| Forget misty mellow fruitfulness, Autumn 2007 could largely be remembered for its pumpkin crisis and mix’n’match weather!
According to a well known online encyclopaedia, autumn is characterised as a melancholy season - the possibilities of summer are gone, and the chill of winter is on the horizon. Skies turn grey, and people turn inward, both physically and mentally. Before you head for the gin bottle/biscuit barrel, take a few minutes to peruse our latest newsletter…
Advertisers
We were delighted to welcome PCG as a new advertiser in September – PCG was formed in May 1999 to provide independent contractors and consultants with a representative voice in opposition to the original IR35 proposals. Since then, they have evolved from being a single-issue campaign group to being a fully fledged, not-for-profit professional body representing knowledge workers who choose to be self-employed.
High number of rogue tax investigations results in formal calls for Government duty of care over commercial interests of freelancers
A recent survey by the not for profit freelancer’s trade association PCG, found that 73 per cent of freelancers believe the tax man is determined to extract as much money as possible from them, and 69 per cent claimed that tax inspectors take a 'guilty until proven innocent' attitude. Of the 1,431 IR35 tax investigations known to PCG, tax was found to be owed in only four cases.
Following a formal consultation with HMRC, PCG has therefore argued that tax inspectors should not launch rogue investigations and should close any necessary investigations quickly and at minimal cost.
PCG’s policy officer John Kell commented: Many freelancers have had costly and distressing experiences of dealing with HMRC, even when they did not owe any tax. It is quite wrong that HMRC can just walk away.
He continued: Freelancers and other small businesses have very little trust in HMRC so it's high time that HMRC was put under a legal obligation not to harm peoples' commercial interests. There's currently no mechanism for compensation for the stress and loss of earnings that a lengthy Revenue investigation can bring. PCG believes that must change.
To download PCG’s formal consultation document submitted to HMRC and get your FREE guide to freelancing, please visit [link]www.pcg.org.uk/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3072&Itemid=427[/link]
ContractorUmbrella
ContractorUmbrella continues to provide excellent business services for all freelancers and contractors. Feel free to ask the experts for advice and guidance on getting to grips with the financial side of freelancing/contract work rather than wade through paperwork, forms and tax returns. Check out their website for a FREE contractor guide at [link]www.contractorumbrella.com/free_guide.html[/link]
Cover your back with PSC insurance!
Business Protection is a Key Ingredient of Your Business Success
Success requires stability and trust. The role and value of insurance is completely underestimated and it will surprise you at how much cover you can get for such little cost.
When you think about insurance, the words boring or mundane will probably spring to mind. Those who think a little deeper about it will probably consider the huge associated costs from a multitude of potentially valueless services. The truth is, insurance isn’t expensive and neither is it a waste of money for you and your company. You wouldn’t drive your car without insurance; neither would you neglect to insure your house, so why do so many people not consider insurance for their companies?
The danger here is that while business insurance is not mandatory, one would be imprudent not to consider the consequences. Sadly, the vision of the future can be a little less realistic than you first imagine. Considering the risks of not being able to work however generates another business dilemma. Insurance is all about protection and having the ability to protect your income will still allow you to grow your enterprise even in times of misfortune. Moreover, finding an employer without insurance can be a stumbling block. The world is getting wary about offering individuals contracts without appropriate assurance of safety.
While there are so many options out there, the task of looking for a suitable set of policies can be a bit of a mine field. PCS Insurance Solutions offer the following extremely valuable policy of:
• Public Liability limit £5,000,000
• Products Liability limit any one claim £5,000,000
• Employers Liability limit any one claim £10,000,000
• Directors & Officers Liability limit any one claim £100,000
• Professional Indemnity limit any one claim £1,000,000
• Personal Accident cover for occupational accidents
• Death £100,000
• Loss of Eyes/Limbs / Permanent Total Disability £50,000
• Temporary Total Disablement (Weekly) £500
Libel and Slander is also covered in the above policy. Contact Kate at PSC Insurance Solutions at freelancersintheUK@pscis.co.uk[/email] for a free no obligation information pack or see [link]www.projectsandpeople.co.uk/rates-for-freelancers-c19.html[/link] at Projects&People for a downloadable pdf.
Working Mums
WorkingMums.co.uk is a unique portal for working mums (and Dads!) everywhere to search for flexible, home based, part time and freelance positions with employers who understand their needs as working parents. Run by a small team of working parents, the site is dedicated to offering alternatives to the traditional 9-5, Monday to Friday roles. The site features full and part time flexible positions, as well as temporary project roles, short-term contracts and freelance opportunities. Visit the site to register, and you can sign up to get work opportunities e-mailed directly to you as soon as they're posted, in your preferred industry sectors. Visit [link]www.workingmums.co.uk/links/Freelancer[/link]
Training and courses
The next Travel Writing Workshop will take place at ITV's London Studios on Saturday 24th November 2007.
The ITV building on London's South Bank is an astounding venue, where a number of hugely popular TV programmes are made, including So Graham Norton, This Morning, Parkinson, Ant and Dec and Friday Night Project. The ITV Travel Writing Workshop is held in the Thames Room on the 14th floor, with views over the river and London. Bring your cameras! The cost is £105 for the full day.
The tutors are Dea Birkett and Rory Maclean, author of Stalin’s Nose and Magic Bus (Radio 4’s Book of the Week). There will also be a guest editor from a national publication, who will share their secrets on what they look for in a travel article. You will have the chance to pitch your idea to the guest editor.
The Workshop day is intensive, designed for those who are beginners or would like to improve their travel writing and get into print. It includes very practical writing exercises as well as ideas on how to get into print.
If you have any queries, would like further details or want to register, please visit [link]www.travelworkshops.co.uk[/link]
Ellie Levenson is leading evening training courses in London for freelance journalists. Courses cover: Freelancing for beginners, Ideas and how to pitch them, Finding case studies/experts and Breaking new markets. For more information, see [link]www.journalist-training.co.uk[/link]
Projects & People
We’ve been refining the projects board after feedback from our members – all projects are now listed as paid/unpaid and there are further enhancements that will be made in the coming weeks. Many of our project posters either don’t stipulate a deadline date or ask us to keep the opportunity listed because there are often further projects usurping the original request. At last count, the projects board had 105 projects. Grab a coffee and take a look! This facility remains exclusive to registered members of Freelancers In The UK.. so if you've let your membership lapse, please think again!
Our Freelancer In Focus for October is Charlie Wilson who is also spotlighted (spotlit?!) at Projects & People – see [link]www.freelancersintheuk.co.uk/content.php?categoryId=317[/link].
If you’d like to be featured in 2008, just drop me an email. It’s an additional boost for your profile!
As a special gesture to spread the word this autumn, we’re inviting all existing members of Freelancers In The UK to further increase their cyber clout by sending us a piece for inclusion in our Freelancers’ Comments section – this will link back to your personal entry at the site and will remain live for as long as the site is! Just email katie@freelancersintheuk.co.uk[/email] with your offering. Nothing too contentious – incest and morris-dancing are definitely out.
That’s it. Enjoy the rest of the melancholic season before the seasonal helter skelter slide towards Christmas! Please do get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!
With best wishes,
Kate, James and the team at Freelancers In The UK/Projects & People
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh
|
