PCG has welcomed a move by Labour MEP Peter Skinner to discover the true number of freelancers across the EU. Following a recent visit to Brussels by PCG's policy team, Mr Skinner has formally asked the European Commission whether it knew how many freelancers there were throughout the EU. He suggested that if this information were not available, the Commission should consider commissioning a survey.

PCG chairman Simon Griffiths said, "We believe that there are around one million freelancers in the UK, generating wealth and employment, and we know that there is a growing trend towards freelancing and flexible working throughout Europe. The freelance community is a growing body of people that needs to have a voice and as the largest organisation in the UK representing freelancers, PCG is pleased to be at the forefront in campaigning on issues that matter to freelancers. We are pleased that Peter Skinner has been able to raise this issue in Brussels and we welcome the prospect of proper research being commissioned".

PCG participated in a pan-European workshop on Freelancing in IT last year, hosted by the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS), which revealed that the UK was the only participating country that could identify its freelance labour force and that with over 200,000 IT freelancers it had the largest IT-related flexible workforce in Europe.

Three weeks ago PCG announced the ISO9001 proposed scheme; two weeks ago it looked at which members' companies would benefit and last week's newsletter assessed the way in which the scheme would be viewed by agents and clients.

PCG has been extremely encouraged by the response from members to the survey and will be sending out scheme details with application forms shortly. Those who have registered an interest will be given an opportunity to be the first through the scheme and will be accorded 'Founder' status.

The Founder package has yet to be finalised, but it has been agreed that only a limited number of companies will be able to participate at this level. Founder status will not only offer significant financial benefits however, but will also afford the chance of a front seat as PCG launches a revolutionary approach to ISO9001. This scheme has been tailored specifically for the freelance consultant community and has already attracted the attention of established quality assurance experts who are enthusiastic about the potential to change the entire consultancy landscape.

The scheme is being promoted initially to current PCG members only, but PCG will be raising awareness of it in the wider freelance community in the near future.

If you are thinking about registering, but have not done so, then please register here. Registering does not commit you to applying for the scheme, but does reserve your place during the scheme start-up period.

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

http://www.pcg.org.uk/members/elections/2004/

As part of its ongoing quest to expand and enhance its portfolio of member services, PCG would like to hear from any of its members who offer training courses or who have published books and manuals that may be of interest to other members. Please send full details, including pricing, to Mandie Bell at [email protected].

The Institute of Interim Management and PricewaterhouseCoopers will be hosting a seminar entitled "Courage to be Heard" at 18:30 on Thursday 29 April 2004 at Newcastle United Football Club.

Keynote speakers will address the challenges facing professional advisers and interim managers today, including the duty to protect clients and generate profit, whilst also identifying potential tax evasion or money laundering signals, spotting warning signs of business decline, and deploying the appropriate tools to support recovery.

Supported by practical case studies, these issues and others will be addressed by a panel of experts, who will cover the role of advisers in protecting clients, including the pitfalls and practical steps to take, in light of the new Money Laundering legislation, The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Money Laundering Regulations 2003 effective March 2004. For further information, see http://www.ioim.org.uk/events/eventdetails.asp?eventid=25.

Interim management firm Russam GMS is offering places at the "Six Degrees of Separation" networking masterclass run by Management Advantage at a special subsidised price.

The course will be running on 19 May in London and on 22 June in Manchester, and is designed to offer practical coaching in a workshop environment. For further information see http://www.russam-gms.co.uk/executiveintro.cfm.

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

Application Packaging - Maidenhead
Self-Starter, strong MSI (Pref Wise) with excellent self-repair skills. future work could follow. http://www.pcg.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=Commercial-19354&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5

Kobra rollout opportunity
2 x desktop engineers required to carry out Kobra rollout in London bank. http://www.pcg.org.uk/threads/showpost.pl?f=Commercial-19322&p;=0&v;=c&s;=5

Gloucester/Wiltshire - Wednesday 21 April 2004 20:00
Golden Heart, Nettleton, Gloucestershire. Regulars have been informed by email.
Forum discussion.
Contact: Contact: haigh (Susie Haigh)

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: mandie (Mandie Bell)

Edinburgh - Tuesday 4 May
Bert's Bar, William Street.
Forum discussion.
Contact: john_ferguson (John Ferguson)

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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