ANNUAL
MEMBERSHIP SURVEY
Several hundred members have already responded to PCG's
annual survey,
providing valuable feedback and information
to PCG's newly-elected board and Consultative Council,
who are in the throes of devising strategic and operational
plans for the coming year.
Those members who have not yet done so are requested
to participate in this survey, which is anonymous and
should take only ten minutes or so to complete. It includes
several free text response options, giving members the
chance to express their views.
"PCG is at the heart of the freelance community,
" said chairman Simon Juden, "and for us to
be able to support and nurture our members and offer
them commercial and peer support, we must understand
their concerns and needs and listen to their opinions.
We hope that every PCG member will take the time to
share his or her views with us."
NEW GUIDE TO FREELANCING AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE
The third edition of PCG's Guide to Freelancing is
available free of charge to members and
non-members
alike as a PDF download from PCG’s
website.
The guide has been updated extensively to include:
- An overview of limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
- Details of the new VAT flat rate scheme
- An explanation of the 19% dividend tax announced
in the 2004 Budget
- Advice about marketing yourself and networking
- A section on working from home, and business rates
for home offices
- Updated personal finance and taxation sections
with new rates and allowances
- Clarification about dispensations and allowable
expenses
PCG TAKING STAND AT SUNDAY TIMES EVENT
PCG will be exhibiting
at the Small Business Week event on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday
9 June 2004. The venue will be the Queen
Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary,
London SW1P 3EE, and the show will be open from 09:00
to 17:00 on both days.
PCG also has a limited number of VIP invitations to
the show which will be allocated to the first 40 members
who call Mandie Bell on 0845 125 98 99 requesting them.
Each VIP invitation entitles two people to complimentary
admission to the event, entry to unlimited sessions
within Under the Spotlight, Women Mean Business, Money
Money Money, The Greenhouse and Back to School, as well
as entry into the Open House, workshops and The Engine
Room and various hospitality invitations.
ENQUIRY INTO UK EMPLOYMENT REGULATION
The Trade and Industry Select Committee is to undertake
an enquiry
into UK employment regulation, including freelancing.
It will consider the contribution that labour market
flexibility makes to the UK economy, and whether the
current degree of flexibility is appropriate or desirable,
and if not, what measures the Government should take.
Evidence must be submitted by 18 June 2004, and PCG
will be making a contribution.
DATA PROTECTION SCAM
Several members have reported receiving letters from
an organisation purporting to be the Data Protection
Enforcement Agency. The letter gives final notice that
one's business has still not submitted notification
to the Information Commissioner in accordance with the
Data Protection Act 1998, stating that failure to register
is a criminal offence and that conviction carries a
maximum fine of £5,000. It then requests that
one completes and returns the form with a fee of £135.
PCG's advice to anyone receiving such a letter is to
report it to the Office of Fair Trading, section CRE1D,
which is responsible for handling misleading claims.
Mike Lambourne is the Section Head and can be contacted
on 020 7211 8568.
The Information Commissioner's Office lists some of
the bogus agencies on its website.
Notification under the Data Protection Act can be made
directly to the Information Commissioner for an annual
fee of just £35. The website has information about
whether you need to notify
or whether you are exempt from notification.
SQL FOCUS GROUP
Any SQL developers (any flavour) interested in participating
in a focus group on Tuesday 25 May at 18:00 in London
to discuss the state of the market should please send
an email to Simon Juden.
STANDING ORDER PAYMENTS
If you pay your annual membership fee by standing order,
please contact your bank in good time before the expiry
date to change the amount to £141 (including VAT)
for single membership, and to £211.50 (including
VAT) for companies with more than one fee earner.
TOP PICK OF COMMERCIAL FORUM PROJECT POSTINGS
Independent process engineer - Aberdeen
Independent senior grade process engineer for a Hazop
required during July and August. See commercial
forum.
MSI application packagers - London
Senior application re-packagers required for site near
Liverpool Street station. No agency involvement. See
commercial
forum and website.
REAL LIFE MEETINGS
Farnborough - Monday 24 May 2004 19:00
Prince of Wales pub, see map
for location.
Forum discussion.
Contact: wasADB (Andrew Banks)
Stevenage - Tuesday 25 May 2004 20:00
Standing Orders, a Wetherspoon pub in Stevenage Old
Town.
Forum discussion.
Contact: BrianS (Brian Shield)
AICS London - Tuesday 25 May 2004 19:00
IT and e-Commerce Law. Guest speaker Simon Halberstam
of Sprecher Grier Halberstam LLP, who will discuss the
considerations and obligations of contracting over the
internet and the use of IT and e-Commerce templates
to support B2B agreements.
Forum discussion.
Contact: ashmele (John Ashmele)
York - Friday 4 June 2004 19:00
Suggestions for a suitable venue in the centre of York
near the rail station invited.
Forum discussion.
Contact: helmsman (Keith Hogben)
Edinburgh - Wednesday 9 June 2004 18:00
Bert's Bar in William Street, Edinburgh.
Forum discussion.
Contact: john_ferguson (John Ferguson)
North Kent - Monday 14 June 2004 19:30
Meet outside TGI Fridays, Bluewater Shopping Centre,
Kent (off A2)
Forum discussion.
Contact: Fat32Stone (Matt Hanchett)
Disclaimer - caveat emptor - PCG carries very limited
advertising only from known and reputable Affiliates
and complementary organisations. Even so, publication
of any advertisement carries no implicit or explicit
endorsement by PCG.
Professional Contractors Group Limited
Lakeside House, 1 Furzeground Way
Stockley Park East
Uxbridge
UB11 1BD
Telephone: +44 (0845) 125 9899
Fax: +44 (020) 8622 3200
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