All the latest news from Caunce O'Hara http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news/index Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on PCG lobbying hard to ensure AWD proposals continue to exclude contractors from scope The Agency Workers Directive (AWD) still looks likely to exclude contractors who work through Limited Companies. The Government has published detailed draft regulations and is consulting on them until December. The Directive aims to give "agency workers" equal treatment after 12 weeks in the same post, with regards to pay, holidays, and working time.Originally, it appeared likely that this would inclu http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1193 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on PCG makes formal submission to Chancellor ahead of Pre-Budget Report PCG has made a formal written submission to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, ahead of this year's Pre-Budget Report. In the submission, PCG Chairman Chris Bryce sets out a number of issues affecting freelancers and contractors for the Chancellor's consideration. Mr Bryce points out the urgent need to repeal IR35 and to drop proposals for "Income Shifting" legislation. The need to re-examine sections 44- http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1183 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on New scheme could boost graduate specialist skills A new Government initiative could pay dividends for budding young freelancers looking to gain valuable specialist skills.Dan Hawes, Co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, suggested that economic growth could be boosted by the programme - which is designed to enhance individual expertise. He noted that the scheme could give university-leavers "a valuable injection of skills. I think it is a good idea."Commenting on t http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1173 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on Self-employed freelancers 'could gain from support' Freelance consultants and contractors could gain from greater financial support, judging by the comments of an expert.People who have been denied loans - such as contractors - may be among those who can benefit if banks step in as an intermediary. The comments follow the announcement of plans by the Royal Bank of Scotland and Natwest to provide a telephone and email service for those looking for financial help.Commenting http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1163 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on IT security 'crucial for freelancers' Freelance consultants and contractors in IT may take an interest in details relating to the future of security investments for the sector.According to information released by Wick Hill, there are a number of areas that will see growth in 2010. Data protection through the use of encryption could become increasingly important, which may see an increase in remote working, the report noted.Internet security could undergo changes, as more i http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1153 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on Freelancers may benefit from higher IT spending Small consultancies are spending more money on freelancers and contractors in the IT sector, judging by an expert's comments.Rakesh Pabi, Director of Consulting Point, suggested that self-employed IT workers could benefit from the effects of an economic upturn. He explained that consultancies are "offering bonuses to those contractors that can bring new clients to their business", according to Contractor UK.Previously, the Co http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1143 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on Freelancers 'should watch out for email scam' People with freelance talent are among those who could be affected by a widespread email scam offering false tax refunds.According to HMRC, there were 83,000 fraudulent emails sent to the organisation in September. John Harrison, the body's Head of Customer Contact Online, said that individuals should be on the lookout for such messages, adding: "We only contact customers who are due a refund in writing by post. We never use emails, teleph http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1133 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on ‘Contractors should prepare now for higher income tax' Despite the prior warnings in both the Pre-Budget Report and the Budget itself, many contractors affected by the new 50% income tax rate have yet to act. Whilst the new tax year may still seem like a long way off, contractors who act now might save thousands of pounds, ensuring that more of their hard-earned cash ends up in their hands rather than lining the taxman's pockets. Tax planningIf, like many contractors, you operat http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1123 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on ‘Clarke pledges "right kind of regulation' Freelance consultants and contractors may welcome news that a senior member of the shadow cabinet has pledged to introduce the "right kind of regulation".The comments refer to new Conservative party proposals to reduce the extent of business red tape. Shadow Business Secretary Ken Clarke said: "It's high http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1113 Professional Passport has in the last month published an article on ‘Pre Budget Report 2009 - Summary' Throughout 2009 HMRC have released consultations and results of investigations that lead many of us to think this years Pre Budget could hold some surprises.  This was always balanced by the fact that the Report is being delivered with a backdrop of a General Election Just around the corner.  The Pre Budget Report has delivered no surprises or shocks and nothing that could be seen as directed at the temporary workers market - a pleasant surprise. We http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1103 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on ‘Skills and experience 'can help beat recession' Those with skills and experience can help lift the UK out of recession, judging by the comments of an expert.A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills explained that people with specialised abilities could look to seize upon opportunities presented by the new global economy. She said it is important that the skills base in the UK is expanded in order to achieve successful long-term results for business http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1093 On National Freelancers Day, Caunce O'Hara showed its support for the Freelance Community by attending the event at the Britannia Hotel in Manchester.  The Manchester event was well chaired by Freelancer and PCG Council representative Chris Bell. Along with an experienced panel of experts consisting of Rob Crossland Managing Director of umbrella company Parasol, Jim Dutton Specialist Tax Manager at Beever and Struthers and Brad Lamb Director of Venturi, they fielded questions during a lively debate on the issues that effect the community on a daily basis.  Des http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1083 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on ‘Businesses 'need more governmental support on tax and regulation' Enterprise professionals from across the UK are calling for a new approach to supporting entrepreneurs and freelancers, research from the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies has found. http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1073 Caunce O'Hara & Co Ltd is delighted to offer full support and recognition to the National Freelancers Day on 23rd November.  Caunce O'Hara is proud to be a sponsor of the Edinburgh event and we are pleased to have representatives at both the London and Manchester events who will be on hand to offer any advice, support and assistance to you as well as supporting the event. Chris Caunce, Director, will be at the House of Commons on Monday and is very much looking forward to meeting freelance consultants, interim managers and contractors and offering the ful http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1063 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on 'IT freelancers 'could drive economic recovery' One of the keys to overcoming the recession could be the growth of IT entrepreneurs, according to an expert whose remarks could interest freelance consultants and contactors in the sector.Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft, suggested that an economic upturn could be accelerated by a rise in new technologies and expertise. He added: "Countries that foster innovation and invest in infrastructure, education and skills devel http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1053 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on ' Less unfair business taxation 'would help entrepreneurs'' Entrepreneurs and freelancers could benefit if there was less unfair business taxation, judging by the comments of an expert.Self-employed people looking to set up their own company are held back by http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1043 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on ' National Contract Rate Checker launched for IT Contractors ' SJD Accountancy, well known for it's extensive advice giving website and take home pay calculator, has just launched a brand new http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1033 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on ‘State spending cuts to trim IT budgets' The first specific plans to cut public spending in the IT sector have emerged, effectively jeopardising the future of several state-run computer programmes .They were issued this week not by Gordon Brown, but by a Liberal Democrat and a Conservative minister, indicating the schemes should be safe if Labour is re-elected. However the prime minister has hinted that IT should expect cutbacks, as he vowed on Wednesday to "cut unnecessary programmes and cut lo http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1023 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on ‘IT firms grow more resilient to closure' An upturn in confidence among IT firms seen last month appears to have been more than just wishful thinking, fresh insolvency figures for the sector indicated yesterday.The research, carried out by Experian and said to be the most comprehensive view of business failures, shows that the number of jobless IT owner-managers is falling. Taken with findings from a poll of businesses, also conducted in August, the figures suggest that, while they are the most http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1013 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on ‘Business Link keeps quiet on the self-employed' Exactly how much cash the government's showpiece service for enterprise has spent on helping start-ups and the self-employed during the recession is to be kept secret. Mark Harper, shadow work and pension minister, wanted to know what proportion of Business Link's £207million annual budget went on new and one-person ventures.He asked Lord Mandelson's Business Department to cite the costs the service incurred from providing and delivering sup http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=1003 Professional Broking Magazine has in the last month published an article on 'Construction in crisis. Recessionary pressure is hitting the construction industry harder than most. Emmanuel Kenning reviews an insurer's advice to brokers supporting clients Of all the sectors affected by the recession, construction can arguably claim to have suffered the most.  With just over 2.2 million people still employed in the UK's construction industry, most brokers are likely to have a construction firm or related company as a client. Key construction industry indices http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=993 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on ‘Older contractors can make the most of bigger tax shelters' What has the government said?Alistair Darling, the chancellor, announced in the Budget this year that the limits on Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), the popular tax shelters, would increase to £10,200. But whereas individuals aged under 50 have to wait until April 6th 2010, for the over-50s the start date for these beefed-up ISAs is October 6th 2009.How does the new allowance work? http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=983 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on: HM Revenue & Customs has launched a new internet service allowing people to report any individual or businesses that they suspect of evading tax.Unveiling the online facility, the department said its existing efforts to catch taxpayers who try to cheat the system have already recovered £42million since 2005.It added that clamping down on tax evaders was a "key priority," partly evidenced by HMRC now being able to charge penalties of up to 100% for deliberate evasion.Anyone with http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=973 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on ‘IT firms using tax deferral scheme more than financers' It may have felt the most confident and been less inclined to make lay-offs , but the IT sector has needed a respite from the taxman more than the troubled financial services industry.In fact, almost http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=963 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on ‘Five-month wait to register for VAT' Small companies are struggling to set up and expand because of delays of up to five months waiting for the taxman to issue VAT numbers.Issuing the alert, a chartered accountant said that rather than registering most firms for VAT within two weeks, HMRC was now taking anywhere between 12 and 20 weeks.Not only does this restrict a firm's capacity to trade, but it can also hike the cost of registering to £2,000, up from a few hundreds pounds a short time http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=953 ContractorUK has in the last month published an article on 'BBC regulars set up service companies to avoid 50% tax rate' Tax officials tasked with enforcing the IR35 legislation must be rubbing their hands at some of the BBC’s highest paid presenters following a probe by a Sunday newspaper. According to the investigation, 20 of the corporation’s long-serving journalists have set up service companies that result in them paying less tax than if they were emplo http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=943 We are delighted to announce that the Insurance Institute of Manchester has awarded Caunce O'Hara & Co Ltd the title of General Insurance Broker of the Year 2009/10. At a glittering award ceremony held at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester on 24th September 2009 the judges said the following:- The three finalists all put forward outstanding entries, causing difficulties for the judges.  The judges said the following about the winner From a scratch start in 1995, this company have shown year on year g http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=933 Caunce O'Hara are official shirt sponsors for Sale FC and on Saturday 5th September 2009 Caunce O'Hara staff attended the first game of the season against Wigan, which Sale won 50 - 17 Also that weekend Sale FC hosted a training day for their junior team Sale Scorpions. We would like to thank everyone at Sale FC for their hospitality we wish them all the best for the coming season http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=913 Freelancing Matters has in the last month published an article on "IR35 rakes in punitive sums"; "Following a request under the Freedom of Information Act to HMRC, asking just how much tax revenue IR35 raises for the exchequer, PCG can divulge 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. HMRC expected the measure to generate £220 million per year in National Insurance contributions alone, thus demonstratin http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=883 Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has in the last month published an article on 'PCG welcomes the Government's tightening of work permit' PCG, the voice of UK freelancers, has expressed disappointment at the findings of the Migration Advisory Committee's (MAC) Report on the abuse of the Work Permit system. The Committee, tasked with advising ministers on immigration policy, has just released its recommendations on how to reform "Intra Company Transfer" (ICT) work permits, which are frequently abused by large companies. ICTs often lead to the displacement of skilled resident http://www.caunceohara.co.uk/news?news_id=873