Route35
IR35 Protection

Renew your
membership
Had a reminder?

Edit your details

Get a VAT
receipt

Tax investigation
insurance
certificate

Join the PCG


PCG Newsletter 14/04 - 14 April 2004

IN THIS ISSUE

  • Reducing the risks with ISO9001
  • PCG elections 2004
  • Bill Hood Fund
  • Membership fees
  • New Affiliate Inter-Alliance offers discounted healthcare
  • Top pick of Commercial forum project postings
  • Real life meetings

REDUCING THE RISKS WITH ISO9001 - THE CLIENT'S AND AGENT'S PERSPECTIVE

PCG is proposing to introduce a tailored ISO9001 quality scheme for freelance members, and last week's newsletter examined how the scheme would be customised specifically for microbusinesses supplying time, skills and experience to their clients.

From a client's or agent's perspective, PCG believes that its quality scheme will offer the following benefits:

  • The freelancer's CV will be audited at the end of every year for consistency in the Quality Management System (QMS), so that the client can be confident that experience and credentials listed have been verified.
  • The client will be given a quality commitment document that includes the scheme's code of ethics and the means of lodging a complaint. The freelancer will have to address any complaints satisfactorily or risk losing his certificate.
  • A three monthly review will be required between the client and the freelancer to monitor progress. It will be signed by both parties and audited annually.
  • The scheme will reduce the client's exposure to the risks of hiring unprofessional freelancers.

Freelancers certified under PCG's ISO9001 scheme are likely to be more highly sought after by clients and agents, and may even be able to command a premium in rates for their certified status.

If you want to be one of the first on the scheme, please register your interest at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=16389432263.

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

If you want to know why you should consider standing for the PCG Consultative Council, join in the discussion on these threads:
http://www.pcg.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=general-104300

http://www.pcg.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=general-103903

BILL HOOD FUND

PCG would like to extend its thanks to several well-wishers who have kindly posted cheques for the Bill Hood Fund, in response to last week's invitation to members and non-members alike.

If you would like to make a donation to the Bill Hood Fund, please send your cheque, made payable to Professional Contractors Group, to the Stockley Park address at the foot of this message. Please indicate whether you would like your donation to be refunded in the event of Bill Hood winning his appeal. By default, surplus donations will be placed in PCG's legal fund for the benefit of members.

MEMBERSHIP FEES

Members are reminded that VAT is applicable to membership fees, so please be sure to include this in your cheque or standing order payments. With VAT, the annual fees are as follows:

  • £141.00 (£120 plus VAT) for single membership
  • £211.50 (£180 plus VAT) for companies with more than one fee earner.
NEW AFFILIATE INTER-ALLIANCE OFFERS DISCOUNTED HEALTHCARE

The Paul Banks Practice at Inter-Alliance has recently joined PCG as an Affiliate member. As a firm of independent financial advisers, it aims to provide valuable and quality financial solutions and is offering PCG members free financial reviews and 10% discount on Standard Life Healthcare's Primecare range of policies.

For further information, contact Peter Ellis on (0115) 900 7919 or email him at [email protected].

TOP PICK OF COMMERCIAL FORUM PROJECT POSTINGS

Selected postings from the Commercial forum are included in the weekly newsletter, subject to prior approval from the person posting. They must relate to job, project or work opportunities, rather than to goods and services for sale, and are summarised to just one or two lines, with a link to the relevant thread. If you wish your posting to be considered, please include the words "Newsletter OK", by way of giving consent for it to be published, or send a private message to howardsgate.

CRM Training - East Anglia
One or more trainers required for CRM venture. For further details, see the Commercial forum posting

REAL LIFE MEETINGS

Aberdeen - Wednesday 14 April 2004 18:30
Inn at the Park, Polmuir Road, Aberdeen. Formal agenda including Budget implications, IR35 Payback scheme, Bill Hood case and CC elections.
Forum discussion.
Contact: Contact: AZ (Ajmal Zia)

Chester/Manchester - Thursday 22 April 2004
Chester Business Park. Forum discussion.
Contact: jat  (John Thomas)

Farnborough - Monday 26 April 2004 19:00
Prince of Wales, Farnborough.
Forum discussion.
Contact: wasADB (Andrew Banks)

Dorset - Monday 26 April 2004
Proposed meeting, provisionally in Poole.
Forum discussion.
Contact: amcdonald (Andrew McDonald)

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: howardsgate (Lindsay Baugh)

Bristol
Suggested meeting
Forum discussion.
Contact: colinbutcher (Colin Butcher)

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

Privacy statement

To unsubscribe, send an email to [email protected]

 

 



                                   © PCG Limited 2004