Business commentators look ahead to 2020 as PCG marks National Freelancers Day

6 October 2009: On Monday 23rd November, to mark National Freelancers Day, PCG, the representative body for freelancers, contractors and consultants in the UK, will be hosting a special webcast entitled ‘The future of work: role of the freelancer'.  A select group of experts will look ahead to 2020, examining how the concept of freelancing is likely to develop within the changing business world.

The experts include:

• Dr James Bellini: respected futurologist, TV broadcaster, author and director of content for The Talent Foundation
• Michael van Swaaij: global technology leader, formerly MD of eBay Europe and currently Chairman of Skype and investor in crunch.co.uk
  
• Jon Andrews: Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and co-author of the 2009 report ‘Managing Tomorrows People’, which examines how business will be redefined by global forces  

They will focus on how emerging working patterns could lead to a surge in project-based working, the benefits that such a workforce brings to individual businesses of all sizes and how the economy will benefit from this much needed flexibility.
 
Dr James Bellini believes that the next ten years could witness one of the biggest societal shifts since the industrial revolution and the emergence of a networked society will see fundamental changes to the way people work.  Businesses with foresight will have unprecedented opportunities to take advantage of this new society to become nimbler, greener and more innovative.  The freelance model features prominently in this new society.  
 
Trend analysts at PwC envisage a possible scenario where companies are able to cherry-pick freelancers from a global talent pool, often in a matter of hours, gaining significant advantage over competitors still struggling with hiring talent for permanent positions. This flexibility allows companies to steal market share from more traditional players.
 
Michael van Swaaij will share his experiences of evolving trends in talent management and provide his recommendations for success.
 
PCG is hosting the event free of charge. Anyone wishing to take a glimpse into the future can pre-register now at www.nationalfreelancersday.org.uk.  
 
John Brazier, managing director of PCG said: “Clearly the world of work is changing and those companies with foresight will undoubtedly benefit from tapping into an agile, motivated, flexible and professional business community that is made up of freelancers.  We are delighted to be hosting this on-line event in conjunction with such distinguished experts as we mark National Freelancers Day and celebrate the value of freelancers today and acknowledge the importance of their place in the workplace of tomorrow.”

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--NOTES TO EDITORS--
 
The Professional Contractors Group (PCG), www.pcg.org.uk, was formed in May 1999 to provide independent contractors and consultants with a representative voice in opposition to the original IR35 proposals. Since then, PCG has evolved from being a single-issue campaign group to being a fully fledged, not-for-profit professional body representing knowledge workers who choose to be self-employed.
 
PCG has over 18,000 members working in a wide variety of sectors including oil and gas, engineering, information technology, management consultancy, marketing, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.
 
For further information:
 
Michele Bayliss
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Tel: 01273 475672
Mobile: 0777 937 2106