The Correspondent

Richard Powell

339 ARTICLES
2000–2005
10 DESKS

BEATS · IR35 · IT CONTRACTING · RECRUITMENT AGENCIES · TECH POLICY

2005

15 NOV 2005Key report shows UK is IT 'underachiever'A Government IT report that was supposed to form the crux of last month's e-summit showed the UK lagging behind competitors.POLITICS

2004

3 MAY 2004Armed eBay user 'wanted to talk' to auction winnerA Louisiana man who lost his eBay bid for a collection of uniforms to a fellow bidder loaded up his gun and drove to New York "to talk to him", a US…IT
9 APR 2004Western work will return if East is overusedWestern demand for Indian IT workers shows little sign of easing.BUSINESS
4 APR 2004Confidence tricksters catch surfers hook, line and sinkerMore web users than ever before are succumbing to the exploits of online fraudsters who, as recent examples show, are using ever more devious methods…IT
17 MAR 2004Why aren't you using Linux?So you want to run a professional system and have heard about Linux being a free alternative to Microsoft's astronomically-priced software.IT
1 MAR 2004'Phishers' net £60m from online bankersOnline bankers in the UK are warned to be vigilant of e-fraudsters in a fresh police crackdown on the multi-million pound scam of "phishing".IT
21 FEB 2004Next-Gen contractors to beat 'old IT'Contractors who re-invent themselves and accept equivalent rates of pay to their Indian outsourcing counterparts' will inherit the future of IT…BUSINESS
6 FEB 2004What's the e-Envoy got to do with IT?Full of good ideas and tall promises at their grandiose introductions, our appointed e-leaders pledge to fight the good fight to boost UK IT for all.POLITICS
24 JAN 2004How IT is shaping up in 2004With rising demand for IT workers, renewed interest in ambitious projects and stable hardware sales, the beginning of 2004 looks to be the tail end…BUSINESS
8 JAN 2004Demand for IT contractors ranks secondThe UK recruitment industry's report on jobs shows IT contractor demand has risen to second out of eight sectors with demand for permanent IT workers…AGENCIES
7 JAN 2004Offshore outsourcing is turning on its mastersThe shift of well-paid technology jobs to India, China and other low-cost offshore centres is beginning to cause Western companies public relations…BUSINESS

2003

10 DEC 2003Counting the casualties of 'outsourcing creep'Twenty-eight companies have outsourced more than 50,000 jobs serving UK customers to India over the past two years, with many more lining up to cut…BUSINESS
13 NOV 2003Making big brother pay: ID card opportunitiesThe UK ID card scheme will include basic personal information, a digital photo and a "biometric" which can include facial recognition, iris scans and…POLITICS
12 NOV 2003E-mail abuse increases at workE-mail and Internet misuse at work has become a big headache for British employers, and UK companies are increasingly disciplining staff for…IT
9 NOV 2003IT contractor demand rises at fastest rate since 1998This month's recruitment industry report from REC shows a leap in the rate of demand for IT contractors over October, with agencies crossing their…AGENCIES
6 NOV 2003IT managers 'are excluded in business'IT professionals are being denied senior level positions as their skills are seen as too niche by senior management to warrant boardroom status, new…BUSINESS
22 OCT 2003Open source of opportunityOpen source and its perceived threat to commercial off-the-shelf software is providing contractors who know where to look with a raft of…IT
7 OCT 2003Middle Eastern appeal for 'resting' contractorsPlying your trade all over the world is a key attraction of IT contracting and one pocket of the planet worth keeping an eye on is the Middle East.BUSINESS
16 SEP 2003IT demand strongest since 1998, says RECDemand for IT contractors was at its strongest since August 1998 last month, according to REC's most recent Report on Jobs.AGENCIES
11 SEP 2003Outsourcing crisis brewing, warns UK CEOOffshore development oversights made several years ago are now rising to the surface with potentially cataclysmic implications, one CEO warns.BUSINESS
3 SEP 2003Online giants go to war against ID thievesGlobal businesses struggling to find an answer to the growing problem of ID theft mounted a united offensive against online fraudsters this week.IT
31 AUG 2003Ireland's bid to rescue beaten ICT BritsIT entrepreneurs whose companies have been raised to the ground by IR35, investigated for being independent and roped up by red tape are being…BUSINESS
6 APR 2003Business execs call IT shotsBusiness chiefs are increasing their involvement in the IT decision-making process, confusing operations and crossing wires between departments…BUSINESS
18 MAR 2003Cambridge is UK's highest paying IT regionCambridge has overtaken London to become the highest paying region in the UK for IT professionals, according to some analysts.BUSINESS
14 MAR 2003IT students get corporate backingIn what may become a growing trend this year, students at the University of Sussex are to receive an annual salary for developing IT systems for…IT
13 MAR 2003World's largest IT gathering hopes to spark growthAbout six and a half thousand businesses from 69 countries gathered at the world's largest IT exhibition in Germany recently, hoping to reinvigorate…BUSINESS
12 MAR 2003Snooping plan updates are not enough, campaigners sayThe Government says snooping plans allowing public bodies unfettered access to citizens' confidential communications have been curbed under new…POLITICS
10 MAR 2003New speed record shows UK broadband upScientists at US and Dutch research laboratories have sent and received data equivalent to two DVD films to each other in under a minute, but…IT
8 MAR 2003Freelance IT demand holding steadyDemand for contract and permanent IT workers held steady in February, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation's Report on Jobs says.BUSINESS
7 MAR 2003Ditched telco leaves freelancers empty-handedThe recent liquidation of British telecoms company, Concept Telecom, has left 29 IT freelancers out of contract and out of pocket, receivers have…BUSINESS
5 MAR 2003Another offshore outsourcing boom could harm IndiaIT outsourcing to India will grow by a quarter this year as Western companies seek to cut costs, but this could spell difficulties for the biggest…BUSINESS
4 MAR 2003Job market decline has ceased, says JobstatsJobstats, the IT market stats site, has reported the decline in the IT job market has reached a halt.BUSINESS
3 MAR 2003China could soon be second in world ITThe Chinese IT services market will grow 18 per cent this year on 2002, according to research group, Dataquest Gartner.BUSINESS
11 FEB 2003Senator overwhelmed by IT support for outsourcing banA New Jersey Senator backing a Bill to halt the export of US public sector jobs has received support from thousands of jobless IT professionals.POLITICS
11 FEB 2003e-commerce weathering downturnRecent payment card data shows European consumer confidence in the Internet has remained buoyant in the economic downturn.BUSINESS
6 FEB 2003Freelance IT climbs further ahead of other sectorsThis month's REC Report on Jobs shows the freelance IT sector has climbed to take second place out of eight sectors.BUSINESS
6 FEB 2003Doublespeak? Surveillance at twice WW2 levelsFigures released by privacy pressure group, Statewatch, claim Government surveillance of UK citizens' communications are double levels recorded…IT
29 JAN 2003What's happened to the freelancer premium?Why are freelancers being paid the same as employees when they offer complete working flexibility?BUSINESS
29 JAN 2003IT freelancing perils highlighted by womenThe regulatory difficulties associated with supplying IT services to clients as a freelancer were highlighted during a question and answer session at…IT
27 JAN 2003Europe must be friendlier to entrepreneursThe European Commission (EC) has told Member States they should do more to help entrepreneurs and reduce barriers to growth.BUSINESS
24 JAN 2003"Get your daggers out!" agencies toldAgencies were told to get their daggers out and take a slice out of rivals' businesses at a recent ATSCo members' meeting.AGENCIES
21 JAN 2003"The Koreans are coming!"South Korean IT industry representatives said they are set to attract hundreds of Western IT outsourcing contracts over 2003, at a recent conference…BUSINESS
20 JAN 2003Revenue denies selling taxpayers' infoThe Inland Revenue has denied reports its staff are abusing access to taxpayers' records.BUSINESS
14 JAN 2003The Low-down: Part 3 - Agencies' outlook for 2003In the final part of our series examining recruitment agencies' opinions of the current IT freelance market, UKTECH finds that war with Iraq, a…AGENCIES
13 JAN 2003Education gets IT boostThe Government is hoping to boost flagging figures of young people entering the IT sector by announcing a new package of ICT measures for schools and…IT
13 JAN 2003Revenue chief warns of "ruthless" crackdownInland Revenue Chairman, Nick Montagu, has announced a "ruthless" crackdown on 'artificial tax avoidance' schemes.BUSINESS
9 JAN 2003IT demand leapfrogs other sectorsDemand for freelance and permanent IT workers leapt ahead of rival industry sectors last month, according to the Recruitment and Employment…BUSINESS
9 JAN 2003The Agency Low-down: Part 2 - Rates and margins...In part two of our three-part series examining IT agencies' placement prospects in 2003, UKTECH investigates the state of rates and margins...AGENCIES
8 JAN 2003The Agency Low-down: Part 1 - Where the work is...UKTECH interviewed a number of UK-based IT agencies to find out where the work is, what the state of rates and margins are and when the recovery will…AGENCIES
3 JAN 20032002: Stories that shaped the yearA review of the main news from the freelancing sector in 2002, including IR35; Fast Track Visas; the market; and broadband...BUSINESS
2 JAN 2003UK surfers hogged web over ChristmasA new national obsession, the death of the board game or a poor Christmas television line-up?IT

2002

31 DEC 2002Government will 'make or break' business in 2003, says CBIGovernment actions next year stand to 'make or break' British business, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).BUSINESS
23 DEC 2002Broadband pressure group slams OFTEL findingsClaims made by the Official Telephone Regulator, OFTEL, of faster broadband take-up in the UK than in other countries have been challenged by the…BUSINESS
20 DEC 2002"Ridiculous nonsense of IR35" slammed in ParliamentMark Prisk, the Shadow Financial Secretary, called IR35 a "ridiculous nonsense" and accused MPs of regarding it with too little importance in a…IR35
18 DEC 2002Skills monitor reveals 140,000 IT joblessA report from the national IT skills barometer, e-skills UK, shows more than 140,000 skilled workers are unemployed or 'on the bench.' The total…BUSINESS
18 DEC 2002e-commerce fraud will cost US $500 millionOnline retailers in the US expect to lose about $500 million to fraud and suspect transactions over the Christmas period, according to a survey by…BUSINESS
9 DEC 2002'Enough EU red tape!' CBI tells BlairThe Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has urged the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to curb plans for further EU intervention on tax and employment…BUSINESS
6 DEC 2002Deutsche Bank: Freelancers get near 30 per cent rate cutDeutsche Bank has introduced another 10 per cent cut in its freelance IT rates, for the third time in two years.BUSINESS
6 DEC 2002Key report shows UK is IT 'underachiever'A Government IT report that was supposed to form the crux of last month's e-summit showed the UK lagging behind competitors.POLITICS
5 DEC 2002Market Report: Initial IT recovery hopes dashedThe latest REC Report on Jobs has realised fears that last month's jump in demand for IT freelancers was a freak 'blip.' Last month, the 'IT &…BUSINESS
3 DEC 2002Small business owners work into their 60sAlmost 60 per cent of small business owners still expect to be working full-time into their 60s and beyond, according to a recent survey.BUSINESS
3 DEC 2002Government's drive to boost entrepreneurship on the ropesResearch published by a top London business school shows the UK business start-up sector is in steep decline despite a plethora of Government…BUSINESS
29 NOV 2002Only 'slight growth' for IT services in 2003, says GartnerThe IT services industry is going through one of its most difficult years, and the forecast for 2003 looks to be only slightly better, according to…BUSINESS
28 NOV 2002Global firms counting cost of failed IT projectsA survey of companies in the UK, USA, Africa, Australia and Europe has revealed more than half have lost millions of pounds from failed IT projects…BUSINESS
26 NOV 2002From Business to Business: IT's Inn at ScotlandMike Horley, a top-level IT freelancer with 22-years' experience, was forced to leave his successful small business behind and look for another…BUSINESS
21 NOV 2002Market report records jump in IT freelancer demandThe Recruitment and Employment Confederation's Report on Jobs recorded a jump in demand for IT freelancers last month.BUSINESS
21 NOV 2002World's e-Envoys come together in Londone-Envoys representing nine of the world's major ICT-player countries gathered this week to compare strategies at the UK's first London e-summit.POLITICS
1 NOV 2002EDS profits in freefallThe US outsourcing giant, Electronic Data Services, has posted third quarter results showing a 59 per cent fall in profits.BUSINESS
30 OCT 2002Revenue busts EBT freelance companyA company that offered an 'employment benefit trust' (EBT) to freelancers has ceased trading, owing thousands of pounds.BUSINESS
29 OCT 2002Survey shows UK at forefront of 2003 IT recoveryA major survey of large European companies has named the UK, Ireland and Italy as IT growth 'bright spots' for 2003.BUSINESS
29 OCT 2002New REC Chief Exec has no agency backgroundThe Recruitment and Employment Confederation's new Chief Executive, Gareth Osborne, has no experience of the recruitment industry.AGENCIES
18 OCT 2002Freelancer Lime-IT wins IR35 battleIT freelancer Lisa Fernley's company, Lime-IT, has won its long-running battle against the Inland Revenue following a judgment by the Special…IR35
17 OCT 2002Think tank urges employment status review to address taxA specialist taxation unit has called on the Government to address long-standing difficulties in classifying workers for tax in a consultation over…BUSINESS
17 OCT 2002'Red tape day' could intensify small firms' miseryA Government proposal for a national 'Red Tape Day', when all regulations would be implemented, could do more harm than good.BUSINESS
16 OCT 2002MAD 4 IT aims to bridge UK digital divideA Government campaign this week hopes to broaden IT's appeal to small businesses, young people and ethnic minorities.IT
14 OCT 2002IT skills monitor aims to boost UK trainingThe latest quarterly report from e-skills UK has advised the Government to broaden training courses for students or risk losing business abroad.IT
3 OCT 2002Entrepreneurs held back by red tape and tax, report findsBritain's fast growth entrepreneurs are younger and better educated than managers of slow growth firms, but are finding Government interference hard…BUSINESS
2 OCT 2002DTI told to drop PSCs from Agency RegsRecruitment agencies who recently met with the DTI unanimously voted to have personal service companies (PSCs) excluded from the forthcoming…AGENCIES
20 SEP 2002EDS announces revenue crisisElectronic Data Systems, the US IT outsourcing giant, has announced a sharp fall in revenue that it has warned could grow in 2003.BUSINESS
17 SEP 2002From Business to Business: The price of endeavourAlan Walker built up substantial revenue working across Europe and the US as an IT SAP freelancer during the pre-millennium boom years.BUSINESS
17 SEP 2002MEP is ignoring UK's Agency Directive warningsIeke Van Den Burg, the Dutch MEP and Rapporteur of the Agency Workers' Directive, has come under fire from representatives of the UK recruitment…AGENCIES
13 SEP 2002US firms to double spending on offshore outsourcingMore than a quarter of US companies currently outsourcing IT operations abroad will double their spending on the service in 2003, according to a…IT
11 SEP 2002Business broadband costs to be 'significantly reduced'Broadband connection charges for businesses could be reduced by around 50 per cent, and rental charges by 30 per cent, if new proposals from the…IT
10 SEP 2002IT freelancers are worse off under flat rate VATGovernment legislation introduced in the Budget to simplify VAT accounting for small businesses has meant higher running costs for freelance…BUSINESS
9 SEP 2002Market Report: Rare skills quickly growing in demandNick Wells from Jobstats, the IT market statistics service, provides his own unique take on what skill sets are in demand and why more agencies are…BUSINESS
6 SEP 2002From Business to Business: A design for managing IR35...Mark Ridley, a freelance business analyst, entered the contracting market in 1990, building up his limited company as he moved from client to client.BUSINESS
5 SEP 2002Radical new IT security guidelines announced for businessesStephen Timms, the Minister for e-commerce and Competitiveness, has launched new guidelines to ensure information systems are more secure against…BUSINESS
3 SEP 2002Australia tightens FTV rulesAustralia is to close an immigration loophole that grants fast track permanent residency to non-IT professionals studying one-year IT degrees.BUSINESS
30 AUG 2002From Business to Business: When in Romania...Former UK IT freelancer Edwin Thornber's last overseas contract expired at the beginning of 2002.BUSINESS
30 AUG 2002e-Government must fit public's needs, MPs warnThe Public Accounts Committee has warned £10 billion could be wasted if the Government cannot tailor online services to meet the practical needs of…POLITICS
28 AUG 2002Newsflash: FTV list pulledThe IT skills shortage list, operated by Work Permits UK, the Government agency that issues visas and work permits to fast track visa workers, has…POLITICS
23 AUG 2002From Business to Business: Building boatsFrom Business to Business is a new series that will profile how entrepreneurial contractors are moving into new business areas whilst the market…BUSINESS
23 AUG 2002Contractors' concern at general state of marketContractors' businesses are most at risk from the general economic downturn over and above the threat of specific issues like IR35 or fast track…BUSINESS
19 AUG 2002Market report: IT skills still falling in valueIT skills are still dropping in value, with some of the market's highest earning skills dropping by as much as 38 per cent since April this year…BUSINESS
19 AUG 2002'We're watching you' Revenue tells composite companiesThe Inland Revenue's latest tax bulletin has issued a warning to composite companies, set up to remove the threat of IR35 for contractors.IR35
16 AUG 2002IT workers are worst email offendersMore than two thirds of IT workers are unable to resist opening emails they suspect to be 'inappropriate' and a further 42 per cent circulate them to…IT
16 AUG 2002Industry chiefs at loggerheads over Agency Workers' DirectiveThe Transport and General Workers' Union (T&G), which represents UK agency and temporary workers, has said EU plans to extend employee rights to…BUSINESS
13 AUG 2002Clients fearful of using ex-contractorsSome recruitment agencies are being instructed to overlook ex-contractors trying to enter the permanent market because of clients' fears they will…BUSINESS
12 AUG 2002UK tax re-classification threat to self-employedAttempts by the Inland Revenue to re-classify casual and irregular workers as employees will mean big increases in National Insurance contribution…POLITICS
8 AUG 2002Contractors shun Revenue contract opinionsThe majority of contractors will not submit their contracts to the Inland Revenue, preferring to have them independently analysed by specialist…BUSINESS
8 AUG 2002CIOT's 2003 wish list slams complicated tax legislationThe Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has identified key areas requiring legislative change in 2003, many of which centre around the legislative…BUSINESS
6 AUG 2002Market Report: Autumn jobs market will 'wait and see'Employers have grown increasingly cautious when hiring new workers whilst the economic outlook remains uncertain, according to this month's…BUSINESS
2 AUG 2002Oracle ships out to IndiaOracle, the enterprise software company, has bought a large area of land in Hyderabad where it plans to build new offices.BUSINESS
29 JUL 2002Small firms lagging on internet marketing, DTI study findsA PricewaterhouseCoopers study for the DTI finds small companies trailing larger rivals in marketing themselves online, despite rising e-commerce…POLITICS
29 JUL 2002Revenue snaps back at Guardian criticismThe Inland Revenue has responded to a series of articles in The Guardian that allege the Department has allowed large companies to cut tax corners…BUSINESS
25 JUL 2002Ditching Microsoft? Government swaps 'lock-in' software for open sourceThe Government has announced a new software policy entitled 'Open Source Software: Use within Government' to avoid product 'lock-ins' and lessen…POLITICS
24 JUL 2002Industry cautiously welcomes draft EAA changesThe Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has called for 'harmonisation' of the Employment Agencies Act with the Agency Workers Directive…AGENCIES
24 JUL 2002Skills gaps are stifling small businesses, SBC warnsThe Small Business Council (SBC) has asked the Government to address 'critical skills gaps that are leaving the UK's 3.5 million small businesses…BUSINESS
23 JUL 2002DTI consultation on draft changes to Employment Agencies ActThe Department of Trade and Industry has amended the 'Draft Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2002' to incorporate…CONFERENCE PAPERS
19 JUL 2002Consultation begins on Agency Workers' DirectiveThe Department of Trade and Industry has launched a 16-week consultation period over the controversial Agency Workers' Directive to measure the…POLITICS
17 JUL 2002ATSCo warns of IT agency and client clashAnn Swain, the Chief Executive of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo), has warned a clash of cultures between IT agencies and…AGENCIES
16 JUL 2002MPs' bid to make IR35 training costs tax deductible failsA cross-party bid by MPs including John Bercow to make IR35 contractors' training costs tax deductible has been rejected by the Government.IR35
16 JUL 2002Further work permits changes in AustraliaThe Australian Government has announced it will suspend priority visa processing arrangements for permanent foreign Information and Communications…IT
15 JUL 2002Parcelforce employees urged to quit and come back self-employedDrivers who wish to continue working for the loss-making delivery company, Parcelforce Worldwide, are being asked to leave the company on Friday…IR35
12 JUL 2002India and the new 'digital dragon' set to swallow global ITIndia is actively making contingency plans to save its fastest growing industry, IT, from being overtaken by China, which says it can do the job even…BUSINESS
12 JUL 2002UKTECH survey shows contractor to permie shift has doubledA UKTECH survey has revealed the number of contractors who have closed their businesses to go permanent has doubled since June 2000.BUSINESS
12 JUL 2002Australian 457 visa scheme harming local IT jobs, report warnsA report by academic Robert Kinnaird urges Australia to overhaul its '457' migrant visa scheme, warning it damages resident IT professionals.IT
10 JUL 2002IT contractor demand to turnaround with economy, says people3IT contractor demand will experience a dramatic turnaround from its current low position as a result of tighter budgets and deferred or discontinued…BUSINESS
8 JUL 2002Government on track to meet e-targets despite bad press, says surveyOver a third of local authorities have said they will have 50-100 per cent of their services online by the end of 2002, ahead of the 2005 deadline…POLITICS
4 JUL 2002Low demand for IT contractors 'a real concern', says RECIn this month's market report, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) acknowledged that a lack of demand for IT contractors has become a…BUSINESS
3 JUL 2002Study says content is key driver for broadbandNew state of the art applications and services are set to drive the next wave of broadband take-up, according to a new report from the international…IT
2 JUL 2002Nicholson quits the RECTim Nicholson, Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), is to leave the agency representative body, having worked at…AGENCIES
28 JUN 2002ATSCo chief warns of further skills shortages unless action is takenAnn Swain, Chief Executive of the Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo), has predicted an estimated shortfall of up to two million IT…AGENCIES
27 JUN 2002Revenue pulls external e-mail project over security fearsA pilot scheme to allow 55,000 Inland Revenue employees to communicate with taxpayers using e-mail has been put on hold after internal security…BUSINESS
26 JUN 2002Contractors sceptical as Government announces new UK broadband teamStephen Timms, the new e-Minister, has reiterated the Government's pledge to provide high-speed internet access across the country by announcing a…IT
26 JUN 2002Parliamentary Committee calls for compulsory contractors' codeThe Public Administration Select Committee, the Parliamentary Committee for the civil service, has called for tough new contract terms for public…POLITICS
21 JUN 2002The Minister for Small Business aka the 'Come-back Kid'In our final piece on Nigel Griffiths, the Small Business Minister, we look at the Minister himself and his attitudes and past experiences leading up…POLITICS
20 JUN 2002What place for contractors in the future UK flexible workforce?In our fourth interview over issues affecting UK contractors with Nigel Griffiths, the Minister for Small Business, UKTECH asks what the Minister…POLITICS
20 JUN 2002IT literati slammed brakes on Blunkett's RIP Act amendmentsDavid Blunkett, the Home Secretary, suspended the adoption of a controversial statutory Order within the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000…POLITICS
18 JUN 2002Barriers to business: Where does IR35 rank with the Minister for Small Business?In the second part of our interview series with Nigel Griffiths, the Minister for Small Business, UKTECH explores the main barriers to setting up and…POLITICS
17 JUN 2002'Who's an entrepreneur?' UKTECH.com interviews the Minister for Small BusinessUKTECH recently interviewed Nigel Griffiths, the Government's Minister for Small Business, about enterprise and contractors' businesses in his office…POLITICS
12 JUN 2002IBM bags (another) large IT outsourcing contract, with GoodyearIBM has added a five-year deal to provide IT services to the tyre manufacturer, Goodyear, to its growing list of large outsourcing clients in 2002.IT
10 JUN 2002Upturn on the horizon? Weakest decline in IT contractor demand for 15-monthsThe rate of decline in demand for IT contractors has fallen to its lowest level for 15-months, according to the most recent Recruitment and…BUSINESS
10 JUN 2002Griffiths' enterprise culture plan at risk from 'stumbling blocks'The Professional Contractors Group (PCG) has warned Nigel Griffiths, Minister for Small Businesses, to clear existing stumbling blocks, such as IR35…POLITICS
31 MAY 2002GSK contractor from axed supplier speaks outUKTECH interviewed a contractor working through the recruitment agency Certes for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).BUSINESS
31 MAY 2002New e-Minister has chequered history with IT contractorsThe new e-Minister, Stephen Timms, has had a chequered history with contractors in the IT field through his involvement in introducing IR35, his…POLITICS
31 MAY 2002Revenue takes online self-assessment offline over security fearsThe Inland Revenue has suspended its online self-assessment service after users reported they could see parts of completed forms submitted over the…BUSINESS
31 MAY 2002PCG's FTV meeting on ice as Lord Rooker is shifted to HousingA meeting between the Professional Contractors Group (PCG) and the Home Office Minister, Lord Rooker, about fast track visas (FTVs) was a victim of…POLITICS
24 MAY 2002EAA: Government announces third round of consultationVic Patterson, Assistant Director of the DTI's Employment Relations Directorate, has announced a third consultation period for its proposed changes…AGENCIES
24 MAY 2002Revenue's investigatory powers no longer extend to contractors' legal adviceA recent case between the investment bank Morgan Grenfell and the Inland Revenue at the House of Lords has reversed a previous Court of Appeal…BUSINESS
23 MAY 2002Barclays 'not concerned' over highest contractor rates cutsBarclays Bank is to introduce one of the highest confirmed rates cuts for IT contractors at 20 per cent from July 1 in a bid to cut substantial costs…BUSINESS
21 MAY 2002CIOT voices concerns over Finance Bill 2002The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has said it has 'growing concerns over the Government's attempts to make significant tax changes without…POLITICS
17 MAY 2002Feature: Security clearance for contractorsContractors looking to take on projects in some Government departments will first need security clearance, which is issued by the UK Defence Vetting…BUSINESS
13 MAY 2002Government works with US over internet address managementDouglas Alexander, Minister for e-commerce and competitiveness, has issued a UK-wide consultation on the management of internet addresses in…IT
10 MAY 2002CSSA defends use of fast track visa system on costThe Chairman of the Computing Services & Software Association's (CSSA) Offshore Group has defended the fast track visa system as "an alternative to…BUSINESS
10 MAY 2002Government announces education initiative to combat IT skills shortagesMargaret Hodge, Minister for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education, has announced the formation of 'New Technology Institutes' (NTIs) across the UK…IT
9 MAY 2002IT demand improves for first time in 12 monthsThis month's REC Report on Jobs has shown the first rise in demand for permanent IT staff for one year and the biggest slowdown in the rate of…BUSINESS
5 MAY 2002Broadband breakthrough: Oftel reports 500,000 connectionsOFTEL, the telecom regulator, has reported more than half a million high-speed DSL, satellite and cable internet connections have now been set-up…BUSINESS
26 APR 2002Agencies urged to increase marginsAgencies were told to increase their margins if they wanted to survive this and future economic downturns at a recent conference at the Institute of…AGENCIES
26 APR 2002Sector Skills Council gets major Government cash injectionThe newly formed 'Sector Skills Council' network will receive nearly £30 million between 2003-4 to boost business efficiency through the development…BUSINESS
25 APR 2002No guarantees on 'IR35-friendly' contracts with agentsContractors who work through agents can expect no guarantees their contracts will pass IR35, according to a survey conducted by UKTECH.IR35
23 APR 2002Conservatives cast doubt over IR35 repeal pledgeIain Duncan Smith , the leader of the Conservatives, has told UKTECH that the Conservative party no longer has a specific policy on IR35, although it…IR35
18 APR 2002Duncan Smith warns of hidden Budget taxes 'like IR35'Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith attacked the Chancellor after his Budget speech, warning of hidden taxes 'like IR35' and a return to Government deficit.BUSINESS
16 APR 2002What price a Budget day NIC hike to contractors?National Insurance is the likeliest target for tax increases on Budget day, most likely by raising both the contributions rate and the ceiling.IR35
10 APR 2002Agents' fast track visa reviewThe Government has announced it will review part of the UK fast track visa system in a move that could lead to a lifting of the ban on agencies…AGENCIES
9 APR 2002IoD says red tape machine is forcing companies abroadA survey conducted by the Institute of Directors has shown that 93 per cent of UK businesses are unable to grow efficiently with some moving abroad…BUSINESS
8 APR 2002Accountants say Revenue's tax-NIC merger failed to deliverThe ICAEW has accused the Inland Revenue of failing to deliver the benefits it promised when the income tax and National Insurance offices merged in…BUSINESS
5 APR 2002Demand for contractors rises at fastest rate for 13 monthsThis month's Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Report on Jobs shows demand for contractors has risen at its fastest rate for thirteen…BUSINESS
4 APR 2002Umbrella company owes contractors thousandsContranet, a Birmingham-based umbrella company for IT contractors, has gone into administration leaving contractors unpaid to the tune of thousands…BUSINESS
28 MAR 2002BCC red tape audit invites contractors to flag regulation gripesThe British Chambers of Commerce has invited contractor businesses to submit their regulatory grievances to a 'Red Tape Audit' that already flags…IR35
27 MAR 2002Employees are addicted to taking advantage of weak IT securityA survey conducted by Indicii Salus, a London-based Internet security company, has shown that 87 per cent of UK employees have read their boss's…IT
25 MAR 2002Bit-part 1930s actress could play major role in contractors' fateLillian Braithwaite, a bit-part actress from the 1930s, could yet play a pivotal role in the case for contractors to be seen as being in business on…IR35
22 MAR 2002EU Temps' Charter causes industry-wide condemnationA proposed EU directive that seeks to give Britain's temporary workers the same pay and rights as permanent staff after a six-week continuous work…AGENCIES
19 MAR 2002UK has left recession with IT spending to rebound, says CEBRThe Centre for Economics and Business Research says the UK has emerged from recession, forecasting IT spending will rise 6.4 per cent by the end of…IT
15 MAR 2002Revenue to extend employee-style tax perks to IR35 contractorsThe Inland Revenue will grant contractors caught by IR35 the same tax-free mileage allowances and other concessions enjoyed by employees from 6 April.IR35
15 MAR 2002Haskins to step down as Better Regulation Task Force chairLord Haskins will leave the Better Regulation Task Force at the end of March, with former IPC chairman David Arculus named as his successor.POLITICS
13 MAR 2002EU is working in the dark over UK IT skills shortagesA senior member of the EU skills planning team in Brussels has told UKTECH he is using information submitted by the UK Home Office in 2000 to plan…POLITICS
12 MAR 2002Contracting back on the up?This month's industry statistics show an increase in weekly billings from contract workers for the second successive month, marking a further…BUSINESS
8 MAR 2002What the Revenue has learnt from IR35...In the final part of our interview series with the IR35 chief, John Hinton, we ask what lessons the Revenue has taken away with it after three years…IR35
8 MAR 2002Government Skills Agency nears completionThe Sector Skills Development Agency framework is being finalised ahead of its official launch in April, when it will take chief responsibility for…BUSINESS
8 MAR 2002E-commerce minister urges software firms to tap DTI support fundsE-commerce minister Douglas Alexander has called on the UK's £22 billion software industry to make greater use of DTI funding and start-up support.POLITICS
7 MAR 2002Size and competition nothing to do with IR35, says RevenueUKTECH's fourth interview subject with IR35 chief, John Hinton, concentrates on the Revenue's justification for targeting small companies with IR35…IR35
6 MAR 2002Putting a price on the uncertainty of IR35In the third part of our interview series with the Revenue's IR35 chief, John Hinton, at IR HQ in Somerset House - our reporter Richard Powell asks…IR35
4 MAR 2002Revenue's IR35 chief: no plans to change the legislationIn an exclusive interview, the Revenue's IR35 chief John Hinton says there are no plans to change the legislation, likening its targeting to a 'duck…IR35
22 FEB 2002Leaked Brussels temp proposals cause uproar in UK recruitment industryDraft EU proposals concerning the rights of temporary workers in relation to those enjoyed by permanent employees have caused widespread controversy…BUSINESS
22 FEB 2002Blair calls for EU to back knowledge-based companiesA joint letter from Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Dutch Prime Minister, Wim Kok, to the Spanish Prime Minister and EU President, Jose Maria…POLITICS
21 FEB 2002EU Commission adopts plan to import 1.6 million IT workersThe European Commission has accepted an 'Action Plan for Skills and Mobility' which outlines increased legal immigration to help cover skills…POLITICS
21 FEB 2002UK business representatives present joint 'wish list' paper to EUMajor organisations representing more than 135,000 UK small businesses have come together to present a 'wish list' paper, calling on EU leaders to…POLITICS
15 FEB 2002Griffiths meets EU Minister over small business progressNigel Griffiths, Minister for Small Business, has met with Erkki Liikanen, the EU Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society, ahead of…POLITICS
12 FEB 2002EU publishes 'Small Firms Charter' reportThe report is a review of how each EU member state is implementing the Small Firms Charter.POLITICS
11 FEB 2002PCG warns of IR35 harm at Institute of Directors seminarThe Professional Contractors Group told a recruitment-industry panel at the Institute of Directors that IR35 is damaging the UK's flexible workforce.IR35
8 FEB 2002IR35 FAQ update- Computation and Penalties on P35sThe Inland Revenue's IR35 Frequently Asked Questions page has been updated with a question and answer regarding computation and penalties arising…IR35
7 FEB 2002UKTECH interviews Self-employment Rights Bill architectMark Prisk MP, architect of 'The Right to be Self-Employed' Bill, recently told Parliament that defining self-employed status is: 'confusing…POLITICS
6 FEB 2002January marks first contract sector upturn in four monthsAgencies reported an increase in weekly billings from contract staff for the first time in four months in January, according to the latest REC Report…BUSINESS
1 FEB 2002Government launches new e-Learning Strategy Task ForceEstelle Morris, the Education and Skills Secretary, has announced a new e-Learning Strategy Task Force as part of the Government's drive to increase…IT
28 JAN 2002Market Outlook 2002: IT market showing signs of recoveryCertain areas of the IT recruitment market are showing the initial signs of a recovery, according to Daniel Elkins, CEO of the skills exchange…BUSINESS
22 JAN 2002Further rates cuts for contractors in 2002?Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) has cut its contractor rates by a further five per cent.BUSINESS
22 JAN 2002Market Outlook 2002: Do accountants understand IR35?Whether an IR35 challenge by the Inland Revenue is successful or not can depend on what advice a contractor receives from his or her accountant in…BUSINESS
21 JAN 2002Market Outlook 2002: IT contractor demand will grow in 2002Over the next week UKTECH will present various interviews and discussions with leading agents, accountants and clients in the IT contracting sector…BUSINESS
9 JAN 2002Market Report - From skills shortage to surplus?This month's REC Report on Jobs has shown yet another large increase in the availability of both permanent and contract workers across a number of…BUSINESS
4 JAN 2002Happy New Year from UKTECH!!! A Review of 2001The UKTECH site covered a vast array of news affecting the UK contracting scene in 2001 and will expand on this coverage in the New Year.BULLETIN
3 JAN 2002Government justifies Fast-Track foreign IT with 1999 informationThe Home Office has referred to documents featuring information collected during positive market conditions in 1999 as justification for its drive to…POLITICS

2001

18 DEC 2001MPs discuss 'narrow and restrictive' definition of 'an employee'MPs raised the issue of the need for clarification between the definitions of 'an employee' and 'a worker' during a debate over statutory dispute…POLITICS
14 DEC 2001IT contractors feel the cold of the December jobs marketConsultancies have reported billings from contract workers across all sectors to have fallen for the second month running in November.BUSINESS
10 DEC 2001Radical reform of work permits proposedLord Rooker, the Immigration and Citizenship Minister, has announced the Home Office is exploring new categories of work permits to help support…POLITICS
5 DEC 2001PCG Appeal Day 2: Don't let this get to ECJ, Plender asks courtOn the second day of the PCG's legal appeal, Mr Gerald Barling QC finished his address to the court and the Revenue's Dr Richard Plender took over.IR35
3 DEC 2001Overturn, refer or confirm: The IR35 Appeal according to RedstonAnne Redston, tax guru and author of the book 'IR35: Personal Service Companies,' believes the imminent legal appeal over IR35 could go one of the…IR35
22 NOV 2001BCC urges Government to scrap IR35 and define 'self-employed'A report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has urged the Government to repeal IR35 and work with business to define who is and who is not…IR35
21 NOV 2001Revenue launches competition for new IT suppliersThe Revenue has announced it will hold an open competition, code-named 'ASPIRE' (Acquiring Strategic Partners for the Inland Revenue), to find…POLITICS
21 NOV 2001Bring tax system into 21st century, urges CIOTJohn Whiting, President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), has called for a universal 'e-tax return' to replace the existing system…BUSINESS
14 NOV 2001Battersby case was like David and Goliath, says RedstonAnne Redston, tax expert and author of the book, 'IR35: Personal Service Companies', told delegates at an IR35 breakfast seminar in London she was…IR35
14 NOV 2001No change over IR35's five per cent ruleDawn Primarolo, Paymaster General, has said in Parliament there will be no change to IR35's five per cent rule.IR35
14 NOV 2001Is the only way up for the IT contracting market?Monthly market reports show a further drop in demand for IT contractors as well as a sharp fall in demand for permanent staff.BUSINESS
14 NOV 2001Visa extension only the beginning for UK-India IT relationsA recent announcement by Douglas Alexander, Minister for E-Commerce, to extend Indian IT workers' visas for working in the UK is the first in a set…IT
13 NOV 2001Survey puts almost a third of UK IT contractors 'on the bench'Twenty-nine per cent of IT contractors whose contracts finished in the last quarter are currently in-between contracts according to a survey…BUSINESS
9 NOV 2001Revenue chief hits out at The Times over staff strike articleInland Revenue chief Nick Montague has written a letter of complaint to Peter Stothard, Editor of The Times, in response to an article it published…POLITICS
9 NOV 2001'Iniquity of IR35's tax burden' discussed in WestminsterA recent MPs' debate on the subject of 'Small businesses and regulatory burden' has highlighted to the Government how excessive regulation and IR35…IR35
7 NOV 2001Contractors' training position 'unchanged' by suspension of ILAsIndividual Learning Accounts (ILAs) have been closed down by the Government amid reports of fraud and corruption, although the Paymaster General had…BUSINESS
7 NOV 2001Blair's drive to cut red tape welcomed by industryPrime Minister Tony Blair has announced that all Whitehall departments have been asked to identify areas of legislation that are ripe for reform as…POLITICS
6 NOV 2001The IT agency, the contractor and the economic downturnAs contractor rates have fallen in the current economic downturn, so too have agencies' margins fallen - some having been hit considerably harder…BUSINESS
5 NOV 2001Revenue wins first IR35 case before Special CommissionersAn IT contractor has lost his appeal against a Revenue decision that his contract came under IR35.IR35
2 NOV 2001CFT leaves contractors in the lurchContractors who had taken out Professional Indemnity, Employer's Liability or Public Liability insurance with the insurance group CFT have recently…BULLETIN
2 NOV 2001Reduce tax burden on business, says CIOTThe Government should reduce the administrative tax burden on business to help employers in a difficult trading period, according to John Whiting…BUSINESS
2 NOV 2001e-Minister explores democracy in the information ageDouglas Alexander, Minister for e-commerce, has called on the technology and internet community to work with Government to open up new ways to…POLITICS
1 NOV 2001Revenue to offer compensation for causing 'distress'The Inland Revenue has announced a new Code of Practice (COP1) which will offer compensation of between £25 - £500 to taxpayers if it believes it has…POLITICS
31 OCT 2001IT environment for e-Government success is in place, says PorterChristopher Porter, Cabinet Office Director of the e-economy, told UKTECH he believed a suitable environment for IT contractors was in place and…POLITICS
31 OCT 2001Latest fast track visa figures releasedAngela Eagle, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Europe, Community and Race Equality, has released the latest fast track visa and work permit…POLITICS
29 OCT 2001Management guru says contractors are future UK workforceCharles Handy, the author and social commentator, told the recent Recruitment Industry Resource conference at the Institute of Directors that the UK…BUSINESS
29 OCT 2001New EURIM Chairman to lead IT policy implementation?Brian White MP, the new Chairman of the European Informatics Market (EURIM), has said he will increase his Group's focus on the implementation and…IT
23 OCT 2001Revenue publishes updated IR35 Deemed Payment guideThe Inland Revenue has published an updated version of its Supplying Services: How to calculate the deemed payment leaflet.IR35
22 OCT 2001e-Envoy will head up UK e-Security boostThe e-Envoy, Andrew Pinder, is to oversee the introduction of digital signatures, smart cards for businesses and the public and will assist with…POLITICS
22 OCT 2001Government opens contracts to 500,000 SMEs500,000 newly incorporated Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) will be able to bid for Government contracts more easily following new financial…BUSINESS
18 OCT 2001Regulation Task Force concerned with competitivenessThe Better Regulation Taskforce has found encouraging signs that its five principles of good regulation are influencing Whitehall thinking.BUSINESS
15 OCT 2001Clients show preference for contractors over permanent staffDespite the current downturn, some recruitment agencies have reported an increase in billings from contract staff over the last month.BUSINESS
15 OCT 2001Hewitt calls for more 'IT' girlsPatricia Hewitt, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary, has announced details of a Government plan to encourage more women in the UK…POLITICS
11 OCT 2001World's first IT lifestyle census conductedEmbarcadero Europe, a software development company, has compiled the world's first IT lifestyle census, surveying 5,000 IT professionals in the UK to…IT
9 OCT 2001'Our position on IR35 is right' says ConservativesA Conservative party spokesman has said there would be no change to their pledge to repeal IR35 following reports that the Tories would abandon tax…POLITICS
8 OCT 2001Employment appeal tribunal rules contractor 'not an employee'Hewlett Packard has won its appeal against an employment tribunal judgment which found that an independent IT contractor had been unfairly dismissed…BUSINESS
7 OCT 2001Minister announces 'unfair advantage' for small businessesNigel Griffiths, Minister for Small Business, has announced a £75 million Government fund to help new and existing small businesses to grow in the UK.POLITICS
7 OCT 2001Government drops qualifying period for temps' annual leaveThe qualifying period for a temporary or contract worker to be entitled to claim paid annual leave is to be dropped with effect from 25 October.POLITICS
25 SEP 2001E-Minister and E-Envoy both demand broadband speed-upE-Commerce Minister Douglas Alexander has told BT it must exploit the UK's broadband investment more aggressively.IT
19 SEP 2001PCG to take IR35 fight to Labour conference fringe meetingThe Professional Contractors Group will host a fringe meeting at Labour's Brighton conference on 3 October to press MPs on IR35 and contracting.PCG
18 SEP 2001DTI calls off EAA meeting with recruitment industryThe Department of Trade and Industry has called off a meeting between Minister Alan Johnson and senior industry figures belonging to the Recruitment…POLITICS
17 SEP 2001Revenue expands IR35 FAQ on NIC refunds and agency statusThe Inland Revenue has expanded its IR35 FAQs, covering NIC repayments, SSP and SMP, whether an agent counts as a client, and 'IR35-proof' contracts.IR35
12 SEP 2001BT and IBM contractors are latest rates cuts casualtiesBT and IBM are the latest companies to join the growing number of firms cutting their contractor rates by 10 per cent according to contractors…BUSINESS
10 SEP 2001Revenue responds to questions over Sunday Times' attackThe Inland Revenue has answered UKTECH's questions regarding a Sunday Times article that quoted from disgruntled Revenue employees and the case of an…POLITICS
7 SEP 2001Skills shortages ease but contractor demand and rates remain lowSkills shortages may have eased according to discrepancies between the REC index and the CIPS Employment index, however demand and rates for…BUSINESS
7 SEP 2001Private banks are latest to cut contractor ratesDeutsche Bank is the latest company to join the growing number of firms announcing 10 per cent rates cuts for IT contractors in the UK, effective…BUSINESS
6 SEP 2001ATSCo welcomes increase in young ITersThe Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo) has welcomed this year's increase in students taking IT-related examinations.IT
5 SEP 2001REC slams TUC over Fixed Term Working Directive press releaseThe Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has hit out at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) over its claims that unionised work forces have…BUSINESS
4 SEP 2001Australia waters down its IR35-style personal services taxAn Australian Federal Parliament ruling has forced a rewrite of the Alienation of Personal Services Income Bill, easing its impact on contractors.IR35
31 AUG 2001Revenue updates Employment Status Manuals with more MOOThe Inland Revenue has updated its Employment Status Manuals with further information on Mutuality of Obligation and Mutual Intention.BUSINESS
29 AUG 2001Revenue's 1,250 strong 'blunder squad' to clear 7.8m open casesThe Inland Revenue will fund 1,250 extra staff to clear a backlog of 7.8 million open cases caused by the failures of the National Insurance…POLITICS
28 AUG 2001Revenue publishes customer service standards targets and resultsThe Inland Revenue has published the results of its customer service audit over the past year as well as its service targets for 2001 - 2002.POLITICS
24 AUG 2001Blunkett's new immigration scheme gets language targetForeign workers entering the country under David Blunkett's new immigration scheme could be given language training to help them secure jobs.POLITICS
20 AUG 2001IT contractor sent to prison for breaching CMAAn IT contractor who breached the Computer Misuse Act in a revenge attack against clients he believed owed him money has been sentenced to nine…IT
17 AUG 2001Brown targets 'bogus self-employed' in Treasury crackdownChancellor Gordon Brown says the Treasury will crack down on the 'bogus self-employed', beginning with the construction industry.POLITICS
16 AUG 2001Short-term contractors could get a raw deal, warns TUCShort-term contractors in the UK could miss out on equal rights to pay and pensions if the Government waters down the implementation of the EU…BUSINESS
14 AUG 2001RIP Act guidance set for public consultationThe Home Office has published a draft Code of Practice on Accessing Communications Data using the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), for…POLITICS
13 AUG 2001Revenue recommended to pay highest ever complaints compensationThe Adjudicator's Office has recommended that the Inland Revenue pays a total of £481,612 to individuals and businesses for failed investigations and…BUSINESS
10 AUG 2001Ericsson and CitiGroup cut contractor rates and numbersEricsson and CitiGroup (Corporate Investment) have confirmed they are both currently negotiating rate reductions with their IT/ Telecoms contractors…BUSINESS
8 AUG 2001CIOT says tax code complexity risks serious malfunctionsThe Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has issued its representations paper for the Budget 2002.IR35
7 AUG 2001Demand for contractors rises strongly in every sector but ITDemand for IT contractors continued to fall for the fifth successive month, while nearly all other sectors witnessed a sharp rise in demand for temp…BUSINESS
6 AUG 2001Monitoring without consent- How your clients will watch you...The Office of the E-Envoy has published the second edition of its 'Electronic Communications at Work' policy paper outlining the conditions employers…BULLETIN
3 AUG 2001Most communications contractors now looking for permanent jobsA White and Nunn survey finds 65% of communications-sector contractors are now seeking permanent work amid deep concern about the market.BUSINESS
2 AUG 2001Oil-rig workers are seafarers, court rules, forcing £100m tax rebateThe Court of Appeal has ruled that jack-up rigs count as ships and their crews as seafarers, entitling some 20,000 North Sea workers to a £100m tax…BUSINESS
1 AUG 2001Tax institute says rushed consultation left IR35 complex and costlyThe Chartered Institute of Taxation says shortcuts in consulting on IR35 and other rules produced complex law that wasted time and money.IR35
31 JUL 2001Revenue says seeking a contract opinion won't trigger IR35 reviewThe Inland Revenue's updated FAQ says seeking its opinion on a contract will not by itself prompt an IR35 investigation of a personal service company.IR35
30 JUL 2001Employment Agencies Act reforms delayed amid industry disquietReforms to the Employment Agencies Act, including a ban on 'quarantine periods', have been delayed until later this year amid disquiet over the…POLITICS
26 JUL 2001Personal service companies 'excluded' from holiday pay rulingLegal experts say personal service companies are likely to be excluded from a European Court ruling granting contractors four weeks' paid holiday.BUSINESS
23 JUL 2001Wipro profits jump as Indian IT firms defy downturnWipro, Infosys and Nasscom are all reporting sharp profit rises, with Indian IT firms shrugging off the global slowdown in technology spending.BUSINESS
20 JUL 2001An Autumn of rates cuts for IT contractors?Credit Suisse First Boston and Hewlett Packard are both set to introduce 10 per cent cuts to their contractor rates.BUSINESS
17 JUL 2001Primarolo says IR35 guidance rephrased after court rulingPaymaster General Dawn Primarolo says IR35 guidance has been rephrased in line with the judicial review, but insists the legislation is not uncertain.IR35
15 JUL 2001Regulatory task force tells Government to stop playing gamesLord Haskins, Chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force, has hit out at the Government after a report found that regulators' mode of operating is…POLITICS
12 JUL 2001IT recruitment slides again with only technicians in demandThe Recruitment and Employment Confederation's latest report shows permanent and contract IT markets still in decline, with only technicians in…BUSINESS
11 JUL 2001DTI explains rules to curb abuse of fixed-term contractsThe DTI has explained how forthcoming rules on fixed-term working will restrict the use of successive fixed-term contracts ahead of the directive.POLITICS
6 JUL 2001ATSCo urges DTI to allow tax offset for contractors' trainingThe Association of Technology Staffing Companies has recommended that independent contractors should be able to offset training expenses against tax…AGENCIES
6 JUL 2001'Genuine businesses are not affected by IR35' says PMGThe Paymaster General - Dawn Primarolo has told the House of Commons that 'Genuine businesses are not affected by IR35' in a written answer to a…POLITICS
5 JUL 2001Latest Fast-track figures revealedUpdated figures for the Government's Fast-track visa and work permit system, designed to speed-up the importation of skilled foreign IT workers, have…POLITICS
3 JUL 2001Hewitt pledges DTI shake-up to put small business firstNew DTI Secretary Patricia Hewitt has unveiled plans to overhaul the department and put small businesses first as part of a productivity drive.POLITICS
29 JUN 2001Blunkett eyes Green Card scheme to replace Fast-track permitsHome Secretary David Blunkett is considering replacing the IT 'Fast-track' work permit scheme with a new 'Green Card' system to ease the skills…POLITICS
20 JUN 2001REC threatens judicial review over Employment Agencies ActThe Recruitment and Employment Confederation could take legal action against the Department of Trade and Industry if it refuses to back down over its…AGENCIES
14 JUN 2001The Cabinet re-shuffle: Implications for contracting industryThe Prime Minister's Government re-shuffle has broken down some of the bigger Departments whilst transferring existing powers and responsibilities…POLITICS
14 JUN 2001E-Envoy calls Government's IT targets "unhelpful"E-Envoy Andrew Pinder has called the Prime Minister's targets for a full electronic service by 2005 "unhelpful" in a speech to international IT…POLITICS
7 JUN 2001Demand for IT staff falls to previously unseen lowThe Recruitment & Employment Confederation's latest Report on Jobs has shown demand for temporary/ contract IT staff to have fallen for the third…BUSINESS
4 JUN 2001Manpower warns Labour could toughen Employment Agencies ActManpower director Keith Faulkner has warned that a second-term Labour DTI could make the Employment Agencies Act's rules even harsher than proposed.AGENCIES
1 JUN 2001Employee or not?- The answer is becoming no less 'elusive'A decision by an employment tribunal which originally found a construction worker to be a self-employed contractor when he took his client to court…IR35
31 MAY 2001Court of appeal overturns tribunal to rule contractor was employeeA court of appeal has overturned an employment tribunal, ruling that construction worker Peter Reid was an employee rather than a self-employed…ASK A LAWYER
30 MAY 2001E-minister temporarily rewrites Labour's controversial NI policyPatricia Hewitt, the Minister for E-commerce, appeared to rewrite Labour's policy on National Insurance recently, saying that "Tony Blair and Gordon…POLITICS
29 MAY 2001The Employment Agencies Act is looming… What will the impact be?The Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations Act will come into full force this summer - but just how much of a change will…AGENCIES
29 MAY 2001PCG contractor drives Land Rover aid convoy to SarajevoPCG member Dave Haynes and navigator Keith Turner will drive 3,650 miles to Sarajevo, delivering aid and sponsorship money raised from fellow…PCG
29 MAY 2001Labour sparks fears that NI ceiling will be liftedChancellor Gordon Brown has sparked fears that the ceiling on National Insurance Contributions may be abolished, leading to a potentially unlimited…BUSINESS
22 MAY 2001EU plan to store communications data for seven years leakedLeaked documents obtained by Statewatch reveal EU governments, backed by Britain, want to retain phone, email, fax and internet data for up to seven…POLITICS
21 MAY 2001Conservatives release business manifestoThe Conservative Party has today (Monday 21st May) released their business manifesto, promising to scrap red tape and a range of corporate taxes.POLITICS
20 MAY 2001IT staff demand down by 40%According to the latest REC/ CIPS Index jobs survey report, demand for both permanent and contract based IT workers has continued to fall for the…BUSINESS
20 MAY 2001Treasury to offer tax cuts for entrepreneursChancellor Gordon Brown has announced that the Treasury will offer tax cuts to entrepreneurs who wish to start their own businesses or become…POLITICS
14 MAY 2001Labour says repeal of IR35 would cost £1 billion per yearLabour has accused the Conservatives' election manifesto of including 'grossly irresponsible' tax and spending pledges which would 'jeopardise the…POLITICS
20 APR 2001Home Secretary launches cybercrime crack squadHome Secretary, Jack Straw has launched a cybercrime crack squad to clamp down on organised online crime and to make the UK a safe haven to do…POLITICS
20 APR 2001Revenue sends complaint to Mail on Sunday following IR35 storyNick Montagu, Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue, has issued a formal response to an article in the Mail on Sunday (8th April) which said…POLITICS
18 APR 2001Contractor wins landmark court caseA court case has found in favour of a contractor challenging his client, Hewlett Packard, to provide him with the same protection from unfair…IR35
18 APR 2001Primarolo steers around IR35 ‘employee benefits’ issuePaymaster General Dawn Primarolo has responded to questions in Parliament regarding IR35 saying "the Inland Revenue will review the guidance material…POLITICS
4 APR 2001Adapt to e-business or fall behind, Insead study warnsAn Insead report ranks Oracle, IBM and Compaq as e-business leaders and warns that firms failing to embrace the digital age will lose their…BUSINESS
4 APR 2001IR35 upheld, but judge faults Revenue's lack of researchA Times commentary on the High Court's IR35 ruling highlights the judge's finding that the Revenue made its impact assessment without adequate…PCG
3 APR 2001Inland Revenue responds to IR35 judgementShortly after the finale of the judicial review an Inland Revenue spokesman in Somerset House told UKTECH: "The Government is glad the court has…IR35
3 APR 2001IR35 judicial review sparks wave of media coverageThe PCG's IR35 court challenge drew extensive press, TV and radio coverage, with UKTECH asking readers to help compile a definitive record of the…PCG
27 MAR 2001UKTECH Exclusive: Ken Livingstone speaks out against IR35Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has added his support to fighting IR35, telling UKTECH, "It is a 'withholding tax', hampering the innovation…POLITICS
25 MAR 2001The 'real-life' Gordon, as defined by the Inland Revenue...'Gordon' is, famously, the name given to an imaginary contractor in the Revenue's guidance notes who suffers the unfortunate fate of being well and…IR35
22 MAR 2001IR35 architect Sarah Walker defends the tax as review endsAs the judicial review closed, the Revenue's lead civil servant behind IR35, Sarah Walker, gave a rare interview defending the Government's reasons…POLITICS
19 MAR 2001Judge puts eight key questions to both sides in IR35 reviewAs the IR35 judicial review resumed, Mr Justice Burton put eight questions to the Inland Revenue and the PCG on the tax's impact on small service…IR35
16 MAR 2001Blair rejects PCG appeal to step in over IR35In a reply to the Professional Contractors Group, Downing Street defends IR35 and rebuffs calls for the Prime Minister to personally intervene over…PCG
14 MAR 2001Two years on, IR35 protest brings Government to High CourtTwo years after the first online grumbles about IR35, the PCG's 12,000 members have brought the Government before the High Court over the tax's…PCG
13 MAR 2001JR 2: Judge 'sympathetic only to uncertainty over IR35'At the start of the afternoon session of PCG’s first day in the judicial review, its QC Gerald Barling, ran through the issues underlying the…IR35
13 MAR 2001JR 1: 'I may be convinced' says JudgeThe judicial review of the case presented by the PCG to the High Court regarding the illegality of IR35 began this morning (Tuesday March 13) when Mr…IR35
12 MAR 2001Government begins defence of IR35 on the eve of Judicial ReviewOn the eve of PCG's judicial review against the Government, the Labour Party has published a story on its website entitled 'Why is Labour introducing…POLITICS
10 MAR 2001PCG ready for judicial review challenge to IR35 legalityThe Professional Contractors Group says it is fully prepared for next week's High Court judicial review, arguing IR35 breaches European law on three…IR35
8 MAR 2001Budget Commentary: IR35 at bottom of Government’s undo listSenior analyst at Bloor Research, Mark Simmons, exclusively provides UKTECH with essential commentary on the budget and the implications it will have…BUSINESS
6 MAR 2001Jobserve makes U-turn because 'the road ahead is being blocked'Defending Jobserve's decision to accept direct advertising from employers following its previous operation of accepting jobs from employment agencies…AGENCIES
3 MAR 2001The muddy waters when a contractor becomes an 'employee'In the past contractors have neither sought nor wanted to be treated as 'employees' of their client - and clients have not wanted them 'on the books'.IR35
1 MAR 2001Computer People admits wording was 'unfortunate'Computer People and ATSCo have issued statements following UKTECH's breaking of the story of Computer People using IR35 to market their services to…AGENCIES
23 FEB 2001New review procedure to end high profile Government IT disastersThe Treasury has announced that the Office of Government Commerce's Gateway Review Process procedure will be applied to all future public sector IT…POLITICS
23 FEB 2001PQ reveals origins of ‘Fast-Track’ imported IT professionalsThe top 10 countries whose IT professionals have been drafted in to the UK to fill the national skills shortage over the past year has been released…POLITICS
22 FEB 2001Tories launch website to deregulate ‘Red Tape Britain’Sir Paul Judge, Chairman of the Conservative Deregulation Taskforce, has launched sillyregs.com to get feedback on what's really strangling Britain's…POLITICS
21 FEB 2001ATSCo responds to questions of using ‘bullying’ tacticsAnn Swain, Chief Executive of ATSCo, has spoken to UKTECH about its letter of intent to commence legal proceedings against the Affiliation of…AGENCIES
21 FEB 2001PCG reports Computer People to ASA over IR35 ad claimsThe Professional Contractors Group has filed an Advertising Standards Authority complaint accusing recruiter Computer People of misleading IR35…PRESS
20 FEB 2001ATSCo sues contractor group over 'atsco' domain namesAgency body ATSCo has begun 'passing off' proceedings against the Affiliation of Technology Sub-Contractors over its atsco.co.uk and .org.uk domains.AGENCIES
18 FEB 2001Minister's Conference Paper generates a very 'reasoned debate'Cabinet Office Minister, Graham Stringer MP, has responded to calls to provide a response to the debate started by his article in the site's first…CONFERENCE PAPERS
15 FEB 2001Conservatives will repeal IR35Today the Conservative Party announced that it will repeal the damaging and short-sighted IR35 legislation which has caused mayhem in the IT sector…IR35
13 FEB 2001Government pledges to back self-employed and review regulationIn a recent speech the Prime Minister called for Ministers to devise policies to back the country's self-employed.POLITICS
12 FEB 2001Cabinet Office Minister writes first UKTECH Conference PaperGraham Stringer MP, the Cabinet Office's Parliamentary Secretary, has written the first Conference Paper to be placed in the UKTECH Conference Hall…POLITICS
11 FEB 2001Contractor legislation may change: Advocate General adds supportBECTU, the entertainment union, has received a major boost to its groundbreaking legal proceedings against the Government's policy on paid annual…POLITICS
9 FEB 2001Livingstone's e-business adviser a 'waste of time', says analystBloor Research analyst Mark Simmons tells UKTECH that Ken Livingstone's appointment of an e-business adviser will make no difference to London.BUSINESS
6 FEB 2001Leaked emails reveal job-site 'client direct' battle with agenciesLeaked emails obtained by UKTECH show rivals rounding on Jobserve and Jobsite as the big job sites let clients advertise direct, bypassing agencies.AGENCIES
5 FEB 2001ATSCo call proposed industry regulations "disastrous"Government proposals to ban ‘quarantine periods’ on ‘temp-to-temp’ and ‘temp to third-party’ transfers of over four weeks and ‘temp-to-perm’…AGENCIES
22 JAN 2001Government's 'temp to perm' quarantine debate intensifiesA heated exchange of letters (copied to the Interviewer magazine) between Alan Johnson - Minister for Competitiveness and Tory MP Ian Bruce has…POLITICS
19 JAN 2001Byers opens Marconi's $50m Delhi plant on Asia trade tripTrade Secretary Stephen Byers has opened Marconi's new $50 million Delhi plant as two ministers tour Asia to promote UK e-commerce links.POLITICS
15 JAN 2001Start-ups forced registration may not mean "fairness for all"Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo's scheme to make start-up businesses and the self-employed register with the Revenue immediately or face a £100 fine…POLITICS
12 JAN 2001Contractor's IR35 attack becomes Spectator cover storyIT contractor Andrew Duncan's Spectator cover article 'Why I no longer love Tony' attacks IR35, with contractors mailing copies to their MPs.IR35
11 JAN 2001Wipro beats IBM to Scottish Parliament IT contractIndia's Wipro has won the contract to support the Scottish Parliament's IT network for its 2003 Holyrood move, ousting IBM and drawing SNP criticism.BUSINESS
8 JAN 2001Increase in contractors' rates predictedCorporate finance specialists, Capital Strategies, has predicted that IR35 could have five serious impacts on IT contractors.IR35
5 JAN 2001Inland Revenue offers bonus to 'increase efficiency through IT'The Inland Revenue has announced that it will offer small businesses a £50 bonus for filling in tax returns electronically.POLITICS
4 JAN 2001Is the 'online' government 'offline'?A Cabinet Office website launched to publicise its e-government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF) and 'Modernising Government' White Paper has 14…POLITICS

2000

23 DEC 2000Dataworkforce and Jobserve top Sunday Times growth league tablesRecruiters Dataworkforce and Jobserve take the No.1 spots in the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 and Profit Track 100, with Dataworkforce sales up 273%.AGENCIES
15 DEC 2000UK recruitment industry now worth £18.5bn a year, survey findsA Heywood Associates survey of 2,800 consultancies values the UK recruitment sector at £18.5 billion, driven by outsourcing and globalisation.AGENCIES
14 DEC 2000Dawn Primarolo stays tight-lipped about IR35 legal costsPaymaster General Dawn Primarolo has refused to disclose the amount that taxpayers could pay in legal costs over the IR35 challenge brought by the…POLITICS
12 DEC 2000Minister's substitute talks about transfer feesPaul Hadley, a late stand-in for Alan Johnson Minister for Competitiveness, who was unable to attend Recruitment2000, answered some concerns from…AGENCIES
12 DEC 2000UKTECH at Recruitment2000, London OlympiaRecruitment 2000 – the National Recruitment Industry Conference and Exhibition – recently took place at the London Olympia with a clear message that…AGENCIES
12 DEC 2000Ann Swain- ATSCo at Recruitment2000Ann Swain spoke to the conference on the issues of the rise in 'Client Power' in the recruitment industry and the features that make IT contractors…AGENCIES
12 DEC 2000Work permit applications set to hit 120,000 as IT shortage bitesThe DfEE's Jeremy Turner tells UKTECH work permit applications could rise from 70,000 to 120,000 this year, with IT the largest single category.AGENCIES
8 DEC 2000IR admits it's being hit by skilled IT shortageThe Inland Revenue itself is beginning to experience what contractors have been warning for many months: that industry, commerce and the Government…POLITICS