The Desk
Viewpoint
Opinion and commentary from across the contracting world.
36 ARTICLES
2000–2012
DESK / VIEWPOINT
2000–2012
DESK / VIEWPOINT
2012
- 4 DEC 2012They can tax me, but the moral high ground is mineSince when has the Government of this country felt able to abrogate their responsibilities as law-makers and pass it to the moral judgement of the…READ →
- 27 APR 2012So who or what is morally repugnant aggressive tax avoidance?A few years ago, I wrote an article about how Labour, or possibly the Treasury and the Inland Revenue had subtly switched the definition of 'tax…READ →
2007
- 27 MAR 2007Why doesn't Mr Brown like small firms?Anyone running a small business must be wondering what they've done to upset the Chancellor.READ →
- 15 MAR 2007MSCs: Two wrongs don't make a rightThe respected professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants, have been united in their condemnation of the Government's…READ →
- 30 JAN 2007MSCs: Using a sledge hammer to miss the nut?The Government's attempt to crack down on Managed Service Companies (MSCs) has been the subject of much debate and discussion - but will they…READ →
2006
- 16 JUN 2006What do you want from an agency?Do agencies understand what contractors want from them?READ →
2005
- 19 OCT 2005Freelancer: A business or a vulnerable temp?Two UK representative bodies are fighting to convince the Government that agency workers are two completely different sets of people.READ →
- 11 APR 2005It's not you, it's SME!Philip Ross, founder of the Labour Small Business Forum and member of UKTECH network, argues why Labour must not lose sight of the electoral…READ →
- 25 MAR 2005General Election: Will small businesses make a difference?There is an average of 6,000 small businesses in every constituency.READ →
- 28 FEB 2005Can a consultant be a real business?The world of small businesses was dealt two legal blows last year when the courts supported the views of the Inland Revenue on two controversial…READ →
2004
- 29 NOV 2004Fiddling while Rome burnsIn the past year, I have written several stories about Government initiatives to help what it perceives to be under-represented groups start their…READ →
- 4 NOV 2004Petition against the Govt proposals on ID cardsThere is an electronic petition online calling for the Government to withdraw its plans for introducing ID cards.READ →
- 1 NOV 2004What we have here is a failure to communicateMembers of the UKTECH network were recently invited to participate in an online consultation about what you want from Government IT.READ →
- 10 AUG 2004Company residenceIt is clear from many of the questions and comments posted on UKTECH, that many freelancers and small businesses are internationally mobile.READ →
- 20 JUL 2004IR35: Is it a voluntary tax?I recently had a call from a firm of accountants who had reached an impasse with one of their contractor clients.READ →
- 30 JUN 2004Best wishes to Kevin MillerAfter more than four years working with UKTECH and advising freelancers on their tax and status issue, Kevin Miller, is moving on to take a position…READ →
- 28 MAY 2004Has the UK lost your skills?I recently wrote an article for UKTECH, Killing the goose..., which raised the argument that the Government's policy towards small businesses was in…READ →
- 24 MAY 2004Killing the goose.....The Government has made much play about the need for a vibrant and flexible entrepreneurial sector of the economy, to equip the country to compete on…READ →
- 25 MAR 2004When a tax 'avoider' becomes an 'evader'.From time to time, the Oxford English Dictionary introduces new words which have found their way into the English language or whose meanings have…READ →
2003
- 14 NOV 2003Ask An ExpertI have had some queries about the 'Ask An Expert' section of the UKTECH site, so thought it might be useful if I explained the purpose and structure…READ →
- 21 OCT 2003UKTECH reaches 20,000th memberUKTECH has recently had its 20,000th registered website user join the network.READ →
- 25 MAR 2003Overseas Companies get round the removal of Skill Shortage listI noticed an article which reported on how an optical components company, Bookham Technologies is set to save £500,000 on "insourcing" IT helpdesk…READ →
2002
- 10 DEC 2002What's in a name: Freelancing or Contracting?The term ‘Contractor’ owes its origins to the early 1980s when the then Government prevented agents engaging with sole traders.READ →
2001
- 5 NOV 2001Respect, trust and value for moneySeveral recent events in the contracting community have thrown these three key values into sharp relief and are proof positive, if any was required…READ →