Where are you now?

In March 2000, UKTECH ran a poll asking freelancers 'Where are you now?' Three years on, we are repeating the exercise.

At the time of the original poll, IR35 was a few weeks away from becoming a reality; the IT market where many freelancers operated was more buoyant; the outsourcing of projects and the arrival of fast track visa applicants had not yet had any real impact; rate cuts happened to an unlucky few and the prevalent attitude was more 'Can Do, Stuff You' than 'Gizza Job'.

Three years ago, there was a mood among many freelancers that if the Government was intent on making life difficult for them to operate in the UK, then there were plenty of other places where they would be welcomed with open arms.

Although there was no head count at the airports and ports as contractors quit for sunnier climes, there was a certain amount of anecdotal evidence that many freelancers were actively demonstrating they were a mobile, flexible workforce.

In the UKTECH poll of March 2000, more than 1,000 freelancers answered: Where are you now?

• USA 1 per cent
  
• Holland 3 per cent
  
• Germany 3 per cent
  
• Ireland 0 per cent
  
• Switzerland 1 per cent
  
• None of these 6 per cent
  
• UK - waiting to go 37 per cent
  
• UK - will stay 44 per cent

The message indicated that, at the time, more than half of those who replied were actively considering leaving the UK. This was supported by other surveys and reports that there was a move to move. There have even been reports that this threatened brain drain was the trigger for the introduction of the fast track visa scheme, but this attempt at justifying the FTVs is flawed at a most basic level when it is realised that the FTVs pre-date IR35 and were the product of different agendas.

Nevertheless for some, the move abroad became a reality with mixed results. There were resounding success stories for some but for others came the realisation that the grass wasn't greener. For a variety of reasons, for many it remained an unfulfilled dream or ambition.

Three years on the UK - and worldwide market place - is very different. We are repeating the survey of three years ago to see if there is any significant difference.

You can participate in the 2003 'Where are you now?' poll on UKTECH's front page at www.UKTECH

After you have registered and voted, you will be able to see the results.