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 PCG
Newsletter 03/06 - 02 February 2006
IN
THIS ISSUE
Portal for lower-value public sector contracts
The Small Business Service (SBS) has announced
the development of a new
opportunities portal for lower-value public
sector contracts. The new portal, to be launched
in spring 2006, is the first UK
government-backed online service for publicising
lower-value public sector contracts, typically
under £100,000. All public sector organisations
will be able to publicise their contracts on the
portal and, for the first time, all businesses
will have access to these contracts in a single
place.
Welcoming the initiative, PCG chief executive
John Thomas said, "We are looking forward to the
launch and hope that this new gateway will give
our members and the freelance contracting
community as a whole a genuine chance to compete
for government business. Public sector buyers
will, in turn, have access to some of the best
talent, skills and services available in the UK
today."
EU
consultation on company law
The European Commission has launched a
consultation on possible reform to company
law in the EU. It is primarily concerned with
larger companies, but has some relevance to
small firms, especially those trading, or
thinking of trading, cross-border. Members who
have thoughts on this matter that can usefully
be fed into the consultation are invited to post
them on the
Policy forum by 24 March or email
policy@pcg.org.uk.
New
Affiliate member: PlanIT Services
PCG is pleased to welcome new Affiliate member,
PlanIT Services. Based in London, the
company provides accountancy services for
contractors and freelancers.
PCG
library
PCG's new website, which went live just before
Christmas, offers access to the
full library of PCG documents and
publications on a single page. Some of the
documents, such as draft direct contracts and
the expert guides to IR35 and S660A, are
available to members only, whilst many others
are available to non-members too. The library
includes:
During the first two weeks of January, no fewer
than 800 people downloaded PCG's
Guide to Freelancing, which is available
free of charge to members and non-members alike.
Contract opportunities for members
For information about the latest job, project,
contract and work opportunities, see PCG's
Commercial and
Members' Commercial forums. The Commercial
forum may be accessed by Affiliate members, and
PCG welcomes postings by agencies. If you are
willing to have your commercial post published
in the fortnightly newsletter, please include
the words "newsletter OK". Current opportunities
include:
Regional meetings
Regional meetings, traditionally known on the
forums as "RLMs", encourage members to
socialise, network and discuss PCG issues. These
meetings are open to all members, and in many
cases non-members are welcome to come along too.
If you would like to attend or propose regional
meetings, please post to the relevant thread on
the
RLM forum, or email the local co-ordinator.
· Aberdeen
- Wednesday 15 February 2006 18.30
Aberdeen Contractors Meeting: S660A, IR35, CC
elections.
Inn at the Park, Polmuir Road, Aberdeen. Email
aberdeen@pcg.org.uk
· Sheffield
- Tuesday 21 February 2006 19.30
"Freelancing unplugged" - a simple
networking/social event at Bar Matrix, Charter
Square, Sheffield. No need to pre-register.
· Farnborough
- Wednesday 1 March 2006 19.30
Prince of Wales, Farnborough. Email
farnborough@pcg.org.uk
Chris Bryce also suggests a
Weybridge RLM, if there is sufficient
interest.
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Sovereign Court
635 Sipson Road
West Drayton
Middlesex
UB7 0JE
Telephone:
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Fax: +44 (0845) 644 4105
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