PCG newsletter 22/02: August 9, 2002:
PCG Directors' Report
In this issue:
- PCG Board of Directors Quarterly Report
- Real Life Meetings
1. PCG Board of Directors Quarterly Report
(August 2002)
Your current Board of Directors is now 3 months into its
term and, as part of our drive to improve the level of communication
and knowledge dissemination, we intend to publish regular
brief quarterly reports to members highlighting what has
been achieved or is underway and indicating our short term
plans.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure required to support a trade association-style
organisation, committed to concurrently addressing multiple
issues on behalf of a member population in excess of 12,000
members, is substantially different to that of a single
issue pressure group with just 2,000 members. In its brief
history, PCG has evolved dramatically and the original loose
processes are not sufficiently robust to support an organisation
that aspires to even further substantial membership growth.
The 2001/2002 BoD recognised this problem and increased
the number of Directors in order to keep pace with the increasing
workload and allow the opportunity to address remodelling
of our infrastructure without severely impacting upon progress
with the issues on our agenda. In addition, we have appointed
a Commercial Manager (Pamela Edwards) who will advise the
BoD and help deliver a more effective infrastructure.
An open ITT has been issued inviting Business Process Analysts
to bid for an assignment aimed at reviewing and improving
our most critical administrative functions. The 7 quality
respondents have been whittled down to a shortlist of 3
and the contract is expected to be awarded shortly.
Consultative Council
The relationship between your 2001/2002 Board of Directors
and Consultative Council was not wholly harmonious and,
without dwelling on the past, a discordant element succeeded
in becoming an unwelcome distraction. Such is not the case
with the current BoD and CC, who enjoy a mutually supportive
and co-operative working partnership. We are especially
fortunate to have a CC comprising quality individuals who
are committed to working with each other and for the PCG.
Several CC members have already made important contributions
to the development of our plans and we aim to involve all
CC members as those plans are refined into identifiable
actions.
Strategy
One of the first tasks addressed by your Board was
the formulation of a strategy roadmap to take us into 2003.
In truth, this is more a statement of intent rather than
a strategy document and your Board has had several follow-up
meetings to the original May Away Day´ in order
to translate elements of the roadmap into actionable items.
Marketing
Your Board is very well aware that the PCG message´
has been inadequately promoted to contractors outside the
PCG and, for that matter, to PCG members as well. Historically,
the PCG has focused on Press management (very effectively,
thanks to Susie Hughes) and not made any concerted attempt
to market its aims and achievements or membership benefits.
To improve our chances of conducting our campaigns successfully,
we need a stronger voice from a combination of key relevant
alliances and a substantial growth in membership numbers.
We also need additional members to boost our financial resources
and so extend the range and scope of the activities that
we want to tackle. It follows, therefore, that we need to
raise the profile of the PCG with complementary organisations
and potential recruits alike.
Your Board is currently formulating a Marketing Plan which
we hope to be able to publish before the end of August.
Measures for improving internal communication will form
an integral part of the Marketing Plan and a number of areas
are under consideration, including a revamped website, redesigned
newsletter and the introduction of bulletins such as this
one.
In the meantime, Contracting Matters (issue 2) will be
hitting members´ doormats within the week and a second
tranche of circa 80,000 copies will be distributed via a
variety of channels. Your help in passing CM2 to potential
recruits would be very welcome. The publication date for
CM2 was scheduled to coincide with the availability of Route35
(see next item).
Route35
This product has been launched via Contracting Matters
(issue 2) and represents a significant step forward in offering
members peace of mind opposite IR35. It was conceived and
honed by members via the website fora, illustrating the
awesome power of our internet community in terms of developing
an idea into a product for the benefit of all PCG members.
As you might imagine, during this past 3 months, the BoD
has been primarily focusing on delivery of this product.
Our thanks go to everyone who made a contribution.
Campaigns
Progress is being made on several fronts, so much so
that, for brevity, only the highlights are summarised below.
Our Case Law strategy for combating IR35 continues to mature
but it is the nature of the beast that there is little to
show until the cases are heard. Currently, this initiative
is based upon, primarily the Lisa Fernley (Special Commissioners),
Gordon Stutchbury (General Commissioners) and Mark Sheerin
(General Commissioners) cases but further volunteer cases
would be welcomed.
An open ITT for Political Lobbying Consultancy has been
issued with a view to strengthening our lobbying capability.
It is expected that the contract will be awarded at the
end of August.
Philip Ross and Gurdial Rai continued to build on the successes
opposite Work Permits UK with the removal of C/C++ and Javascript
from the list of alleged skills shortages (see Press Notices
on www.pcgroup.org.uk).
Philip Ross and Andy White have been meeting with representatives
of REC. In addition, both have been working to influence
a variety of Government and Civil Service departments, politicians
and trade associations.
The PCG-ATSCo Working Party held an inaugural meeting last
month.
Susie Hughes has continued to guide our Press activity
with an article in the Aberdeen Press & Journal, the
PCG´s response to Dawn Primarolo´s infamous
PCG have been silent" claim, Richard Robson´s
15 minutes of fame in a Guardian article, Philip Ross appeared
in a live webcast on outsourcing and security and we issued
various press notices, including the PCG´s submission
to the Government on FTVs, the PCG´s response to ESM
changes and the PCG´s response to removal of C/C++
and Javascript from the list of skills shortages.
2002 Conference
Planning for this not-to-be-missed event on the 26th
October is well along the way with the development of an
overall theme, event structure and probable venue (near
Reading). We are now looking for experienced event management
specialists to help translate the concept into reality.
An open ITT has been issued and we expect to award the contract
shortly. One of the first tasks for the successful applicant
will be to critique our provisional plans and offer expert
advice to ensure a memorable and successful conference.
Please make sure to reserve the date in your diary.
2. 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.
West Midlands - August 14, 2002
The next meeting will of the West Midlands group will
be on Wednesday 14th August at the Rose and Crown at Junction
3 of the M42. at 7:30pm. The formal hour will start at 8pm.
The Agenda for this meeting will include: update on campaigns
progress; Contracting Matters and PCG Business. Non-PCG
item - strategies for collaborative working.
Glos/Wilts - August 21, 2002
Golden Heart, Nettleton, Glos (A419) from 7.30pm. Newcomers
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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