SURVEY INDICATES IMPROVED MARKET CONDITIONS

PCG's latest and most comprehensive membership survey confirms the uplift in the contractor market. Eighty one per cent of respondents indicated that they were in contract, compared to seventy-seven per cent of those who participated in PCG's June 2003 survey. Just eleven per cent of respondents procured all of their work through agencies.

Taxation and changes in legislation were the issues that concerned respondents most, followed by the problems associated with finding new business, the economic environment, updating their skills and marketing their businesses. In terms of specific concerns, IR35 and Section 660A topped the league.

More than 85 per cent of respondents said that they would turn to accountants first for business advice - way ahead of banks and business advisers. Fellow contractors and PCG were also rated highly as sources of business advice. This is borne out by the fact that through its Affiliate membership scheme, over 50 accounting firms have access to PCG's expert advice, support and information about specific tax, employment status and case law matters.

PCG's role is clearly appreciated by several hundred survey respondents who took the time to record their approval. "PCG must be congratulated for making the minefield of IR35 about as understandable as is possible", wrote one member, and "I appreciate the hard work you do on IR35 and S660A" was the comment from another. A third respondent summed up PCG thus: "Does exactly what a cooperative should do. Excellent people, good information and worth every penny."

"We are pleased to know that PCG is responding to the concerns identified by its members, and is valued highly both as an information resource and for the tangible results it is achieving for UK's freelancers," said PCG chairman Simon Juden. "This is a tribute to the enormous amount of hard work carried out - often behind the scenes - by PCG's directors and specialist teams on behalf of Britain's freelance community. We believe that freelance consultants have an important role to play and make a valuable contribution to the UK economy, and that they should be taxed fairly and in a transparent and easily administered fashion."

PCG AT DHL JOB FAIR

PCG will be exhibiting at the DHL Job Fair being held near Heathrow on Friday 10 September.

DHL recently announced its decision to move its remaining Global Information Systems functions to Prague. It has set up a Resource Centre to provide an outplacement service for affected employees to help them find work outside DHL. Around 450 professionals in IT, finance, communications and support will have access to the facilities, including the Job Fair.

PCG has been invited to run two workshop sessions at the Job Fair designed for anyone considering freelance contracting or consulting. The presentations will include practical guidance in terms of starting up, finding projects and retaining business opportunities.

OVER 5,000 DOWNLOADS OF GUIDE TO FREELANCING

In the first eight months of 2004, over 5,000 copies of PCG's Guide to Freelancing were downloaded from the website by non-members. This peaked in the last two weeks of May, when the latest version was published, and some one and a half thousand copies were downloaded.

Simon Juden said, "The PCG Guide to Freelancing is widely acknowledged as the definitive source of information to new and established freelancers and small business owners, and offers a wealth of helpful advice about running and nurturing a successful business. With a growing number of people looking for alternative ways of working outside the corporate umbrella, and few of them knowing where to go for information and advice, PCG clearly has an important role to play."

The publication is available free of charge to members and non-members alike at PCG's home page. The latest version 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% non corporate distribution rate 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

WORKING WITH CLIENTS

PCG's ongoing programme of co-hosted events is proving both popular and successful. Most of them have been organised in association with Affiliate members and other partners, and a few have taken place at client sites.

If you work with a significant number of freelance consultants at a client site, and believe that an evening seminar might be of interest, please get in touch with Mandie Bell on (0845) 125 98 99 or by email at [email protected]. The seminar team can deliver presentations on a range of topics that are of interest to freelance consultants, and to HR and procurement departments, including IR35, S660A, contracts and the new Agency Regulations.

PCG has published a brochure called "Freelancers - your flexible workforce", designed to promote the benefits of using freelancers. If you would like copies of this brochure to be sent to your client, please contact Mandie.

PCG TEAMS UP WITH PENDRAGON FOR BYTE NIGHT 2004

On Friday 17 September 2004, Maxine Preston-Allen, managing director of PCG Affiliate member Pendragon, CC member Andrew Banks and PCG director Richard Robson will be braving the elements to join other hardy souls sleeping rough for the night to raise money for NCH, the children's charity. Last year, over 160 senior IT executives took part in Byte Night, and the event has so far raised over a million pounds for NCH's work with young homeless people and care leavers.

NCH helps children and young people facing difficulties or challenges in their lives, and it works with more children and young people, including those affected by poverty, disability and abuse, than any other UK charity.

Byte Night will take place at Potters Field, adjacent to City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA. Actress Jenny Agutter, of The Railway Children fame, has supported Byte Night since its first year and will join the sleepers in London.

This will be the second time that PCG has participated in the event. Richard said, "Byte Night is a fantastic way of raising money for a worthwhile cause, and the three of us are keen that our efforts should not shamed in such company; we would greatly appreciate your support."

You can make a donation or a pledge at https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/pendragon.

ROUTE35 REMINDER

Route35 is an optional insurance product designed to complement the Professional Expenses Insurance (PEI) included within the annual fee for full members. It covers the initial visit by an inspector and ensures that you have the best representation at no cost to you or your company.

For full details, see the website and FAQ.

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:

SAP consultant contract opportunities - the Netherlands

Small company PC support and advice - Skipton

Graduate (-level) salesperson - Sunbury-on-Thames

REAL LIFE MEETINGS

North Kent - Monday 20 September 2004 19:30

West Midlands - Wednesday 6 October 2004 20:00

Various members have also posted in the RLM forum about potential meetings in Basel, Warrington, Sheffield, Norwich, Edinburgh, Shropshire and South Wales. If you would like to attend RLMs in any of these areas, please register your interest by posting to the relevant thread.

OTHER EVENTS

AICS, London - Thursday 30 September 2004 18:45

Guest speaker Scott Childes of Royal Mail will talk about address data management, explaining the finer points of addresses and postcodes and talking about some of the address data products available from the Royal Mail to developers of IS/IT systems.

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