Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
It would seem the continuing economic malaise is starting to get better of the UK’s freelancers, contractors and small business owners. A survey by Aviva of 500 small and micro-business owners in December has found that a full 25% of entrepreneurs are considering putting their business out to pasture and re-entering the general workforce as an employee of a larger entity.
Good news everyone! HMRC, in the face of a crippling strike from the PCS union which will see 80% of their call centre staff walk out on January 31st, have taken the decision to extend the deadline until midnight on Thursday February 2nd.
It’s currently the height of tax return season, and this means two things. One, accountants everywhere are pulling their hair out, and two, those dastardly spammers are sending out their bi-annual HMRC phishing emails, attempting to fool innocent freelancers, contractor and small businesses into giving up their financial details in the belief that they’re in line for a tasty tax refund.
With the self-assessment tax return deadline looming, HMRC is facing embarrassment as thousands of their call centre staff are poised to stage a walkout on January 31st.
Accordingly to the quarterly yardstick of freelancer, contractor and small business confidence, the Federation of Small Business’ ‘Voice of Small Business’ index, the mood of the UK’s small firms crashed in the latter part of 2011 due to a combination of high inflation, rising utilities bills and reduced consumer spending power.
HMRC is not having a good start to 2012. The Independent has published a piece highlighting HMRC’s late filing penalties, which were deemed illegal by Geraint Jones, QC in a Tax Tribunal last September.
We’ve been keeping abreast of the Agency Workers Regulations since they came into force on 1st October. Despite proclamations of the world ending, the legislation hasn’t had as drastic an impact on the UK’s freelancer and contractor community as was expected.
Freelancers and small businesses looking to take advantage of the Olympic Games this summer should watch out for a new book entitled ‘Olympics: a snapshot history of the Olympic Games’, which illustrates the effect the Olympics is already having on small businesses in London’s East End.
New figures have recently revealed that women are making up an increasingly large proportion of the UK’s cadre of one-man (or one-woman in this case) businesses, largely thanks to an ability to identify emerging lifestyle trends.
Be thankful if you’re a freelancer, contractor or small business owner in the South of England today. A recent study from RMS Tenon, one of the UK’s largest accountancy firms, has showed that more than 21,000 companies became insolvent in 2011, but more importantly saw a widening of the divide between the North and South of the country
For a long time a General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR) has been touted as a preferable alternative to IR35. General Anti-Avoidance Rules are used in Canada and New Zealand, and form a set of principles rather than hard-and-fast laws. It’s introduction would allow fresh case law to be established around disguised employment and limited company contractors, and hopefully allow HMRC to avoid the mistakes of the past.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has reported that last month permanent job vacancies fell at their fastest rate since July 2009, suggesting that companies large and small are continuing to put recruitment on hold, either by choice or as a financial necessity.
We covered with some degree of disbelief last year how the Government’s National Insurance Holidays scheme, designed to give new employers tax relief when taking on their first employees, had managed to attract a pitiful 1.8% of expected participants. Now the Labour party have renewed pressure on the Government to expand the scheme or abandon it altogether.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Good news for all you retailing freelancers out there plying your trade through Etsy or your own online store – recent research has shown that online shoppers choose to buy from smaller retailers with personality rather than larger online stores.
HMRC has been taken to task today by Conservative MPs and business leaders for their preferential treatment of large corporates, while attacking small and micro businesses through their Business Record Checks. The scheme will result in fines of up to £3,000 for freelancers, contractors and small businesses who cannot provide paperwork to back up the claims made in their tax returns.
All’s been quiet on the IR35 front recently. Since news of HMRC’s woeful enforcement record surfaced late last year, there’s been a relative dearth of IR35-related tomfoolery, instead most compliance related head-scratching has been directed towards the Agency Workers Regulations.
I’m not much of a political commentator, but I think most people in the west agree the government of Iran are something of an irresponsible and oppressive bunch. After cracking down on anti-Government protests at the beginning of the year, Iran has now “gone Nuclear” on its freelancers, and has blocked popular outsourcing website Freelancer.com.
Pensions auto-enrolment – some good news for small Businesses! From October 2012 most workers will have to be auto-enrolled into a pension plan by their Employer (under the Pensions Bill that also abolished the Default Retirement Age during 2011). At the end of November 2011 however the Government announced the welcome news that business with less than 50 workers will not have to auto-enrol their staff into such a pension scheme until May 2015.
New Research by Creditsafe, friend of Freelance Advisor and producers of our quite excellent credit control guide, has revealed that the number of start-up businesses has increased and will continue to accelerate by nearly 20% each year.
Ubiquitous online payment service PayPal has found itself in hot water again this week for shutting down a charity drive being run by comedy website Regretsy in order to buy disadvantaged children Christmas presents. According to the eBay-owned company, Regretsy was incorrectly using PayPal’s “Donate” button, and in response has frozen their account, ordered them to refund all donations and is, naturally, hanging onto its processing fee.
Last week Chancellor and plasticine man-child George Osborne delivered his Autumn Statement to Parliament, laying out how the Government would be tweaking their budget for the coming months in order to drag the UK out of the economic doldrums and back to healthy growth.
As we’ve covered extensively, HMRC has been upping their game with regards to tax evasion and avoidance in the last year. Be it their bookkeeping crackdown, their various VAT amnesties, or their closure of offshore loopholes, the taxman is on the war path, and if you’re not paying the correct tax you’re more likely than even to find yourself in his withering gaze.
Research carried out by business solutions firm, Pitney Bowes, has revealed that almost 50% of small firms are cancelling Christmas parties this year in order to save money. Five hundred small businesses participated in the survey which found that 63% of respondents admitted to scaling back on seasonal festivities.
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) are urging small businesses to plan ahead and get prepared for a harsh winter as weather forecasters predict that temperatures will plummet soon. According to forecasters, there is likely to be widespread frost across the UK for the coming weeks, with the chance of sleet or snow in the north – terrifying stuff.
New research carried out by our parent company Crunch has found that usage of Microsoft’s universally-loathed web browser IE6 spikes massively during working hours – seemingly indicating that corporate IT departments are failing in their duty to ensure a compliant and safe web experience for the employees they are charged with looking after.
New research conducted by Simply Business has found that a surprising 27% of small businesses are planning to increase their staffing in the next twelve months.
Today Chancellor George Osborne announced, as part of his autumn statement, that the Government would be underwriting £20 billion in loans to small- and medium-sized businesses in an effort to get the UK’s private sector moving again through easier access to finances.
As you have probably heard, mass public sector strikes are occurring today in protest of the Government’s pension reforms. Around three million public sector employees are walking out (many of them protesting in London) in an attempt to throw out reforms that would see their pension contributions rise dramatically, as well as push back their retirement age.
A survey carried out by recruitment firm Hays has revealed that a third of staff are choosing to stay put rather than risk job security by moving on. The research was carried out on 1,795 adults and found that 33% were reluctant to change jobs in the current turbulent job market and planned to put off job hunting until the economy picked up.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
As we usually carp on about, marketing is a necessary part of any successful freelance career – even if you hate the thought of self-promotion. Every so often we come across people who have decided to do something really interesting to further their freelancing career.
Jon Norris | Lifestyle & Time out,News
This may take you by surprise a bit, given the massive popularity of smartphones amongst today’s savvy professionals. New research has found that smartphones are valued less by freelancers and contractors than social networks, online organisational tools such as Dropbox, and even coffee.
Prime Minister David Cameron has once again praised the UK’s freelancers on the eve of National Freelancers Day 2011. In the latest issue of Freelance Matters, the industry magazine from the PCG, the Prime Minister reflected on the impact on the freelance sector.
We’ve covered coworking plenty on Freelance Advisor. Be it at dedicated coworking spaces or weekly Jelly meetings, we think coworking is a fantastic way for freelancers and contractors to get out there, enjoy the company of like-minded individuals, get some work done, and do some no-pressure networking. It would seem out enthusiasm is shared by many coworkers, as evidenced by the results of a survey by Deskmag.
Just six weeks after passing into law, the controversial Agency Workers Regulations are facing more and more vocal opposition. Despite audible industry protestations, the new legislation went ahead unchanged on October 1st, and now both the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) and The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) have renewed calls for an early review.
Good news and bad news this week, as Companies House released their monthly report for October 2011 (PDF) and revealed that the number of company incorporations has jumped around 14.6% from the same period last year. For the first week of October the number of companies formed was up a full 20% year-on-year.
According to research carried out by energy supplier E.ON, just one in five small businesses in the UK are using energy-efficient equipment in the workplace. These new figures are based on a survey of 1,167 small businesses across the UK.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
According a new US study, it has been revealed that consumers who follow brands on the popular social network Twitter are much more likely to purchase from that brand or recommend their products to others. The social media marketing study which was carried out by Constant Contact and research firm Chadwick Martin Bailey, analysed the behaviour of 1,491 consumers aged 18 and older.
In part two of our freelancers survey results we explored how a freelancer’s relationship with their accountant can change the way they work, and their knowledge on industry matters. In part three we’re going to cast a beady eye over whether freelancer’s service costs are going up as the recession continues, and what proportion of those surveyed are looking to change the way they work.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
At the beginning of the week Google announced the launch of its Google+ Pages. Specifically designed for companies, the pages allow them to set up profiles for their brands. There are also a host of business related features that they can benefit from.
It appears that business groups are welcoming Government plans to move UK clocks permanently forward by one hour in order to sync them with central Europe. The plan, known as The Daylight Savings Bill, is due to be examined later this month when it goes before the House of Commons.
New research has revealed that micro businesses are leading the way in settling their bills on time, even compared to the big firms. The research, which was carried out by credit agency Experian on 6,000 UK businesses found that late payments across UK firms of all sizes increased by approximately a day during the summer period of July to September this year.
In part one of our freelancer survey results we gave a broad overview of the results – whether people incorporated, if they used a local or online accountants, and if they understood IR35. In part two we’re going to “drill down” into the results a little more and examine how your relationship with your accountant changes the way you do business.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) are warning all business owners and self-employed workers that if they did not send in their paper self-assessment tax returns by the 31st October deadline, they must now send them online or face increased penalties.
Jon Norris | Lifestyle & Time out,News
As you may be aware, Internet Week Europe began today. With over 200 events taking place across London alone, the festival is a celebration of all things digital across the continent. Skype, keen to get in on the action, have launched a promotion for free WiFi across the UK. However, their promotion may just be the finest example of terms-and-conditions-overload we’ve ever encountered.
The Bank of England (BoE) governor Sir Mervyn King has stated that banks should be offered financial incentives to encourage more lending to struggling small businesses. Speaking at the Treasury Select Committee about the BoE’s decision to inject £75 billion back into the economy, Sir Mervyn King urged MPs to address the lack of lending to small businesses in the UK.
A little while ago we ran a reader survey to find out a little about how the UK’s freelancers run their businesses, how they regarded their accountants, and what they thought of industry worries such as HMRC fines and IR35. We’ve finally managed to dive into the results and pull out some interesting titbits.
A welcome break today from the usual doom-and-gloom of the current financial climate. Online freelance recruitment site Elance has seen a huge growth in demand in the last twelve months, with an increase of 55% from UK firms hiring through the service.
As we reported a few months ago, payments to small businesses are taking longer than ever. Research by payment infrastructure behemoth BACS found that the average payment period was a rather lengthy 52 days.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has just launched a new service which allows small businesses to check their patent applications online for free. The Online Patent Information and Documentation Inspection Service (Ipsum) has been set up to allow users to keep track of the progress of their patent application and its status.
A recent report that explores the pressures on workers during the current deteriorating market conditions has revealed that worries about job loss have contributed to stress becoming the most common cause of long-term absence in the UK for the first time in 12 years.
Here’s an amusingly embarrassing cock-up to brighten up an otherwise gloomy week. Business secretary Vince Cable, a fierce champion of punishing tax evaders, has been hit with a £500 fine for failing to register for VAT after his freelance earnings exceeded the VAT threshold
A valuable lesson today from the good folk at Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs on the importance of filling out paperwork correctly. Having sifted through employee PAYE submissions for 2009/10, HMRC has found the the UK is apparently home to no less than forty people aged over 200.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
As they do every quarter, outsourcing site Freelancer.com has released their latest figures mapping trends in the demand for freelance workers across sectors. Thousands of jobs are posted up on their site every month, so their data can be a good barometer of the direction of freelance work.
As mumpreneurs get recognition in the latest edition of the Collins English Dictionary, it has also emerged that the number of mums starting their own business has doubled in the last year. According to a survey carried out by online freelance marketplace PeoplePerHour, there has been a 110% increase in the number of entrepreneurial mothers signing up to the website over the past 12 months.
A survey of 2,000 employees has revealed that the colleagues of accountants and lawyers believe they are guilty of having the messiest desks. The research which was carried out by Viking, an office supplies firm, showed that 56% of respondents admitted to knowing a colleague who suffered from messy desk syndrome.
Worried about how your relationship might change with your agency now Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) has come into play? The PCG have compiled a set of letter templates for members to help maintain those agency relationships while providing assurance that that they are out of scope of the troublesome new legislation.
A recent survey carried out on 500 office workers has revealed that nearly two thirds of employees would rather sacrifice part of their pay rather than see a colleague lose their job. The poll highlighted just how strong team camaraderie can be within the workplace with 62% of respondents declaring that they would take a pay cut in order to keep their colleagues in employment.
It has been revealed by David Cameron that one of his Government’s schemes to help the UK climb out of the economic ditch it has driven into, “National Insurance Holidays”, has had a significantly smaller uptake by small businesses than predicted.
Although the general mood of the UK’s small businesses has been cautiously optimistic in the past few months, the continued fallout from the Eurozone crisis looks to be having a negative impact on the nation’s recovery.
While the UK’s largest banks remain largely unaccountable for current financial quagmire they’ve dumped us all in, consumers are at least given one stick to beat them with – complaints figures from the Financial Services Authority.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Last week the world was in mourning after Steve Jobs, the founder and visionary behind the Apple computer, iPod and iPhone, died from an eight-year battle with cancer, aged just 56. I for one cannot live without my iPhone, especially since I’ve become a full-time freelancer and so here, I would like to pay a small tribute to the man who helped revolutionise the way we communicate.
The latest CIPD Coaching Climate Survey for 2011 has revealed that coaching and mentoring consultants are being used more than ever to improve business performance. A total of 332 organisations took part in the survey which showed that of those who use coaching nearly 84% are using it more now than they were two years ago.
With more than 21,000 regulations currently active in the UK, earlier this year the government made a welcome pledge to reduce this amount and so reducing the overall burden regulation places on businesses and employers. The Better Regulation Executive (BRE) has played a major part in helping the coalition government’s strategy to reduce regulations.
The Agency Workers Regulations came into force on October 1st (this past Saturday). All temps, agency workers, and some umbrella company contractors now have the same rights as full-time employees after twelve weeks of service.
Freelancer.com, the largest online marketplace for freelance workers, yesterday added hourly billing to their repertoire of services for freelancers and employers. The site’s 2.8 million members can now specify an hourly rate (assuming they have no qualms about going public with pricing), and be hired on short- or long-term contracts by employers with commission starting at just 3%.
Late last year Prime Minister David Cameron announced his Government would be pumping £400 million into a project to create a Silicon Valley-style “Tech City” in the east end of London, specifically in the area surrounding the Old Street Roundabout.
We’re in the midst of a fairly pronounced period of economic strife, in case you didn’t notice. Markets are collapsing, Greece is almost broke, and widespread redundancies are happening in the public and private sector alike.
Start up business owners could be in with a chance of winning a one-to-one session with successful entrepreneur and star of The Apprentice, Karren Brady. The Business Makeover competition has been launched by Nectar to help offer start-ups an opportunity for a business boost from the experts.
The saga of IR35 is full of twists, turns, loop-the-loops and groin-kicks, and doesn’t show any sign of letting up soon, following George Osborne’s decision to take the path of least resistance in his 2011 Budget. Following a freedom of information request from the PCG, HMRC has divulged some interesting figures which shed some light on HMRC’s tremendous mis-management of IR35.
A survey carried out by online recruitment agency People Per Hour has revealed that in the last 12 months there has been a 68% increase in the amount of businesses that are taking on freelancers in order to solve staffing issues.
A new report carried out by law firm Allen & Overy has revealed that 500,000 temporary employment contracts could be at risk due to the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) that are due to come into force on the 1st October, 2011.
Europe’s largest credit management organisation, the Institute of Credit Management (ICM), has launched a petition in conjunction with the commercial credit referencing agency Graydon UK, to prompt a Government rethink on plans to exempt micro-businesses from having to file accounts at Companies House.
There are any number of reasons a fledgling business can fail – and the sad truth is that the majority do within the first year. Be it financial mismanagement, lacklustre marketing or just poor products, the reasons for failure are almost as numerous as the failed businesses themselves. Now a study from the Startup Genome, a research group assembled to investigate what makes a successful business, has revealed that the top killer of startups is in fact premature scaling.
It has been reported that David Cameron has sought last minute legal advice to find out what the possibilities are of making changes to the new Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) that are set to come into force on the 1st October.
Reports last week suggested that the Agency Workers Regulations which are due to be introduced on 1st October 2011 and that have caused so much controversy in freelancing and contracting circles – especially amongst those using Umbrella Companies – may yet be watered down by the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
It has been announced by the Department for Business (DfB) and Financial Reporting Council (FRC) that small firms may soon only have to file one trading statement which shows their financial position to both Companies House and HMRC.
We’ve known for some time that the freelancer and contractor sector has been growing, and now a few pieces of research have revealed the source of some of that growth – students and over-55s are increasingly choosing self-employment over the traditional job market.
The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has vowed to take forward the recruitment industry’s concerns over current regulatory burdens in upcoming meetings with the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS).
Latest retail figures from the Office for National Statistics have confirmed that growth in sales values reported in July is due to inflation and the January VAT rise, and that year on year sales have actually decreased.
Five plumbers have been arrested and around 600 are under civil investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for failing to pay the right amount of tax. The arrests and investigations have taken place during a campaign targeting plumbers which invited them to put their tax affairs in order.
The Government last week announced the location of 11 new Enterprise Zones, designed to boost local growth and create over 30,000 new jobs by 2015.
There are potentially a couple of small but noteworthy changes heading the way of small businesses in the not-too-distant future, both announced last week. Firstly, HMRC is mulling over a proposal which would make online submission of VAT returns compulsory for firms with turnovers less than £100,000.
New research by electricity supplier E.ON says that small businesses in the UK are wasting over £30 million every day by simply not switching off computers at the end of the work day. The study of over 800 SMEs found that nearly 40% of workers leave their computers on all night and only 20% switch them off properly over the weekend.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have announced that they will be closing down their telephone information line. The phone line is used by businesses looking for advice and guidance on health and safety issues and has provided an opportunity for businesses to speak directly with a member of HSE.
We’ve been covering the upcoming Agency Workers Regulations with some interest. The legislation, due to come into force in October, has the potential to fundamentally alter the relationship some freelancers and contractors have with their Umbrella Companies.
A survey carried out by Sedo, a global domain marketplace, has revealed that small businesses are paying 5% more for their domain names than they were this time last year.
After an apparently successful trial in Merseyside since February this year, the Government’s New Enterprise Allowance (or NEA) is today rolling out nationally, giving unemployed people around the country a chance to start their own small business.
Back in February, as part of their penance for almost bankrupting us all, the UK’s five biggest banks entered into Project Merlin, a scheme by the Government to allow better access to credit and loan facilities to UK businesses.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has calculated that the cost of this weeks riots could be as high as £500 million. But what will be the cost to small businesses?
The annual Barclays Take One Small Step awards, which aims to identify and nurture outstanding new business ideas, saw over 5,000 entries this year, each showing innovation, diversity and creative flair.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out,News
A new study by IFF research has revealed that two-thirds of small-business owners had less than two weeks’ holiday in 2010. The research was carried out on 500 firms and showed that 69% of bosses were unable to take more than 14 days out of the office
It has been revealed that business secretary Vince Cable and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas are the latest MPs to sign up to the Business Buddy scheme, along with 102 other MPs.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Hot on the heels of the launch of Google+ Facebook has introduced a Facebook For Business portal in an attempt to encourage businesses to choose their giant social network over the competition.
Research carried out by Aviva has revealed that one in ten small firms are concerned about closing this year unless there are improvements in trading conditions.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
A new global survey has revealed that branded apps are failing to take the world of smartphones by storm. The new research, carried out by Deloitte was based on an analysis of apps published on iPhone, Android and BlackBerry by big healthcare and consumer brands.
After being blasted for their performance in 2010 in a report from the Treasury select committee, HMRC Chairman Mike Clasper has issued a public apology, and has pledged that the taxman’s performance in 2011 will be radically improved.
Late last week Employment Minister and part-time Wayne Rooney lookalike Ed Davey told industry watchers that a formal review of the troublesome Agency Workers Regulations would not take place until 2013, meaning agencies and Umbrella companies may have to suffer for as much as two years.
A study by the Forum of Private Business has found that small firms are spending more time and money complying with Government legislation than ever before, with a massive 84% of businesses saying they have increased compliance activities since 2009.
Yesterday the Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the case of Autoclenz Ltd v Belcher and Others, and set a worrying legal precedent for freelancers and contractors worrying about their IR35 position.
HMRC staff are to begin calling new businesses to offer advice on how to correctly take care of their bookkeeping and tax obligations. HMRC is referring to this new practise as “telephone education”, and businesses will be contacted “at key stages in their lifecycles”.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Google’s new attempt at a social network, Google+, launched three weeks ago and already has over 18 million users. Presumably envious of Twitter’s sea of celebrity users, Google+ has now embarked on a mission to ensnare celebrities to help build on its early success.
Jon Norris | News,Working From Home
British Gas has been fined £2.5 million by Ofgem for failing to deal with customer complaints – especially those of small businesses – correctly. The utilities company, which supplies around half of UK homes, was deemed to have prematurely closed cases when customers still said they were unresolved.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Research into online marketing has revealed that two thirds of marketing managers still rely on email to deliver their online campaigns. The survey, which was carried out by eCircle, is part of a larger study on European Social Media and Email Marketing.
The decision by the Payments Council to not abolish cheques has been welcomed by small businesses who were concerned that no alternative viable payment system has been proposed.
It has been revealed in a recent survey that some small businesses are so desperate to cut costs they are considering reducing their staff holiday allowances. The survey, which was carried out by insurance company MetLife and involved 400 small businesses, found that 27% of firms felt that holiday allowance was too generous.
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has carried out a news survey that reveals sole traders are being deterred from becoming employers due to the expensive cost of employee pension plans, sick leave and dismissal rules.
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out,News
New research by internet telephony company Gradwell, has shown that 38% of UK employees take business calls whilst on holiday. The over 65′s and top level management were revealed to be the most guilty of never switching off.
Research by professional advice website Unbiased.co.uk has revealed that more than half of sole traders could be missing out on tax savings by not utilising the help of professional accountants for bookkeeping.
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has set up a new initiative that will assign MPs with voluntary summer internships at small firms. Known as the Business Buddy Scheme, it will give MPs the opportunity to learn about the realities of running a small business.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,News
Are the days of submitting CVs to agencies via the traditional method of email now long gone? LinkedIn has revealed plans to allow users to use a more streamlined process for applying for jobs from recruiter websites by converting profiles into instant CVs.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
The latest figures released by Freelancer.com, who use their gigantic repository of freelance jobs to track which the ebb and flow of different sectors, have shown that demand for mobile experts continues to grow at an exponential rate.
As part of the Government’s Red Tape Challenge a new initiative has been launched which invites small business owners to reveal their experiences of excessive red tape. The Red Tape Challenge was launched by the Government in April this year to give the public the opportunity to have their say on more than 21,000 regulations.
A new survey by financial group Investec has found that confidence amongst entrepreneurs across the UK is the highest it has been in years, with a mammoth 96% predicting their revenues will increase in the next year.
The self-employed are being urged to plan ahead in the event of being off work due to illness. The advice comes following a recent report that revealed that the self employed are among the worst effected when it comes to the financial impact of being in hospital.
HM Revenue and Customs have released a new action plan designed – not the same as committed – to significantly opening up the public sector marketplace to small businesses. The actions outlined in the document range from increasing the amount of information available and holding ‘product surgeries’, to piloting new procurement methods and increasing SME access to sub-contracting opportunities.
A new survey has revealed that over the last six months the issue of late payments has worsened for over a third of small businesses, compounding the evidence gathered in a recent survey by BACS which highlighted the especially bad behaviour of large corporations when paying their suppliers.
The Government is to put design at the heart of its plans for economic growth in the UK. The commitment will be made by Universities and Science Minister David Willetts at ‘Design for Growth’, a high-level summit meeting of global business leaders, leading designers and Government on 23rd June 2011.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Cookies, aside from being delicious mid-morning snacks, are small files places on your computer by websites. They allow sites to remember and recognise visitors and information such as log-in details, browsing history and ordering information. Many websites function using cookies, as does Analytics software and third party advertising such as Google’s AdSense.
A survey carried out by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) has uncovered some very interesting results relating to how British workers perceive their managers. It was revealed that over 50% of the 2,000 respondents’ don’t feel that their manager is up to the job. If that wasn’t enough to raise your eyebrows in concern, it was also revealed that those managers are completely oblivious to the fact.
UK companies have been warned to take control of employee’s social media usage in the workplace or risk facing reputation damage and security breaches. With the recent rapid increase in social media usage, it has been revealed that 51% of employees engage with sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn while at work.
The Time to Pay scheme was implemented set up during the recession to allow businesses to defer their tax payments. Over half of requests for rearrangement concerned less than £10,000 of tax, underlining the importance of the scheme to small businesses.
Royal Mail has announced that the letters division of the business lost £120m last year. This is compared to a £20m profit a year earlier. The business overall showed the worst performance for seven years.
Rachel Soothill | News,Technology
Research published by PC World Business has revealed that UK small businesses are adopting tablets for use in the workplace, with many more looking to do so in the near future. According to the research nearly 25% of small firms are using tablets such as iPads and Android slates to increase the efficiency of their business.
Accountants who have made the transition to HMRC’s electronic filing system have been set back by news that HMRC will not be ready to accept post-31 March 2011 returns until October when it will update its online portal.
A survey carried out by recruitment website, Monster, has revealed that more than a quarter of employees spend three hours a week searching for a new job while in work time.
Last week the UK’s coalition Government came under criticism from the Institute of Directors, a group representing business leaders across the country, for failing to reduce the tax burden faced by small businesses.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
This week the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development released a report that found highly skilled workers such as engineers, consultants and developers are in woefully short supply in the UK. Around three quarters (73%) of employers said that the high levels of unemployment have resulted in many unqualified applicants for skilled positions.
Jon Norris | News,Working From Home
As part of the Government’s Energy Bill, a new measure is due to come into force next year called The Green Deal aimed at getting small- and medium-sized businesses to improve their energy efficiency through a series of “green loans”. The loans can be spent on things like insulation, energy-efficient lighting, and presumably alternative energy sources such as solar panels.
With widespread public sector strikes on the horizon there is concern from business groups that there could be severe financial consequences for small businesses, including freelancers and contractors. It has been revealed that various unions are planning coordinated strikes in protest to Government cuts, pension reforms and wage freezes within the public sector.
Small firms have been warned by the Forum of Private Business (FPB) to check the copyright of images used on their websites following an increase in copyright infringement complaints. Having received a surge of recent calls regarding this issue, the FPB are aware of numerous small businesses that have been charged for using images that they did not realise were copyrighted.
Good website addresses are like gold dust these days. All the good ones are taken, either by people with the same company name as you, or by soulless URL squatters who want to charge you exorbitant amounts for them. For example, I recently enquired about buying thebomb.co.uk, which I discovered was available for £500 – and since then the price has gone up to £600!
Rachel Soothill | Lifestyle & Time out,News
A survey by IFF research has revealed that more than a third of small and medium businesses would not dream of hiring a candidate from BBC series The Apprentice. 500 small and medium sized businesses took part in the poll with 35% admitting that they would view a job application from an Apprentice candidate in a negative light.
Last week marked the first meeting of the IR35 Forum, a carefully-selected group of freelancing, contracting and employment experts gathered by HMRC to aid their faltering IR35 reform attempts. Following the OTS report of small business tax reform and the Government’s subsequent inaction at the Budget, the forum was put together to look into better ways to administer the so-called “Freelancer’s tax”.
There was good news for micro-businesses last week as the EU decided it was time to unburden them from the heavy weight of small business accounting. Business Minister and aged Wayne Rooney lookalike Ed Davey announced that by reducing the accounting responsibilities of businesses with fewer than ten employees and turnover less than £434,000 the EU could save these small enterprises around £300 million per year.
Jon Norris | News,Working From Home
The Government, in their infinite wisdom, has suggested that to avoid the national travel melee that will erupt during the 2012 Olympic Games, office workers are allowed to work from home. The Government’s ineptitudes aside, the advice has loosed some interesting figures about working from home and the advantages it can bring.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published a new version of its guidance to help companies deal with the troublesome Agency Workers Regulations, due to come into force on 1st October, 2011. The final guidance has been edited to clarify how Umbrella Companies can use the Swedish Derogation Model.
Following the OTS report on small business tax simplification and the Chancellor’s subsequent lack of action, HMRC has formed the IR35 Forum – an expert group of employment and tax specialists – to look into potential reforms to the much-reviled legislation. Following the Forum’s first meeting in early May, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) has now been invited to join.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,News
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has revealed that the number of start-up businesses in the UK has increased by nearly 50,000 from 2009-2010. The government statistics show that there are now 4.5 million private sector firms operating in the UK, despite the difficult economic climate.
According to research by payment behemoth Bacs, Britain’s small and medium businesses are being bent over the proverbial barrel by large corporates, who continue to be the worst offenders in terms of prompt payments. According to Bacs, half of the UK’s SMEs have suffered late payments – the average payment period being a staggering 52 days.
Yesterday we ran a piece from our resident HR expert Lesley about the Agency Workers Regulations, or AWR for acronym fans. So now we know how it will affect Agency Workers from an employement point of view – but how will it effect the freelancing and contracting industry as a whole?
New research has revealed the spending habits of the men and women of the UK, and the results make for interesting reading. The study revealed that millions around Britain are squireling money away without the knowledge of their partner, but for very different reasons.
The hot topic recently has been about the recession and its continued impact on the freelance job market. Only last week we revealed the results from a survey carried out by CIPD and now more research from PeoplePerHour.com has confirmed the same.
The latest report by GlobalExpense (a ruddy huge expense management company) has found that UK businesses failed to claim around £124 million in 2010 in mileage expenses. The shortfall was largely due to missing VAT receipts, which are required to claim back any business mileage.
Here’s something you don’t see often – the Government making appreciable, concrete strides towards a more user-friendly, useful web portal. Under the guidance of web brainbox Tom Loosemore, Alpha.gov.uk is a test version of a new Government portal that is supposed to eventually replace Direct.gov.uk.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
Crowd-sourcing job website Freelancer.com has given an insight into the current state of the freelancing market through its Freelancer Fast 50 update, which analyses the site’s huge database of freelancing jobs to see which sectors are fluctuating.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
We’ve postulated before that as the recession continues to bite, more people will either choose or be forced to switch to freelance working, with those in the public sector especially at-risk given the ongoing Government cutbacks. Now a survey from HR super-group CIPD has revealed that employees’ perceived job security is falling, taking company morale with it.
Mel Dixon | Getting a Job,News
With a sharp rise in the number of people going part time self-employed, now’s a good time to ponder why this might be the case and whether or not it is a good thing. Is it a case of people being forced to create their own jobs after being laid-off, or are there more people tentatively realising their business dreams?
Around two weeks ago a cadre of UK entrepreneurs, with backing from some big corporate partners, launch the Start Up Britain campaign. The aim of the programme was to stir the UK’s entrepreneurial spirit and encourage more people to strike out on their own by offering what the organisers called a “£1,500 support package”.
As part of the Government’s continuing drive to cut costs, last Thursday Business Secretary Vince Cable launched the Red Tape Challenge. Although it sounds exciting, it actually seems like an attempt by the Government to take advantage of this so-called Big Society they’ve been trying to create, to get us to do the legwork in weeding out costly legislation that needs to be cut.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
As if he wasn’t loud enough already, Alan Sugar seems to be taking advantage of his new-found position in the House of Lords to stand on his soapbox and tell everybody how lazy and privileged they are. In a recent session he made his feelings clear on the current state of entrepreneurialism in the UK, and how little the Government are doing to help the situation.
Mel Dixon | Lifestyle & Time out,News
Television shows like The Apprentice, Dragon’s Den and The Secret Millionaire are persuading more people to consider starting up their own business, according to government research. The ‘Impact of Media on Entrepreneurial Intentions and Actions’ report found that media portrayals of enterprise is having a positive impact on non-entrepreneurial Britons.
And it looks very scary indeed. It’s yet another one of those online portals where small businesses and freelancers provide the Government with ideas. This time it’s about finding business solutions which will help the Government provide services more efficiently.
A while ago we published a piece asking if AOL’s questionable new content strategy would be good news for freelancers, as their demand for more copy went up. It would seem yesterday those questions were answered with a resounding “No.”
Last week, the coalition Government launched a number of enterprising initiatives as part of ‘Start Up Britain.’ The main thrust of it all was to inspire the younger generation to think entrepreneurially. There are a number of ways in which they will seek to do this, but will they work?
Speaking on Monday at the launch of Start Up Britain, a new campaign backed by several big companies to offer help and support to those looking to start their own business, David Cameron announced that, with the help of small business “we can make this decade one of the most entrepreneurial decades in our history.”
During these austere times, it should come as no surprise that HMRC is increasing the penalties for late tax returns and payments. The new rules apply to the tax year 2010-11 so for UK freelancers it’s even more crucial that returns are filed correctly and on time.
During last week’s Budget, the chancellor announced that a total of 21 new enterprise zones will be created across the UK in areas in need of economic revitalisation. The idea behind an enterprise zone is to encourage investment and economic growth within a particular geographical area. Will it encourage freelancers to relocate?
Freelancers are increasingly being called upon to fill the void left by the huge reduction in permanent workers in the public sector. That’s the observation of a major online business marketplace anyway. And when you consider that 490,000 public sector jobs are due to go by 2014-15, the demand for flexible workers to complete specified projects can only increase.
The degree of activity in social media depends on an individual freelancers personal requirements. Freelancers who have a steady stream of work, for the present and forseeable future, may not see social media as a priority. However, those freelancers who are struggling for work, will, or at least should, see social media as an opportunity to engage with potential clients and source work.
Virtual businesses are brilliant because they employ freelancers and stuff. A virtual business can be defined as any business that is online and doesn’t have a permanent physical base – and they can be maintained from any location with an internet connection.
You may remember far back in the mists of time (Last November, to be precise) we brought you news that the annual Freelancer of the Year awards had opened their doors for nominations. Well, those doors have now slammed firmly shut, the nominations are in, and the entries are being reviewed with the aim of finding the best and brightest freelancers in the country.
Contractor Advisor | Legal,News
Following last week’s publication of the Office of Tax Simplification’s report on IR35, Contractor Advisor looks at the possibility of suspending the employment legislation altogether, and the impact that could have on the self-employment community at large.
We’re sure you’ve all seen the terrible footage of entire Japanese towns being washed away over the weekend, and have read about the ongoing threat to the Japanese people as a result of the devastating earthquake / tsunami / nuclear meltdown combo. Here’s how you can help.
A little while ago HMRC issued a warning about a series of email scams that had popped up in the wake of the January 31st Self-Assessment deadline. Using faked email addresses (usually rebate@hmrc.gov.uk), the nefarious scammers were informing people they were eligible for a Tax Rebate running into the hundreds of pounds, and asking for bank details to complete the transaction.
In the wake of the self-assessment tax returns deadline (and ensuing email scams), Unbiased have released their 19th Annual Tax Action Report, which claims that the tax paying UK public have handed over an extra £13.5billion to HMRC through mistakes, or by not operating tax efficiently. In a period of relative austerity, perhaps it’s time people took a closer look at their finances to ensure they’re not overpaying.
Earlier today the Office of Tax Simplification released their report Small Business Tax Review, which is designed to inform the Chancellor’s decision-making process when looking to reform IR35. Although we’re going to look at the report in more detail, a provisional analysis seems to indicate the OTS are not playing the kind of hardball many freelancers and contractors would have liked.
It only happens every ten years, but it is always the subject of much discussion when the Census rolls around. Some think it is a vital statistical tool that can give a unique snapshot of our nation for years to come, some think it is just the Government snooping.
As we reported last week, since March 1st the Advertising Standards Authority has broadened it’s reach, and is now monitoring online advertising in the UK as well as its traditional sphere of print, television and radio. While we certainly don’t envy their new task, it’s absolutely a good thing that some kind of regulatory body is wading into the traditionally murky world of online advertising.
The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published a report on how to simplify UK tax reliefs. It’s a long document which takes a while to rifle through, which is surely a good thing (or not, depending on how much you like reading about complex financial and legal issues).
Ahead of their initiative to clampdown on poor bookkeeping, HMRC has launched new free ‘tools’ to help freelancers keep their business records in an acceptable state. Rather than tools (which I think should involve a certain amount of user interaction), all but one of these are documents which outline your bookkeeping responsibilities and how to fulfil them.
Completely unscientific of course, but a quick polling of the Twitterverse has yielded some interesting results as to what the biggest annoyances for freelancers are.
The results, somewhat unsurprisingly, focus on the behaviour of certain unscrupulous clients
Mel Dixon | News,Working From Home
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of employees absent from work due to sickness has risen to pre-recession levels. The figures are taken from the last quarter of 2010 and reveal that 2.5 per cent were absent for at least one day, compared to 2.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2009.
As a freelancer you’ve probably had to get someone to repair your computer at some point. If you haven’t yet, then drop us the brand name and model number. When the time comes for technical assistance, you will need to find someone who can diagnose the problem and then hopefully repair it.
While people are increasingly being refused the option to defer tax payments via the Time to Pay scheme, one professional service provider predicts that the year ahead will see the highest levels of personal insolvency on record. RSM Tenon offer the stark warning after the last quarter of 2010 saw a 24% drop in insolvencies compared to the same period in 2009.
Mel Dixon | Getting a Job,News
Nothing was happening, I thought. There is no industry news, and all golden nuggets of advice had long been mined dry. Is this the beginning of a nasty case of writers block I wondered? I could no longer put pen to paper, or for that matter, fingers to keyboard. The future before me was a bleak barren landscape. Then over the ridge I spotted a galloping mass. “Is that..?” Yes it was! Office Cavalry had come to the rescue wielding another freelance survey!
As with all new, exciting things, big business has been a bit slow to catch on with social media. Some businesses have “got it”, and have used social media to great effect (See the Facebook Skittles Campaign, or the genuinely helpful Heathrow Twitter feed), and some are still lagging behind – thinking it is enough to simply register an account and leave it unattended.
Mel Dixon | News,Working From Home
Areas in which women are superior to men: they are better at reproducing, can carry out multiple tasks and have a greater understanding of the offside rule. Now, you can add coworking to that short list…
One month on from the 2.5% VAT increase, it seems that SMEs have managed the switch rather comfortably. Well, for the most part at least according to a poll of 1,400 SMEs by finance management software firm, Intuit.
If you’re fortunate enough to be in the South East and have a business which you think is both innovative and with the potential for considerable growth, then you might like to try your luck at landing an ‘Innovation Voucher.’ Up to 55 of these vouchers are available, at a combined total of £220,000, in random packets of Walker’s crisps.
A recent survey has revealed that freelancers in the North-West of the country are feeling decidedly uncertain about their prospects for the coming year. Although we’ve seen numerous studies claiming to reveal a promising new year for freelancers – but now a survey of the freelancers themselves has painted a slightly less rosy picture.
This is a busy time of year for the people at HMRC, they’re processing all those tax returns that were delivered online at the end of last month (and some that are still dribbling in late, resulting in nasty £100 fines). This flurry of activity has also seen an increase in email scams centred around tax returns.
Everybody’s favourite comedy double-act, David Cameron and Nick Clegg, have been busying themselves organising a review of Intellectual Property law, in between getting stuck in doorways and hitting themselves in the face with carelessly-discarded rakes.
The government has been talking BIG regarding a five year drive to create new economic growth in the UK through a renewed spirit of entrepreneurialism and hi-tech innovation. It was a BIG launch in more than one way. BIG actually stands for British Innovation Gateway, the name they’ve given to this plan for growth which sits neatly alongside plans for an East London Tech City.
Although the importance of social media is well established in the UK, we still trail a long way behind the US. However, that is all set to change in 2011 according to a new report by freelance work portal Office Cavalry. In fact, the findings are particularly positive for those freelancers specialising, or hoping to specialise, in social media marketing.
Here’s a breakdown…
It’s been a troubling week for the coalition Government and UK economy: The week started with the outgoing head of the CBI criticising the Government for hindering business and job creation. This was swiftly followed by the news that the UK economy suffered ‘negative growth’ in the last three months of 2010.
What does it all mean for freelancers?
Last week we unleashed our newest creation – Contractor Advisor – on the world. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive, lots of people have commented on the site’s snazzy design, and everyone is enjoying the content so far. In our quest to provide the ultimate resource for the UK’s growing army of contractors, we’ve first addressed that most pressing of issues – IR35.
As you may have heard, our Government is a little strapped for cash at the moment. Because of this, they have decided to introduce a raft of measures to increase their cashflow. One of the measures being employed by HMRC is the fairly innocuous sounding “Employer Compliance Visit”. Although it may sound like a friendly sit-down over a cup of tea, what it actually means is that HMRC will turn up on your doorstep to check your books.
According to a new report, the number of co-working spaces worldwide almost doubled in the past year. It’s surely good news for freelancers who prefer to work away from home and don’t have a clients office to go to.
The survey by co-working portal Deskwanted.com, reveals there were 350 co-working spaces at the beginning of 2010 and 650 at the start of 2011. This still looks a rather small number, but it represents a significant upward curve and suggests that demand may continue to rise as freelancing is increasingly seen as a viable and preferable alternative to traditional employment
After locking horns with the taxman for seven long years, freelance contractor Mark Fitzpatrick has has come out victorious in a significant IR35 ruling. And the key to his victory concerned a little concept called ‘mutuality of obligation.’
Fitzpatrick had been accused by HMRC of using his limited company, MBF Design Services, to avoid tax when working for aircraft manufacturer Airbus. In reaching a decision, the tribunal noted a lack of ‘Mutuality of Obligation’ as a significant factor.
Although “Poll season” has mercifully finished now, we’re still getting good news for freelancers fed to us now and again. Today, word reaches us of a large poll conducted by our friends at OfficeCavalry.com. 1,000 SMEs were asked their views on freelancers, and how flexi-workers will fit into their businesses this year. As you’d expect, the results make for some good reading.
What is the difference between a freelancer and a contractor? Does anyone really know? The lines are sometimes so blurred that they seem to scarcely exist at all – but they exist nonetheless. If you’re a freelancer, then you’re a freelancer, and if you’re a contractor, then you’re a contractor.
A few weeks ago the loosely-held-together gelatinous blob the UK currently calls a government announced it was expanding the New Enterprise Allowance scheme to offer it to up to 40,000 new businesses. If you remember (and why wouldn’t you?) the NEA is a £2,000 grant bestowed upon new small businesses by the Government if said business meets certain criteria.
In his characteristically blunt manner, Lord Alan Sugar has been lending his opinions on a range of issues affecting the small business community. In a column written in The Daily Telegraph, Lord Sugar discusses how small businesses can plan for a tough 2011, why it’s foolish to rely on anyone to help your business – especially banks, and why networking events are a waste of time. As you would probably expect from Sugar, it’s a combination of shrewd business advice, personal anecdote (some might say self-glorification) and the occasional expletive. In all seriousness, his advice is genuinely insightful.
Hands up who hasn’t filed their self-assessment yet? If you still haven’t done it, then you’d better hurry because the deadline for online returns is midnight 31 January. Leaving it till the last minute is just asking for trouble!
Over the past 18 months Freelance Advisor has grown hugely – we’ve amassed a huge list of industry contributors who are at the forefront of freelancing and contracting in the UK, we’ve got the most popular freelancing podcast outside the US, and we now help over 25,000 freelancers every month.
A study has been carried out which looks into the cost of renting co-working space compared to maintaining a workstation in a regular office.
The results show that renting a desk in a co-working space costs half as much in most cities. It’s statistics like these that illustrate the financial benefits of hiring remote workers and outsourcing vital business functions.
Freelance trade body, the Professional Contractors Group (PCG), has warned of a tough year ahead in the labour market. However, managing director John Brazier, believes that the UKs contracting workforce is well placed to weather the storm.
As Billy Ocean once explained: “When the going gets tough…”
A little while ago the UK’s incumbent Franken-government announced the introduction of the New Enterprise Allowance (or NEA for acronym fans), a scheme to provide a £2,000 grant, small business loan and expert guidance to unemployed people looking to start their own businesses.
2010 has been a memorable year which has seen recognition of the freelance community rise to unprecented levels. A few things spring to mind. We’ve seen the forming of a coalition government which has seemingly set in motion a chain of events that will eventually see an overhaul of IR35. And the second ever National Freelancers Day was a huge success with freelancers across the UK going weak at the knees when Prime Minister David Cameron addressed them directly.
Chancellor George Osbourne took the opportunity to do away with the Pre-Budget Report and replace it with an Autumn Statement when the Coalition Government was formed. I’m not sure which sounds the most interesting.
The idea behind the report is to give the British public the opportunity to find out the state of the economy and the pressing matters facing the treasury.
As we wrote last week, it seems to be the season for polls and surveys right now. An informal poll of the Freelance Advisor office I took just now reveals that around 65% of people think there are a lot of poll results flying around right now. Another one has appeared today asking freelancers to name the business person they most admire in the UK.
Ok, so that second part might not be scientific fact (yet), but the first part is 100% true. The PCG have released the results of the poll they commissioned for National Freelancers Day (which is today – November 23rd – hooray!). The results make pretty pleasing reading for freelancers.
A new all-party parliamentary group has been set up for the freelance sector in order to create closer ties between Westminster and the UK’s 1.4m freelancers. The group will seek to highlight the contribution that freelancers and contractors make to the UK economy and promote the flexi-working way of life.
PCG, the industry trade body, certainly seems happy about it; but what powers does an all-party group have?
Late last week the Prime Minister in his human form gave a speech outlining the Government’s grand plans to invest heavily in the East of London in order to create a “world-leading technology city to rival Silicon Valley”.
As the Government talks of plans to create an ‘entrepreneurial decade’, a new employment forecast paints a gloomy picture that suggests the private sector will struggle to fill the void left by public sector cuts whilst feeling the impact of the VAT increase.
Does the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development offer an accurate forecast? Or are they ‘less reliable than a dead octopus’ as one Conservative MP sugge
You’ll have to be quick to get your voice heard in a major survey of freelancers and contractors in the UK. It’s a good opportunity to offer your views on the state of freelancing, your hopes and fears for the future, and much more besides.
The survey should only take ten minutes and closes this Friday (5th November).
A new report the how the internet is transforming the UK economy has been published by the Boston Consulting Group.
The research illustrates how small businesses actively using the internet are reporting sales growth more than four times bigger than that of companies less active online.
Over the weekend Freelance Advisor experienced a few, shall we say, problems. If we have an big infrastructure problem on the site, I, as Editor, get alerts on just about every device I own – if the site goes down my office suddenly sounds like a mobile disco as I receive alerts and emails and text messages letting me know of the problem.
Chancellor George Osbourne’s Spending Review marks the UK’s biggest spending cuts since World War II.
The cuts are set to change the country’s economic and social landscape, and freelancer’s trade body PCG has given their reaction…
New research reveals that many small business leaders have reservations about employing people over the age of 60.
Does that mean the older generation are being discriminated against?
We’ve started, so we’ll finish. If your specialist subject is freelancing we have a chair just waiting for you.
The PCG special Mastermind sessions are to be held throughout the UK and while there might not be an imposing leather chair, you can make yourself comfortable in Manchester, Aberdeen, Brighton, Edinburgh, Bristol or Watford for stimulating sessions that will help us celebrate the PCG’s National Freelancers Day on November 23rd.
Brighton-based journalist and communications consultant Sally Shore has launched a new service to help the increasing numbers of entrepreneurs and freelancers generate media coverage on a budget.
National Freelancers Day is all set for 23rd November 2010.
On this day, and during the week, the PCG and Freelance Advisor will be trumpeting (and rejoicing in) the vital contribution that freelancers and contractors make to the UKs economic well-being.
After the success of last year’s event many freelancers were asking what they could do to get involved with National Freelancers Day 2010.
Here are 6 ways to get connected…
The coalition government has said that they hope to bring in billions of pounds over the next few years after announcing that more resources will be made available to HMRC.
And how are they going to do this? By targeting those pesky businesses avoiding tax through offshore accounts.
Freelancers and contractors will be glad to hear that a consortium of City financiers are planning to open a bank that only lends to small businesses.
And they’re planning to launch early next year…
In the run up to National Freelancers Day the PCG are asking freelancers to share their top tips with their fellow freelancers.
What do you do to make your work more profitable, productive, worthwhile and enjoyable?
If you’ve got freelance pizzazz, why don’t you shout about it?
A new survey by chartered accountants has revealed how SME’s are struggling to get loans due to the strict criteria laid down by the banks.
This might not reveal anything we don’t already know, but with small businesses – including freelancers and contractors – being a key driving force behind the UK economy, surely credit terms could be a little more friendly?
Well that’s the question being asked after it was announced that HMRC would adopt a new strategy in dealing with tax disputes.
Instead of taking a ‘black and white’ approach, resulting in court proceedings or no action at all, they will look to be more pragmatic in seeking agreements with individuals.
Over the last month the coalition government has been taking suggestions from the public on how they can save money quickly and effectively. Some have argued for the scrapping of the digital switchover while others have suggested making MP’s use hostels rather than a have a second home.
A number of people have also taken the opportunity to argue for the repeal of IR35…
National Freelancers Day may still be a few months away, but this year’s event already looks set to reflect the growing recognition of flexible-working as an increasingly important part of the UK’s economy.
Last year’s event was the first of its kind and was successful in further promoting the virtues of freelance working. But the PCG has already got some heavyweight backing for the event when it returns on November 23…
Last week the Government announced a 52% cut in the amount spent on advertising and marketing, leading to 287 redundancies.
One of the few Government campaigns to escape the axe was the HMRC’s ‘paying business taxes’ series of adverts which surely reveals a determination to ensure that businesses don’t escape their tax paying responsibilities. Freelancers and contractors should be on their guard.
The Federation of Small Businesses has recently predicted that over 300,000 new small firms will be set up over the next year.
Many of these will be people leaving corporate companies to go it alone as a freelancer, some by choice, others by necessity. It’s further evidence that for many people freelancing is the way forward.
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,News
Great news for freelancers and contractors looking for freelance work from a recent survey conducted by freelance marketplace PeoplePerHour.com.
The survey reveals how the recession has affected small businesses’ approach to flexible hiring, results show that the freelance economy has been an ‘ace’ for small-businesses during the recession whilst there is also conclusive evidence that small businesses intend to adopt the flexible hiring method for the long run.
“Ten years after its introduction, the review of IR35 finally got underway, signaling the beginning of the end for the tax. The Government announced the terms of reference for the long-awaited review of small business tax measures. The new Office of Tax Simplification will look at the issue and have been specifically tasked with trying [...]
It’s good news for UK contractors after the coalition government’s launch of the new Office of Tax Simplification. The body will be tasked with making the tax system in the UK less complex, which will include a review of IR35.
The swift launch suggests that the government is looking to change the tax system sooner rather than later.
Michael Rose | Getting a Job,News
Despite cuts across the board, overall, UK business is seeing a positive change thanks to the new Government. Tax breaks, including extended relief on the increase in Capital Gains Tax and National Insurance have been introduced and support for SMEs has been very positive.
To mark the importance of SMEs, The Startups Awards 2010 have added a Home Business of the Year category to their annual awards.
The PCG has been awarded two accolades at the prestigious Trade Association Forum 2010 Best Practice Awards in London. The award represents good news for freelancers and contractors for whom the PCG works.
IR35 has been the biggest issue for the PCG ever since its inception – and now that the coalition government has promised to review and replace the complex ‘disguised employment’ legislation, it seems that their work may get the biggest reward of all.
Depressing news from the BBC today shows that graduate unemployment is up 2% on last year with the worst news for Computer Science graduates — with unemployment rates at 17%.
While we’d hope that Computer Science students are going for Freelance or Contracting jobs the data shows a worrying trend in ex-students signing on and remaining unemployed for six months or more.
In case you missed George Osbourne’s Emergency Budget here are the highlights for Freelancers:
HM Treasury have just released a series of graphs and charts displaying the past ten years of UK economy data.
Well worth a look if you’re interested in UK economic performance.
Cuts in the Budget June 2010
See a live, updated, visualisation of where the cuts are happening.
Chancellor George Osborne delivers his Emergency Budget on the 22nd June. But what will it mean for freelancers? Join the PCG for comprehensive and insightful analysis. What will the red box contain this time for freelancers, in an era of austerity and cuts?
PCG will be providing live coverage at http://twitter.com/insidepcg from noon.
A report by PeoplePerHour.com – the online marketplace for freelancers and contractors – has uncovered some interesting data about how much money local councils spend on web services.
Update: The competition is now closed, the votes are in, winner announced soon
It’s not quite the World Cup but, after that, it’s surely THE most interesting competion of 2010 :)
We’re launching a sister-site Contractor Advisor and we’re looking for your help.
Hello there!
The more eagle-eyed of you may have noticed a few subtle changes to the Freelance Advisor site recently. If you’ve not noticed then take a look… you’ll see it is looking a little smarter, tidier and, we hope, more readable. We’ve also added Google Search (let’s face it the old search worked… but only just!).
I also wanted to let you in on a few of the Big Plans™ we’ve got for the future.
PCG, the voice of the UK’s 1.4 million freelance workers, has responded positively to yesterday’s Queen’s Speech. The Speech outlined plans to make the tax system fairer and simpler, welcome news for many PCG members who have struggled under the ‘IR35’ legislation. Commenting, PCG Managing Director John Brazier said: “This builds on the Government’s announcement [...]
PCG was established to fight the introduction of IR35, so today’s announcement that it is to be replaced will be welcomed by freelance workers throughout the UK.
In the Coalition’s full programme for Government, published today (20th May) the Government declares it will:
The commitment appears as the fourth of 20 priorities for improving the UK’s ability to do business.
Following an unprecedented period of political uncertainty after the election of the first hung parliament for decades, PCG (the professional association supporting freelancers, contractors and consultants) have welcomed the fact that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were able to put together a coalition to tackle the current economic crisis.
PCG believe that the members of the new Government will work together to address the issues faced by freelancers. In particular they will continue to encourage both parties to pursue the abolition or full review of the unfair IR35 tax, which hinders the ability of freelance workers to contribute to the UK’s economic recovery.
Following an article on Contractor UK’s website last week “Scrapping IR35 is not the answer, say Tories,” PCG, the largest UK organisation representing freelancers and contractors, are remaining optimistic in their campaign to overturn the UK’s IR35 leglislation.
According to a PCG spokesman they have now had a series of “fruitful and productive” meetings with various political parties and they detect from all political sides “a desire for a revision of IR35 legislation”.
With the General Election fast approaching, prospective parliamentary candidates will be out and about, doggedly canvassing on the streets in your neighbourhood.
The Professional Contractor’s Group (PCG) has produced a Guide to possible questions you can ask your candidate should they appear on your doorstep, with useful background information on some of the main issues facing freelancers.
Research from The Open University Business School has revealed that only one in nine small firms (11%) are implementing post-recession recovery plans. These firms are also the most optimistic about their immediate prospects.
Some 15% of small firms are currently developing their post-recession recovery plans, but 23% do not see the need to bother as their existing plans are already working.
A lot has been said about the Digital Economy Bill. But it looks like too little has been said too late. Last night’s final reading, and the resultant Twitter response, has a silver-lining, more and more people are aware of parliamentary procedure, have read the bill, and have voiced their dissent.
But this bill could have a real impact on digital creatives and anyone with a shared network. We’d love to hear from any freelancers or contractors who think their work and project will be affected by the new bill. As it stands it looks like Internet Cafes and Co-working places might be most affected by the proposed changes in law — effectively any wireless hotspot owner will be liable for all content accessed via their network… and your entire network can be shut down, or given limited business threatening access, for any one possible infringement.
How this will play out in practice remains to be seen, but we’d be very interested to hear from co-working spaces and cafe owners who think they might be affected… and what steps you might be taking to get around, or comply, with the proposed law.
With 72% of small businesses stating that new business generation was their top priority in 2010, they are turning to technologies they know will quickly and easily bring them new clients through the door. These technologies are still websites and telephones over newer methods such as social media.
When asked whether social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, has been useful in generating new business, 63% answered no, with a staggering 75% not knowing how to use social media effectively for new business generation…
The PCG’s continued lobbying of Tory top-brass has finally paid off in a firm commitment to a review of IR35 legislation by a future Conservative government.
The Conservative Party made the landmark announcement today that IR35 will be reviewed as part of an overall review of small business taxation should they win the General Election in May.
In a letter today to Chris Bryce, PCG Chairman, the Shadow Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP said that due to PCG’s strong representations to him and to Shadow Treasury Ministers “a Conservative Government would undertake a fundamental review of small business taxation matters, including IR35.”
Fledgling freelancers, contractors and small business owners have a chance to win a share of £20,000 in a new award, the People Per Hour Virtual Business Award 2010. Aim at rewarding, new, fledgling companies that make progressive use of the web and technology in the way they operate, innovate and compete the awards are the first of their kind.
Organised by [People Per Hour][] and sponsored by [Crunch][] are looking for companies that can demonstrate how they have used the web in innovate ways to remain lean, efficient and competitive.
The PCG’s John Brazier and Brookson’s Martin Hesketh respond to Alistair Darling’s budget.
How will the changes affect you and your business?
The deadline for online VAT returns is drawing close. As from April 1st this year, it becomes mandatory to file online.
Businesses that do not comply with the new online regulations will face a fine from HMRC.
A national advertising campaign highlighting Britain’s Brain Gain has been launched, spotlighting the rich talent pool amongst the UK’s 1.4 million freelance workers and highlighting their £82 billion contribution to our economic output.
The newspaper campaign and the Britain’s Brain Gain website reflects on the ability, imagination and effectiveness of freelance workers throughout the UK.
As electioneering and policy pledges seem to have started in earnest the PCG, the representative body for freelancers, contractors and consultants in the UK, is marking the New Year by calling on Government and policy framers to take a fresh approach to freelancing at the start of a new decade.
Download the Freelancers Manifesto
Monday marked the first ever National Freelancers Day with a series of events hosted by the Professional Contractors Group (PCG) up and down the country.
Freelance Advisor, Crunch and Freelancer Mortgages Made Easy hosted an event in Brighton with over 50 freelancers and it was a fantastic success.
National Freelancer Day videos are also now available to view online.
“Bigger is dumber…..” according to Sir Tom Farmer, founder of Kwik-Fit. Along with several other business leaders, Sir Tom has come out in support of tapping into freelancers’ talents as the country strives to get back on its feet over the next decade and beyond. Via NationalFreelancersDay.org
As we approach ‘National Freelancers Day’ Freelance Advisor has created a new ‘Future of Freelancing’ section to focus on debate about the the biggest opportunities and threats to freelancing and contracting.
What does the recession mean to us? Do we get the help we deserve from the government? How important are we to the economy’s recovery? What is the role of technology in the future?
You may have heard that 23rd November is National Freelancers Day. The aim of the day is to gain wider recognition for the contribution that Freelancers, consultants, interims and contractors make to the UK economy.
We’re helping the PCG promote the day as their support for freelancers and lobbying for all of our interests in Parliament is vital.
Help the cause by completing our Freelancer survey
This week the FSA chief executive Hector Sants outlined a radical shake-up in the mortgage market. The new proposals by The Financial Services Authority (FSA) include a ban on all Self-Certification Mortgages.
This is potentially worrying news for Freelancers and Contractors as Self Certification Mortgages were designed for workers who have trouble proving their income in a conventional manner such as freelancers, contractors, self employed, and company directors but Ian Burrows at Freelancer Mortgages Made easy actually welcomes the news…
New in the Freelancer Hot Tub this week:
* Little known ways to find freelance work (Feature)
* 6 things that may happen if you falsely claim expenses
* Potted guide to IR35
* Freelance Rates: What do you charge?
PCG, the representative body for freelancers, contractors and consultants in the UK, has launched its ‘Spirit of freelancing’ campaign to capture thoughts and ideas from freelancers in the run up to Monday 23rd November, National Freelancers Day.
PCG is urging its members and other freelancers to get involved and send PCG their views on what freelancing is all about, what it means to them and how they would define it.
Read on for details on how you can get involved.
The specialist freelancer and contractor-focused accountancy world is hotting up as Crunch continues to cause ripples in the sector. It’s been a busy month for Crunch with the news that the all-in-one online accountancy service has received investment from Bebo co-founder Paul Birch and Skype chairman Michael van Swaaij. Combined with news of an award [...]
Today we are pleased to announce that Freelance Advisor have teamed up with employment specialists Workline UK to bring you essential, free-advice on employment and contract topics.
November 23rd, a date for your diary. Why? Because it is a day of recognition for the contribution that freelancers and contractors make to UK economy, a day to be proud of who you are and what you do. To help mark the day the PCG have launched a dedicated National Freelancers Day website.
Whether you are looking for a job or just some advice on how to run your business the UK Freelance Forum is here to help.
Read on to register…
You may have noticed that this week we’ve added Facebook Connect, Twitter and OpenID logins to Freelance Advisor. This is part of our plans to energize the FA community and create a trusted network of Freelance Advisors who can help each other with the questions, queries, advice and collaboration. We’ve opted for the DisQus commenting [...]
The PCG, the association that represents freelancers and contractors in the UK, has revealed the exact amount of money raised by the Government’s IR35 tax regulation rules.
Following a request under the Freedom of Information Act to HMRC, asking just how much tax revenue IR35 raises for the exchequer, PCG have found that between tax years 2002/03 and 2007/08, IR35 directly raised just £9.2 million. This equates to an average of around only £1.5 million per tax year – a tiny sum in Governmental terms.
Emma Jones | Getting a Job,News
In best-selling book ‘The Long Tail’ author Chris Anderson says the future of business does not lie in blockbuster hits but in niche products. Home businesses up and down the land are testimony to this. Emma Jones looks at why niche is good and showcases a few shining examples.
Brighton and Hove-based freelancers have the opportunity to attend free events aimed at helping small businesses survive the economic downturn.
The Business Lifebelt events have been developed in partnership with Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce and Business Link Sussex to provide relevant advice to businesses operating in the area.
Having a supportive spouse can be the key to a business’ success or failure, new research has found.
The research, by Bibby Financial Services, found that 38 per cent of spouses believed their partner working weekends was acceptable when running a business, and 44 per cent believed working late nights was also acceptable.
Xchangeteam Crowns PR & Communications Consultant Freelancer of the Year Freelance Design consultant, Anna Cowie, has been named Freelancer of the Year for 2008 by leading recruiter Xchangeteam. Anna beat more than 300 entrants and 45 finalists to take the overall title, having been victorious in the Design category, sponsored by Design Week, earlier in [...]
Small businesses in the UK are unhappy with the support they are receiving from the government, a poll has revealed.
The poll of 4,000 small traders and freelancers by the Federation of Small Businesses revealed the traders believe the Government’s efforts to stimulate the economy had so far made no impact.
Kasey Brunt | Getting a Job,News
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has released a series of online video guides to help businesses and start-ups understand their tax requirements. The guides cover a variety of topics, including VAT, corporation tax and PAYE. They also cover areas such as importing and exporting, keeping accurate records, and things to consider when employing other people. [...]
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has launched a guide to help businesses plan downturn survival strategies. The “Eight ways to survive the downturn” guide, which can be downloaded at www.icaew.com, aims to provide businesses with practical help and topics to help them through the credit crunch. The guide includes information [...]
A leading business organisation says small firms are still having trouble accessing finance, despite Government lending guarantees. The Forum of Private Business (FPB) says its members have reported they are still unable to access finance from banks, despite the Government implementing schemes such as the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, designed to help small businesses access bank [...]
Small businesses go green Small businesses are ‘going green’ in a bid to save costs, an expert says. Erica Russell, a sustainable business advisor from Business Link, said many small companies were adopting recycling methods and using low-energy applications in an effort to cut down on costs. “When switching off your lights could save you [...]
Government unveils plan to help small business’ cash flow problems THE British Government will guarantee up to £20bn in loans to UK small businesses to help them manage cash flow problems in the current economic downturn. Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson unveiled his “real help for small to medium businesses” plan this week, saying its [...]
FEMALE business owners remain optimistic despite the economic crisis, a survey has revealed. The business risk survey, undertaken by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, found 58 per cent of female business owners believe their business will grow in 2009. And 13 per cent said they would take their business to an international level in [...]
Kasey Brunt | Lifestyle & Time out,News
Media freelancers are being urged to take a wellbeing survey from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). The NUJ survey aims to assess the well-being of freelance journalists based in the UK. Those who take part in the online survey will be asked questions about their work, and how their job affects their social life [...]
Freelancer News: by freelance news journalist Kasey Brunt Help needed for small software contractors, says report A GOVERNMENT system should be simplified to help out smaller businesses, a report has found. The joint Intellect and the British Computer Society report has recommended the government procurement system allowing software firms to apply for public-sector contracts be [...]
