Contractors Boosted By Renewed Business Confidence

UK contractors have been boosted by the results of a recent survey which show confidence in the economy is returning to businesses and that many businesses are forecasting growth of at least ten per cent by the end of 2011. The results are from the European Business Awards and surveyed businesses across all industries. read more...

Free Events To Help Contractors Improve Their Web Presence

The Forum of Private Business (FPB) are hosting a series of free regional networking events where freelance contractors and business owners will be able to learn how to use search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques to help highlight their products and services to potential customers. read more...

Contractors Lifted By Economic Forecast

The news comes from the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC). In newly released figures it has a revised financial prediction. It now estimates that 2010 will see GDP growth of around 1.7% in 2010 and approximately 2.2% next year. This is a considerable increase on the original forecasts of 1.3% and 2.0% for 2010 and 2011. read more...

CIOT Welcome Government Pension Tax Relief Proposals

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) have welcomed the Coalition Governments proposed pensions tax relief changes as an improvement over the previous Governments plans, however they [CIOT] say that there are still issues to be resolved to make the proposals workable. read more...

Cuts in IT Contractor Positions Announced

Both Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Life announced today that they intend to cut IT contractor jobs over the next two years. read more...

New Union For Entrepreneurs Could Benefit Contractors

To provide a new voice to represent small business owners, some of the leading entrepreneurs in the UK along with online communities including BusinessZone.co.uk are uniting to form a new union. read more...

REC turns to members in next stage of Public Sector Resourcing campaign

In news that will be of interest to freelance contractors, the REC has revealed that member input will drive the next phase of their Public Sector Resourcing campaign. It is hoped the results of a survey sent out last week will enable the REC to get a clear picture of what is happening on the ground with staffing in the public sector. The results will inform the REC’s communications to procurement bodies and government. read more...

PCG to gauge market from contractor’s views

There has been much uncertainty in the UK economy over the past few years, with the impact of the recession reaching out to shake all sectors, not least in the freelance contractor market, which was rocked by the constant sector and market fluctuations and suffered at the hands of procurement cutbacks and a general pervading lack of commercial confidence. read more...

Assessing the impact of IR35 abolition

The contracting industry will no doubt be cheering the recently released news that the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has been given the priority task of reviewing IR35. Nevertheless, it is crucial that for the time being that the legislation and all the duties it demands remain in place. read more...

HMRC PAYE mistakes highlights tax system complexity

In news which will certainly grab the attention of all freelance contractors, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have revealed that HMRC simply do not have the required workforce to handle all the incoming queries resulting from their recent blunder which will see millions of people receiving PAYE tax rebates or demands for underpaid tax. read more...

Contract and permanent job offers dwindle in August

Freelance contractors will be interested to hear the recently released results of a report on job availability for contract, temporary and permanent workers throughout August, which though still continuing to rise, has mellowed to the slowest rate in 10 months. read more...