Second try...

[DaveB]

There's SFA in Nottingham full stop, never mind just contracting. However I'm the sort who doesn't really see Leicester/Birmingham/Sheffield as "travelling". When you tell me I need to travel to work, I'm thinking Northampton, Chester, Harrogate. Derby's only 20 minutes down the road from me too (well, Markeaton roundabout is...), so I'd be well happy if I got a role there.

Have a look in leeds, I packed in permiedom in Mansfield when I landed a ciontract inn Leeds. PLenty around up that way atm

[StoneLaughter]

Good luck - there's SFA in Nottingham contract-wise. Good stuff in Derby, Sheffield and Leicester or Brum if you want to go that far.

There's SFA in Nottingham full stop, never mind just contracting. However I'm the sort who doesn't really see Leicester/Birmingham/Sheffield as "travelling". When you tell me I need to travel to work, I'm thinking Northampton, Chester, Harrogate. Derby's only 20 minutes down the road from me too (well, Markeaton roundabout is...), so I'd be well happy if I got a role there.

[TheMonkey]

My name's Tom, I'm an IT Infrastructure Support Engineer who's just been made redundant, and I live near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.

Good luck - there's SFA in Nottingham contract-wise. Good stuff in Derby, Sheffield and Leicester or Brum if you want to go that far.

[chef]

I second The Lone Gunman (LG), excellent advice.

don't forget no matter how nicey nicey agents are they're only looking to line their own pockets. so while screaming "**** off ******" at them may make you feel better when they offer ridiculously low rates or keep offering permie positions even though you specifically state your a contractor but may come back to bite you in the ass later on, it's a very small world out there, look after number 1 always..

final tip: don't forget, now your not permie you'll need to put money away for medical cover in case you break your leg or find yourself "in between contracts" for an extended period of time.

Enjoy

Chef

[dmini]

Initial setup- if you go through an umbrella the initial setup will be the least painful. You have a little paperwork setting yourself up with the umbrella, but that is fairly simple. You still need to check that the agency have sent the contract to the umbrella, if there are bits for you to sign, you have been sent them, you have returned them, the umbrella has returned bits to the agency etc. All obvious, but has caught me out a number of times. All you have to do after that is timesheets - probably an agency one & an umbrella one. Clearly from oher threads you need to keep a record of expenses etc.
If you want to set up a limited company, there is more paperwork, depending on how much you want to pay your accountant to do so. I didn't, so had a low cost, but had to do the work, registering the company, VAT, flat rate VAT, PAYE, setting up a bank account etc, and then trying to understand what I was doing! Once that is done, it is fairly straightforward, but you need to keep company records for accounts as well. I probably spent more time on this than I needed to, because my account went on holiday for 2 weeks, as I was setting up. There is more admin, but it's not heavy - running a payroll calculation etc. I have only just set up my co. , but I don't think it will take more than 1 hour a week, once everything is up, and tested. Hopefully less!

[Pondlife]

I would recomend the Ltd. and accountant route others have different methods.

I try to make sure my company has 12 months salary in it. I try to make sure I have 6 months mortgage and costs in my own bank.

Both are v. good advice. My view is that dividends should be genuine profit. i.e. There should be enough money left in the company to cover costs (salary, Acc fees etc) for the year. Also remember company money is NOT your money. There is tax to be paid!

[lukemg]

You will find the working day is the same for you as it is for permie in the same job with the odd exception - your renewal is your appraisal, no general info meetings about the company/your welfare etc. hours, conditions etc usually tie in with them. Business work is very minor, especially if you are using umbrella or managed ltd and won't take much time each month. Your job is to keep the contract you are in, get it extended if it suits, get your rate increased (I know the system now, taken on new reponsibilities, I'm greedy etc) or find the next one.
You will normally know with 2-3 weeks to go if you have been extended, try to leave on good terms, it's not personal it's business, then it's time to hammer the job boards (contacts are great but jobserve has got me all my contracts). Got to keep some money stashed to see you through the breaks if there are any. Support boys get poor rates but can often get extended for long times to provide some continuity and keep annual income up.
Basically, it's the same as perm work but you have to look for fresh work frequently, hopefully get extra cash for your trouble.
As far as living away, done 10.5 years contracting, all but 6 months (first one) have been commutable (3 hrs a day was longest, current is 40mins)
Look closer first, further if you have to.
Good luck

[The Lone Gunman]

Most of us use agents, there are a few who have built up enough contacts to go direct, but not many.

Trawl the job sites or preffered agents sites and any other sources of work you can find.
I find it pays to register your CV with the job sites, others find they get spammed by agents, try it and see.
<edit>Create a Yahoo (or similar) account to filter agents through. Put it on your CV or marketing bumf. Once you start getting too much spam close it and move on. Only give your proper contact address to those you trust.
You will (eventualy) be interviewed, sometimes this is a short telephone conversation sometimes a 6 hour interrogation including technical test.
You will/will not then be made an offer of a contract.
Terms of this contract may or may not be negotiable. Change what you dont like. If there are terms you cant live with then be prepared to put yourself back on the bench (local term for out of work).
If it is all on the up then start the job.
Get paid tulip loads for posting on here. Ha Ha.

You can start work without a contract but I would try and get confirmation that you reserve the right to withdraw dependant on T&Cs preferably in writting confirming payment for work done outside contract.

I would recomend the Ltd. and accountant route others have different methods.

I try to make sure my company has 12 months salary in it. I try to make sure I have 6 months mortgage and costs in my own bank.

[Pondlife]

As mentioned in the other thread, the contract is between you (or YourCo) and the agency not the client. Don't let the agent bully you into using their preferred umbrella company (that also promises to let you keep 90% of your invoice qty ).

Also, you don't HAVE to use an agent, if you can find the gig yourself somuch the better - one less layer lining their pockets with your hard earnt cash.

[StoneLaughter]

Ooo, I forgot to add this part in:

For instance, does it go "contact the agent having seen an ad, send CV, book interview with client, offered job, client send contract, review contract, get it checked for IR35 and legal pitfalls, sign and return contract, start work"? Or do I have the order wrong, missed things out, added extra bits in.... what?

and pondlife, thanks.

[Pondlife]

Read this note about agents;

http://www.contractoruk.com/news/00430.html

HTH

[StoneLaughter]

Afternoon folks!

My name's Tom, I'm an IT Infrastructure Support Engineer who's just been made redundant, and I live near Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.

I am looking at the possibility of setting up as a Contractor, and while I've read the PCG's "Guide to Freelancing", it still doesn't give me a clear picture in my head about what to do once I've registered my Company Name and so on. How do I begin, how do I get that first contract... and what's the process from start to finish of securing ANY contract?

What will my working day be like? How much time will I likely have for business related activity during my working day, and if I don't get any, how much work will I have at night when I get home?

It's all this "general", "real life works like THIS" info that I need; official guides seem to miss this part out...

p.s. I HAVE read the "First Timer's" section... what I'm looking for here is experience from people out there now... anecdotes, stories, helpful commentary, and as I said a step-by-step "this is what happens" for getting the next contract.

Thanks