered, provided that the tax is correctly paid as within IR35 on that contract or that there have been significant circumstantial changes that mean the original Revenue opinion is no longer applicable.
7. PEI allows a member to challenge a Revenue contract opinion, assuming a reasonable argument.

According to claims analysis statistics from Abbey Tax Protection, insured clients are nearly five times more likely to escape additional tax than businesses which do not have the benefit of Professional Expenses Insurance.

REAL LIFE MEETINGS

Nottingham - Monday 9 February 2004 or Tuesday 10 February 2004, 19:00
Possibly at the Admiral Rodney, Wollaton. See forum discussion
Contact: JohnLG (John Gardner)

Stevenage, Hertfordshire - Tuesday 10 February 2004, 20:00
Chequers, Bragbury End (not the Chequers on the High Street, Old Town). See forum discussion.
Contact: swordfish (Neil Youngman)

Thames Valley - Maidenhead & locale - Wednesday 11 February 2004, 20:00
Finnegan's Wake on Queen Street in Maidenhead. Please try to arrive by 21:00 to allow the option of moving on if desired. See forum discussion.
Contact: bergerc (Charles Berger)

Farnborough and environs - 23 February 2004 19:00
The Prince of Wales, 19:00 moving to the nearby Ancient Raj at 21:00 for a curry (table booked for 21:30). See forum discussion.
Contact: wasADB (Andrew Banks)

London - "Designing your Website" with AICS - 11 March 2004, 19:00
National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1. The Association of Independent Computer Specialists presents "Designing your Website". Guest speakers - David Penfold and Conrad Taylor of the British Computer Society Electronic Publishing Specialist Group. For further information about the AICS please visit www.aics.org.uk.
See forum discussion.

Contact: ashmele (John Ashmele)

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BUREAU VERITAS TRAINING: 10% DISCOUNT FOR PCG MEMBERS

Bureau Veritas is a service company specialising in QHSE (quality, health, safety and environment) management and social accountability. We offer an extensive range of technical services and solutions in the fields of certification, conformity assessment, consulting and outsourcing.
We are offering our five day Information Security Management Systems Lead Auditor course to PCG members at a discounted price of just £1,200. This is one of the world's first such courses accredited by IRCA (International Register of Certified Auditors).

The course is intended for all those who wish to undertake and eventually lead audits of Information Security management systems. It is also useful for those interested in implementation of BS7799. It is essential for those wishing to register with IRCA as an ISMS Auditor.

On successfully completing the course, students will have:

• An appreciation of the importance of controlling Information Security in all types of business.
• A detailed knowledge of BS7799 part 2 Information Security Requirements.
• A knowledge of documented management systems to control Information Security.
• A knowledge of risk assessment for Information Security.
• A knowledge of auditing principles.
• Professional recognition for their auditing competence from the world's leading auditor certification authority.
• An internationally-recognised qualification for professionals involved in the development, implementation and maintenance of management systems.

For further information, see www.bvtraining.com/united_kingdom and click on PCG MEMBERS CLICK HERE. PCG members will receive a 10% discount for any courses that they book.

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PRINCE2 TRAINING: 15% DISCOUNT FOR PCG MEMBERS

Maven Training is a specialist accredited PRINCE2 Training Organisation.

PRINCE2 Stands for PRojects IN Controlled Environments.

There are two levels of qualification. The Foundation level demonstrates to employers that you have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the method and terminology. The Practitioner Level demonstrates your ability to practically apply this knowledge to project situations.

We offer 15% off our standard course fees for PCG members. PRINCE2 Foundation course fees are discounted from £1,150 to £975 plus VAT and from £1,650 to £1,400 plus VAT for the practitioner course. Next available course dates are as follows:

Birmingham 16 February
Edinburgh 23 February
London 1 March
Manchester 15 March
Cardiff 22 March

For further information please contact Maven Training on
Ph 0207 403 8020
Email [email protected]
www.maventraining.co.uk

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EARN MONEY FROM YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES

PCG Affiliate member and publishers of Kwickee Bitesize, Kwickee Guides Ltd, is looking for members who can provide article submissions for publication on the mobile internet.

Kwickee Bitesize, a unique mobile data platform, is host to information (articles, reviews, reports, training, sales messages and so forth) written by professionals, the public and marketers and made available to a UK market of over 30 million people.

Writers (known as Associates) receive a royalty payment each time their submission (known as 'Bitesize') is purchased. There are no limits to the amount paid since income runs for the entire life of the Bitesize. Submissions can be received at any time and there are NO FEES associated with joining. To date over 2,000 people have registered with submissions.

"It's the eBay equivalent for trading knowledge with a library as vast as Amazon and search capabilities equal to Google. All available directly to the mobile phone." said Julian Fisher, publisher.
For more information visit www.kwickee.com or email
[email protected]

Disclaimer - caveat emptor - PCG carries only very limited advertising from known and reputable Affiliates. Even so, publication of any advertisement carries no implicit or explicit endorsement by PCG.