PCG newsletter 20/02: July 25, 2002: PCG's Invitation to Tender

In this issue:

• ITT - Business Process Practitioner for PCG
  
• PCG's Letter to Dawn Primarolo
  
• Innovations in Microprocessing Report
  
• PCG Interview in the Guardian
  
• PCG Interview on New Oil & Gas Tax
  
• PCG AGM & Conference 2002
  
• Real Life Meetings

1. ITT - Business Process Practitioner for the PCG

The Professional Contractors Group is offering experienced Business Process Practitioners, the opportunity to design and deliver key essential business processes necessary to support one of the fastest growing entrepreneurial trade associations in Britain today.

The Board of the PCG has reviewed the strategic direction and the present and future requirements of the PCG. Part of the recommendations of this strategic review is that internal business practices and procedures should be strengthened to support future aspirations.

Submissions are invited from applicants who have gained the necessary experience whilst operating at a Senior Management level in a corporate or Trade Association environment. BPR experience gained through operational experience is mandatory. To deliver this assignment effectively and within extremely tight cost and time constraints, applicants should be able to hit the ground running.

Details about the requirements and timetable are available here:
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/BPRITT-020720_v3.pdf

2. PCG's Letter to Dawn Primarolo

The Paymaster General, Dawn Primarolo, recently told the House of Commons that '…the Professional Contractors Group, the lobby and professional group which has worked with the Government for the past few years-has been totally silent...' She added that '…it (the PCG) has been totally silent on every issue over the last 12 months.'

As PCG members are fully aware, the PCG has been far from silent over the last year. The Group was quick to point out to the Paymaster General that she has been misinformed if she thinks that is the case.

Read the PCG's response in full at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/dawn_let160702.pdf

3. Innovations in Microprocessing Report

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has thanked the PCG for contributing to its enquiry on innovations in microprocessing.

The PCG's report is based on first hand experience from people working on the ground in this industry, rather than being purely academic. It explains that one of the PCG's greatest concerns is that engineering is too often perceived as being the domain of just the large manufacturers or consulting companies, whereas in fact independent consultants have a significant presence and form the true dynamo of the UK's knowledge economy.

You can read the PCG's submission to the House of Lords in full at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/resources/hold-micro-submitted.pdf

4. PCG Interview in the Guardian

The Guardian newspaper has published an interview with PCG's Director of PR, Richard Robson on the state of the current IT contracting market in the UK.

In an article outlining the difficulties faced by the independent contractor, Richard highlights the PCG's opposition to IR35 and the Fast Track Visa scheme. He stresses that contractors are not looking for hand-outs, just a level playing field.

Click on
http://money.guardian.co.uk/work/story/0,1456,754313,00.html
to read the full article.

5. PCG Interview on New Oil & Gas Tax

The PCG has featured in the Press and Journal (the largest UK regional newspaper, covering the northern half of Scotland) in an article slamming the Government's decision to impose an extra 10% tax on the profits of North Sea oil and gas production companies.

The PCG stated that the major firms would be forced to cut costs and would look elsewhere to invest. This would in turn endanger the livelihoods of many hundreds of small entrepreneurs who provide services to the industry.

Read the article in full at
http://www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=62692&command=displayContent&sourceNode=62244&contentPK=2154727

6. PCG AGM & Conference

The PCG Annual General Meeting and Conference has been booked for the weekend of 26th October, 2002. The venue is the Wokefield Park Conference Centre, Mortimer, Reading (their website is at www.initialstyle.co.uk/wokefield_park.html ).

Further details will be released soon.

REGIONAL NEWS
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Real Life Meetings

PCG members hold local meetings to socialise, to network and to discuss PCG issues. These meetings are open to everybody, and new members are welcome to come along.

CLC – London
**********
The 'Central London Chapter' of the PCG is holding a summer 'thirst quencher' get-together on July 30, 2002 at the Cheshire Cheese (aka the War Room during the judicial review), Little Essex Street, nr the Aldwych, London WC2 from 6pm. Items on the 'agenda' will include the main CLC summer get-together which is scheduled from August 20. All welcome.

Details of this and other Real Life Meetings in the forum:
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f=meet

To promote your local meeting through the newsletter - email [email protected] with REGIONS in the subject matter, details of the event and a name and email contact point/or phone number for further information.

Issued on behalf of:
Professional Contractors Group

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