15th January, 2001 - Portal goes Public

2001 promises to be a busy year for PCG - this newsletter contains information concerning PCG development and organisation, as well as recent press and lobbying successes. Please read it carefully:

Portal goes Public
The new Portal release is now available to members, Associates, and the general public. The Portal is PCG's business to business contract matching service for independent consultants, contracting companies, clients and agents.

Members and Associates can find the Portal from the PCG homepage or directly;

Portal Entry

Use your current PCG username and password for access.

Clients and other public users should register for Portal access at

https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/portalpub/

They will receive an email confirming your userid and password giving you Portal access.

Using the Portal is free - there is no charge for member or client (public) use.

Use the Quickstart Guide for information on getting started with the Portal. Once you have registered, it is available using the link on the Portal homepage to 'Quickstart'

As a PCG member you need to do 2 things:

• First make sure you have registered a Portal Profile, so that your skills can be matched to the searches. Detailed information and advice on how to do this is linked from the Portal homepage. Already we have clients searching the Portal (Business Analysts in Northampton, make sure you are registered!)

  Please note, your details are only visible if you set them as 'available' and your contact details are not released to any third parties.

• Secondly you can help ensure that the Portal gets off to a flying start by making sure clients are alerted to the existence of the Portal. At a minimum send your client contacts the link above and advise it gives free and easy to PCG members - the cream of the contracting community. Better still, help them register and access the thousands of PCG members on the site. Our Portal brochure for clients can be found;

  Here - Please contact the PCG office if you would like copies.

Simon Griffiths, PCG Director & Portal Committee Chairman, said "It is my hope that the Portal will become one the best places to find knowledge contractors in the UK, but this will only happen with help from members - help us to help you and let clients know about the fast, free access to an unrivalled database of 'can do' PCG members."

PCG grabs Spectator front page
PCG member Andrew Duncan scored a success with a hard-hitting cover story "Why I no longer love Tony" in the Spectator magazine. His personal story echoes the sentiments of many contractors who have experienced the problems and uncertainty of trying to operate a small business in an IR35 climate.

Here

JR Fund contributions
Many thanks if you contributed to the Legal Challenge fund recently. With just two months to go before the hearing an 'investment contribution' to the Fund now will be used to in the fight to have IR35 abolished - in advance of a large tax bill in April. To make a donation (by credit card or cheque)

Here

PCG's stand against FI Group's bounty
PCG's stand against FI Group's '�1,000 to shop-a-contractor' scheme bore fruit recently when the large computer group was forced into a climb-down and withdrew its scheme. Details of PCG's successful campaign on behalf of contractors is in the press notices.

Here

PCG Shop
PCG T-shirts and badges are now available. Further details see the notice board:

Forum Link (having problems?? have you read this...)

CC Elections
Further details on the Consultative Council elections, which start 29th January will be included in the next newsletter. Information already available at:

Here

Debating the future of your organisation
If you want to contribute to the debate on how PCG might grow and better represent contractor's interests, then follow this debate in the General forum

Forum Link (having problems?? have you read this...)

Renewing your membership
Please ensure we have a valid email and postal address if you are likely to renew in the coming months - we will contact you in plenty of time. You can update your record by using the link on the homepage:

Here

Discount PMI scheme
One PCG member reports having saved some 60% on his previous Private Medical Insurance by switching to the PCG scheme run by Medibroker Online. This is one of the many benefits PCG can offer members.

Here

Susie Hughes (Head of Executive Services)

This newsletter is published by the Professional Contractors Group. Some links in the newsletter will take you into the password-protected members' area of the PCG website. If you have forgotten your password, contact password access. To view the Forum links in this newsletter, you must be first logged into the Forum. Further details available here.