| PCG PROPOSES TAILORED ISO9001 QUALITY SCHEME FOR MEMBERS
PCG is proposing to introduce of a tailored quality scheme for PCG's freelancing members. Members are invited to register their interest in being amongst the first freelancers to attain this valuable certification.
PCG has been working in close partnership with quality experts BVQI to develop the scheme, the first of its kind. Much of the administration has been simplified and automated, without removing individual responsibility.
The qualification process is likely to cost a freelance business in the region of £1,000, including the provision of training, audit and a quality management system, and will take between three and nine months to complete. On successful completion, the scheme will identify certified members as trusted consultants with professional standards for service delivery.
PCG believes that this certification will allow freelance businesses, in many cases, to bid for contracts that were previously inaccessible, including in the growing public sector, where UKAS-accredited ISO9001 is mandatory. It is also likely to give freelance businesses a distinct marketing advantage by clearly demonstrating professionalism.
"ISO9000 can prove prohibitively complex and expensive for small businesses," explains PCG director Richard Robson, "and without it even those consultants of an exceptionally high calibre are effectively barred from bidding for public sector work. Our proposed scheme will be unique, not only in its approach to the market, but also in that it will contain many interesting but valuable features, it will be delivered at less than a third of the cost of any credible alternative, and - because we have chosen to go with the UKAS standard - its worth will be uncompromised."
Earlier this month, a delegation from PCG visited the DTI to receive congratulations from the Minister for Small Business, Nigel Griffiths MP, for achieving its own ISO9001 certification, the first trade association in the UK to attain this prestigious recognition.
Freelance businesses interested in participating in PCG's innovative scheme should register their interest online. (Those who have already indicated their interest on a feedback form at one of the recent Smarter Freelancing seminars need not register their details again.)
HEARING DATE ANNOUNCED FOR ARCTIC SYSTEMS S660 TEST CASE
A date of 14 June 2004 has been set for the first hearing of a Section 660A case at the Special Commissioners of Income Tax.
The case concerns Geoff and Diana Jones of West Sussex company Arctic Systems and could have massive implications for thousands of husband and wife businesses. It is being funded by PCG, and the legal and advisory team will include Malcolm Gammie QC and Dave Smith from Accountax Consulting.
For further information, see Latest News
BUDGET 2004 COVERAGE
PCG's Budget day coverage enjoyed a circulation of nearly 200,000 - excluding the television audience for Simon Juden's appearance on BBC's Working Lunch - and resulted in a noticeable effect on a number of parameters that are measured regularly.
For example, 89 new members joined PCG in the seven day period starting on Budget day. 172 people downloaded the Guide to Freelancing, a record beaten only once before, when 340 people downloaded it during one week in February. According to PCG's website statistics, hits rocketed on Budget day and remained higher than usual for the rest of the week.
31 MARCH 2004 DEADLINE FOR 100% CAPITAL ALLOWANCES ON IT
Time is running out for owner-managers to buy IT equipment, qualifying their companies for an attractive tax break. Small businesses that invest in information
and communication technology equipment up to 31 March 2004 will be able to claim
100% first year allowances, thereby getting immediate relief on the whole cost
of their investment.
This covers expenditure on IT equipment, including any software purchased for use with hardware, all computer equipment and peripherals, cabling for use with computer networks, the creation of your business website and hi-tech communications technology such as WAP mobile phones.
If you want to take advantage of this enhanced capital allowance, you should make your purchases before 31 March 2004, as it was announced in the Budget that the allowance would be reduced to 50%. Any business with a turnover of less than �5.6m, and with fewer than 50 employees, qualifies for the tax break.
PCG ELECTIONS 2004
PCG's annual elections for the Consultative Council (CC) will be conducted via a dedicated area of the website between 19 April and 3 May 2004. Candidates must put themselves forward for nomination by 12:00 on 26 April 2004, and will need to be seconded by ten other members in order to go forward to the voting stage. All full members are eligible to vote. For further information, see http://www.pcg.org.uk/InternalNews/Elections.html
OPTING OUT OF AGENCY REGULATIONS
PCG members wishing to opt-out of the Regulations might like to use the form of words suggested by law firm Bond Pearce
HERTFORDSHIRE FIRM BAKER WATKIN JOINS AS AFFILIATE MEMBER
Stevenage-based Baker Watkin, a firm of chartered accountants and business advisers, has recently joined PCG as an Affiliate member.
Baker Watkin offers all the accounting and taxation services required by freelancers, such as IR35, dividend policy, statutory and company secretarial matters, maintaining books and records, VAT, payroll services, corporation tax planning, company car versus car mileage claims, personal tax planning and tax return completion. Baker Watkin can also offer a range of specialist skills in house, such as advice about rental property, and minimising capital gains or inheritance tax.
PCG members may take advantage of a free one hour consultation, without any commitment, to discuss their requirements. They may also request any of the 80 free help sheets that Baker Watkins offers, covering a wide range of business and taxation matters.
On Wednesday 28 April, Baker Watkin will be hosting a mini-seminar for freelancers at its offices in Stevenage. For further details and to register, see the RLM section below.
TOP PICK OF COMMERCIAL FORUM PROJECT POSTINGS
Data warehousing Cognos expert - Dartford
Data warehousing expert with good experience of using Cognos tools running on an MS-SQL database required. Definitely no agents please. For further details, see the
Commercial forum posting
TV systems engineers - Europe
Systems designers required for consumer electronics company. Definitely no agents please. For further details, see the
Commercial forum posting
UNIX expert - Sunbury
UNIX expert, preferably HP-UX, for three month support and pre-sales contract. Definitely no agents please. For further details, see the
Commercial forum posting
REAL LIFE MEETINGS
Kent
Suggested meeting, probably towards back end of March.
Forum
discussion.
Contact: Fat32Stone (Matt H)
Nottingham - Wednesday 31 March 2004
Suggested meeting at the Admiral Rodney.
Forum discussion
Edinburgh - Wednesday 7 April 2000 18:00
Bert's Bar (Snug) on William Street. Non-members welcome.
Forum
discussion.
Contact: john_ferguson (John Ferguson)
Thames Valley/Maidenhead - Wednesday 7 April 2004 20:00
The Greyhound pub, Queen Street, SL6 1HT. Simon Juden will be presenting the PCG Budget briefing at 20:30, so please arrive promptly. Forum discussion.
Chester/Manchester - Thursday 22 April 2004
Chester Business Park. Forum
discussion.
Contact: jat (John Thomas)
Stevenage, Hertfordshire - Wednesday 28 April 2004 18:30
Mini-seminar for freelancers. Marketing yourself and learning to network for better business. Top 10 tax tips for freelance consultants. Non-members also welcome. Drinks afterwards at the Chequers, Bragbury End.
Forum
discussion.
Registration.
Contact: Contact: howardsgate (Lindsay Baugh)
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.
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