Celebrate National Freelancers Day in Newcastle

County Hotel by Thistle, Newcastle, 23rd November from 6.30pm

Be part of and show your support for National Freelancers Day by joining fellow freelance consultants, interim managers and contractors at a special National Freelancers Day event at the County Hotel by Thistle.

To evolve the themes of the day, PCG is hosting a panel led discussion with each panel member providing their own unique insight and questions. The evening will primarily take the format of a group discussion, with questions to the panel and views being raised by the freelancers and contractors present. You are welcome to be as involved as you want in the discussions, or just listen if you prefer. 

This event will let you contribute to and build on activities of the day and explore subjects such as:

• What does freelancing mean for you?
• What support systems are in place for freelance businesses?
• How freelance businesses can evolve, develop and "raise their game"?
• The opportunities and challenges for freelance businesses in the current economic climate and beyond?
• Why freelancing is vital to the UK economy and the potential for freelancing in the evolving business world?
• How businesses could better harness the UK freelance talent pool.

The panel will include:

• Andy Overton, Local PCG Member and organiser of Newcastle RLMs. Andy Overton has worked in the IT industry for 23 years in a variety of technical and consultancy roles. During this time he has freelanced,
  worked for companies large and small and now runs his own web development consultancy business, which regularly engages freelancers. He has been a member of the PCG for 9 years.
  
  
• Michael Harle, SJD Accountancy - SJD Accountancy is a national firm of accountants specialising in the provision of accountancy and taxation services to Contractors, Freelancers and Consultants. With over 10,000 clients SJD are the only specialist firm to have offices to cover the whole of the UK.

• Paul Callaghan, Chairman of The Leighton Group, the North East based technology, software, media and communications group. Paul is also Chairman of the University of Sunderland and Deputy Chairman of ONE North East. He has an Economics degree from the LSE, an MA in Management and Education and an MSc in Finance and Economics.

• Max Seargeant, Engineering Consultant. Max is a chartered Instrumentation & Control Engineer. After having been made redundant in 1993 from his first post graduate job, he decided to go limited company contract. He typically takes "open-ended" secondment type contracts through agents, but has worked directly for both main contractors and end-clients (UK, Ireland and Libya).

The format of the evening is as follows:

6.30 pm                                Meet in the bar
7.00 pm                                Welcome and introductions
7.05 pm                                Panel Discussion
8.00 pm                                Conclusions and actions to take forward
8.15 pm                                End (light refreshment provided followed by more networking in the room)

The PCG would like to thank:

Savantis for their support in organising this event and SJD Accountancy for their kind contribution towards catering costs

To register for this event:

Email SUBJECT:  NEWCASTLE NFD REGISTRATION
Please include your name, company name, whether you are a freelancer/supplier or client and telephone number to.  Please also include your PCG Membership number if applicable.