PCG APPROVED CONTRACT SCHEME LAUNCHED

PCG's Approved Contract scheme is being launched today for the benefit of PCG members, participating agencies and the wider freelance consulting and contracting community. The aim is to facilitate the availability of standard, commercially sound, business-to-business contracts suitable for freelance businesses operating outside IR35. PCG approval of a standard agency contract will indicate that PCG believes that it represents an acceptable model contract, where it is used in its original form. It must also reflect the real contractual relationship between the parties and must not be contradicted by other factors. As well as being reviewed by leading status experts from an IR35 perspective, an approved contract also undergoes a basic commercial terms review.

Any PCG member engaged under a valid PCG "Contract Approved" contract may request a free individual review if they have negotiated minor amendments of their own, or if they have a complex schedule attached. Following this, they may purchase an unconditional IR35 Guarantee from Accountax at a substantial discount.

Affiliate member agencies participating in the Approved Contract scheme will benefit in a number of ways:

• Freelance contractors and consultants prefer to work with those agencies that recognise the implications of IR35.
• Having a standard contract that is IR35 resistant will save the time and expense of individual reviews and provide peace of mind to their consultants.
• PCG endorsement will be seen as a positive attribute throughout the freelance community.

The first three agencies who have signed up for the scheme and passed PCG's stringent tests are:

• SQ Computer Personnel
• Wreay International
• Aston Carter

PCG Special Projects Director, Richard Robson, said, "If your own agency is not on this list, please recommend that they get in touch with PCG about joining the scheme. Having a standard contract that is outside IR35 will save them time and money, and freelance contractors and consultants prefer to work with those agencies that recognise the implications of IR35."

BARCLAYS BACKS PCG'S ISO9001 INITIATIVE

PCG's ISO9001:2000 scheme for members received a welcome vote of confidence this week as Barclays Bank agreed a special loan package for PCG members wishing to spread their initial investment over 12 months. The deal will feature a low (8% per annum) fixed rate of interest and a single point of contact for the application. Although the usual mandatory credit checks will still be conducted against your company before a loan is granted, the requirement itself is pre-approved and you will simply need to supply evidence that you have registered for the scheme in justification.

ISO9001:2000 scheme fees for the first year are £1,300 but you may borrow up to £2,000 for participation, should you wish to defray other overheads that you might incur in achieving certification. PCG will amend the registration process, which currently requires a 50% booking deposit, to suit the new financing arrangements. The website will be updated as soon as PCG has finalised the details. Loans will be available retrospectively to those who have already registered.

Richard Robson welcomed the news, saying, "Members requested a finance facility for the scheme and Barclays have obliged. Furthermore, they have ringfenced £2 million for this initiative, which is a ringing endorsement by any standard!"

Simon Juden said, "This deal demonstrates the very real credibility currently attained by PCG, its members and this scheme. We are actively negotiating other general business banking deals on behalf of our members."

SMALL BUSINESSES ATTACK HOME INSPECTIONS PLAN

Small businesses and freelancers have expressed grave concern about plans to allow government inspectors powers of entry into company directors' homes without a search warrant.

The Company Law Bill would allow DTI officials access to the homes of limited company directors if they "think" a visit will aid their investigation. Instead of a warrant, inspectors will be able to rely on a signature from Patricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary. Inspectors will be allowed to stay as long as they like in someone's home to secure material relating to self-employment or employment.

PCG will be writing to Patricia Hewitt to express its concerns about the proposed measure.

PCG AT TOP CONSULTING SEMINAR AND CNF MEETING

Becoming a Truly Successful Freelance Consultant is the title of a seminar being hosted by Top Consultant in central London on Friday 5 November 2004. According to director Tony Restell, it aims to provide essential insights for any consultant aspiring to become one of the elite freelancers able to consistently charge clients a thousand pounds a day or more for their expertise. At the invitation of Top Consultant, Simon Juden will be one of five presenters at the event.

Simon has also been invited to talk about "Being a Freelancer" at a meeting of the Consultants Network Forum (CNF) on Thursday 4 November. The CNF is a club for people who have chosen to become freelance consultants or interim managers, many of whom are interested in learning more about their legal obligations, tax issues and business-related insurance.

ACCOUNTANCY AGE AWARDS

PCG chairman Simon Juden has been nominated for the Accountancy Age Personality of the Year award. One of just six on the 2004 shortlist, Simon is the only finalist representing the freelance community. Visitors are invited to register their votes via the website, and one lucky voter will win a magnum of champagne.

PCG Affiliate members SJD Accountancy and Berg Kaprow Lewis have also been nominated for Practice Awards, in the small firm and medium firm categories respectively.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Accountancy Age Awards, which will be presented at a ceremony in London on Wednesday 10 November 2004.

PCG's administration team will be moving offices during the last weekend of October. From 1 November 2004 the address and contact details will be:

Professional Contractors Group Ltd
Sovereign Court
635 Sipson Road
West Drayton
UB7 0JE

Tel: 0845 125 9899
Fax: 0845 644 4105

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 postings include:

Contract converting spreadsheet

Three RF contractors- Romsey, Hampshire

Oracle Warehouse Builder contract - Central London

REAL LIFE MEETINGS

Local real life meetings - known on the forums as "RLMs" - encourage members to socialise, network and discuss PCG issues. These meetings are open to all members, and in many cases non-members are welcome to come along too.

Edinburgh - Jolly Judge, just off the Royal Mile, James Court, Edinburgh - Tuesday 9 November 2004

Sheffield: - Old Queen's Head opposite main railway station, Sheffield - Wednesday 1 December 2004 19:30

Various members have also posted in the RLM forum about potential meetings in:
Basel, Bristol, Norwich, Shropshire, Swindon and Winchester or Southampton. If you would like to attend RLMs in any of these areas, please register your interest by posting to the relevant thread.

OTHER EVENTS

BEX - Business Enterprise Xchange - Manchester 17 and 18 November 2004
The BEX Exhibition and Conference is the ideal chance to network with owners, managers, and directors of North West businesses. BEX is a free two-day exhibition and conference, showcasing the best ideas and practices for SMEs and growing businesses. There are over 80 exhibitors and 35 speakers at BEX 2004, and places are going fast. To be assured of a place, please register on the website

If you have any queries, please contact Out There Events on 0161 244 5825 or email [email protected]

AICS AGM and Conference - London, Saturday 27 November 2004
The Association of Independent Computer Specialists (AICS) will be holding its AGM and Conference at The East India Club, St. James', London on Saturday 27 November. The conference should be of particular interest to both ICT and non-ICT people.

Accountax Construction Industry Seminars - October and November 2004
PCG Affiliate member Accountax Consulting is running a series of practical two-and-a-half-hour seminars for construction industry contractors.They will cover the latest Revenue attack on tax status, how to defend self-employed status, your rights and obligations when challenged, how to guarantee that your subcontractors are self-employed, holiday pay issues and problems with CIS certificates and how to appeal refusals. For full details of dates, venues and fees, and to book your place, visit the Accountax website.

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.

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

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