Contractors will be “impossible to ignore”, as PCG rebrands to IPSE
Contractors will have a “louder, stronger voice” that will be “impossible to ignore” as PCG rebrands to become the Association of Independent Professionals and Self-Employed (IPSE). The move will widen the membership base to include UK’s much larger community of self-employed sole traders and partnerships. “By positioning ourselves to provide support, services and assistance to anyone working alone, we will have a louder, stronger voice when it comes to changing legislation and securing a fairer, better environment for this vibrant sector of the UK’s labour force,” explains PCG/IPSE chief executive Chris Bryce. More...
Oil and gas contractor prospects buoyed by demand growth overseas
Oil and gas contractor prospects are looking increasingly positive as demand growth for their services is increasing in all major oil and gas producing regions except for Europe and Australia. This is according to the Hays Oil & Gas Global Job Index Quarter 2 2014, which also highlights that during the second quarter “the job markets in South America, Africa and the CIS were particularly strong”. The report goes on to say: “We expect continued growth in the job market…throughout Q3 and the rest of the year.” More...
Contractors can use the latest WEF report to profile attractive contracting markets
Contractors looking for the most attractive locations when searching for overseas contracts can use the latest Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Many of the top ten most competitive countries, including the UK in ninth place, are also popular contracting markets. The report also highlights those countries that may be less attractive to contractors, although those with niche skills and in sectors such as oil and gas, energy, mining and infrastructure may still find lucrative contracts in these locations. More...
Contractors excluded from local authority contracts, as procurement favours big firms
Contractors are being excluded from local authority contracts, as procurement is “tilted in favour” of big business. New research by the Centre for Entrepreneurs shows that only 4% of some local authority budgets goes to small suppliers. IPSE’s chief executive Chris Bryce notes that his organisation’s own findings support those of the Centre for Entrepreneurs: “Research by IPSE shows that 57% of freelancers would not consider bidding for government contracts because of the unnecessarily lengthy, difficult and expensive process of bidding. Our research also shows that many have not bid for the contracts because they were not even aware the contracts are available.” More...
Contractors to benefit from African energy industry boom
Contractors across all core contracting disciplines, including oil and gas and engineering, could benefit from a predicted energy industry boom in Africa. Yahoo! Finance reports on a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers that highlights: “Six of the top 10 global discoveries in 2013 were made in Africa, with more than 500 companies now exploring across the continent.” Indigenous demand for oil and gas is also forecast to increase, which in turn will lead to an infrastructure boom across the continent generating further contracts beyond oil and gas. More...
Contractor demand increases across the UK economy during August
Contractor demand and hiring increased for a further month across the UK’s manufacturing, construction and services sectors. August 2014’s Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Purchasing Managers’ Indexes (PMIs) all remain in growth territory, and show that activity is broad-based in all three economic sectors. This is encouraging, as it helps to insulate contractors from sudden downturns in activity in specific markets.
- Growth in the manufacturing sector slowed down during August but hiring continued to increase for the 16th consecutive month, according to the Manufacturing PMI. Hiring growth has been driven mainly by small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Encouragingly, the growth remains broad-based, and not purely consumer driven
- Hiring in construction during August was maintained at levels near to July’s record increase. The UK Construction PMI also shows that growth in the industry is strong across all three main sectors: residential, civil engineering and commercial
- The UK Services PMI highlights that growth in the UK services sector was at a ten-month high during August. Clients are continuing to hire contractors and employees to fulfil new business demands, and also investing in marketing to increase sales.
IT contractors in demand, as IT recruiters across the UK grew by 7.4% during 2013
IT contractors and IT recruiters have emerged from the 2008-2009 slow down, according to a new report on the sector by Keynote, and the IT recruitment sector grew by 7.3% during 2013 as a result. Staffing Industry Analysts also write that Keynote’s report highlights limited company and umbrella company IT contractors “will continue to be very much in demand, with the report noting strong concern across the UK about a significant IT skills shortage”. Contractors seeking the predicted growth areas should specifically focus on big data, security and enterprise software. More...
Umbrella contractors can’t afford to live on statutory sick pay, shows new research
Umbrella company contractors “cannot afford to maintain a living on statutory sick pay (SSP)” if they were unable to work due to long-term illness. New research by PMI Health Group, reported by ONREC, shows that three-quarters of employees believe SSP would not cover living costs, and how important it is for all contractors to make provision for time off sick. “The study highlights a protection gap in the UK, as half of all workers do not have a sufficient level of protection in the event of long-term illness,” explains PMI Health Group director Mike Blake. More...
Contractors are invited to “have your say” in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement 2014
Contractors have the opportunity to offer “original and innovative ideas” that will be considered by the Treasury and could make it into the Chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement 2014. The statement is due to take place on 3 December 2014, and Business, charities and members of the public have been asked to submit their views by 17 October. More...