PCG had spent two years campaigning for an opt-out clause to allow limited company contractors, who are often highly paid and highly skilled, to opt out of being covered by the regulations, whilst preventing vulnerable workers being forced to do so.

QAIC SEMINAR IN LONDON - THURSDAY 22 JULY 2004

PCG is holding free seminars about its new QAIC IS09001:2000 scheme for freelance consultants, the first of which is being held this Thursday 22 July at the Cheshire Cheese, 5 Little Essex Street, London WC2R 3LD (which some may remember as a PCG meeting place during the judicial review). Please register online if you would like to attend.

The team would also like to hold a second seminar in Aberdeen, but before finalising the date, needs to have an idea of the number of people who are likely to attend. Please indicate your interest and preferences online.

If you have other pressing questions, why not ask them in the dedicated discussion forum

QAIC has been designed with the potential to transform not only your business prospects but also the environment in which the PCG freelance community operates. You can help make this happen by being part of it.

FIRST IR35 PAYBACK SCHEME PAYOUT

PCG Affiliate member and partner in the IR35 Payback scheme, Accountax Consulting, has confirmed that a cheque for £1,000 has been sent to the first successful IR35 Payback applicant.

An Accountax spokesman said, "We know that some members are keen to hear feedback about the scheme. It does take a while to assemble all the necessary information, with a lot of input from the applicant's accountants, but the first application has now been accepted, and there are more in the pipeline."

NEW CORPORATE TELEPHONE PREFERENCE SERVICE (CTPS)

The Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS) has been set up following the publication by DTI of the new Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) (Amendment) Regulations 2004. The new Regulations came into force on 25 June 2004 and amend the existing Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

The new regulations mean that you may register your company with the CTPS service to prevent unsolicited telephone calls, but more importantly, that you should check your lists with the service before you embark upon telephone sales campaigns. The penalties are severe - from heavy fines to imprisonment of company directors.

Note that it is your responsibility, and not that of any telesales house you may use, to ensure that companies you call have not registered with the CTPS.

SEMINARS IN EGHAM AND STEVENAGE

Following the success of previous such events, PCG is working with several Affiliate members and other partners to continue its planned programme of co-hosted seminars for freelancers around the regions. The next two events will be at:

* Egham, Wednesday 28 July 2004 18:30 - register online
* Stevenage, Tuesday 3 August 2004 18:30 - register online

CFI MEETING IN MANCHESTER

The next meeting of the Collaborative Freelancing Initiative (CFI) will take place in Manchester on Saturday 18 September 2004. Details are available online.

COMMERCIAL FORUM PROJECT POSTINGS

For information about the latest job, project, contract and work opportunities, see PCG's Commercial forum , and Members' Commercial forum. The Commercial forum may be accessed by Affiliate members, and PCG welcomes postings by agencies.

This week's opportunities from the Commercial forums include:

IT support role (permanent) - PCG, Uxbridge

Excel/VBA/.NET contract - City of London

REAL LIFE MEETINGS

Gloucestershire/Wiltshire - Wednesday 21 July 2004

Farnborough - Monday 26 July 2004 19:00

North West - Thursday 29 July 2004 19:30

Central London - Wednesday 4 August 2004 18:00

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
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Stockley Park East
Uxbridge
UB11 1BD

Telephone: +44 (0845) 125 9899
Fax: +44 (020) 8622 3200