Contracting as a PM in UK

**quackhandle** · 5 March 2013, 23:46

Welcome, you have a lot of reading ahead of you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------>

You might struggle with your CV (ie - all permie work history) agencies may be adverse to take you on.

And yes, IR35 is still around. Somewhere.

qh

**TestMangler** · 6 March 2013, 08:07

Originally posted by quackhandle View Post

Welcome, you have a lot of reading ahead of you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------>

You might struggle with your CV (ie - all permie work history) agencies may be adverse to take you on.

And yes, IR35 is still around. Somewhere.

qh

You have a lot of reading ahead of you too. Start with a dictionary !!

**malvolio** · 6 March 2013, 09:05

Originally posted by gadgetgeezer13 View Post

Hi

I've 20 years in the IT business. About 12 years ago I was a Dev contractor in the city for 6 years and then moved to take a local permy role. Since then I've been a Dev Manager and more recently a Project Manager.

I'm now considering moving back into the contract market, this time as a PM, Agile PM or Scrum Master.
I have Prince2 practioner and Scrum Master certs.

Some questions:

1. Is there any difference between a perm vs contract PM role?
2. Whats the PM market like in and outside London? Is the market good, difficult?
3. I'm keen to work locally if possible (i.e. not london). Is this feasible?
4. Rates, what are the typical rates for a PM? Is it all daily or are there many hourily contracts?
5. IR35, is this still around and do they still off those insurance protection policies?
6. Working hours. As a Dev Contractor in the city the hours were long. Is this the case as a contract PM in / out of London?
7. Why did you move from a perm to contract PM?

Thanks in advance...

If you want contract work as a PM, what is on your CV to demonstrate you can handle a major delivery, that warrants someone paying you £100k to deliver their pet project and that puts you equal to an experienced contractor PM with a dozen successful contracts for the job in question? That's all that counts in terms of getting work. From your precis above, you're possibly not there yet.

Rates are variable and probably not as good as you might think. Use Jobserve to get a vague idea by area. Lots of roles advertised these days, but probably less than 40% are real jobs

And before you do anything, read the first timer guide on this page and the Guide to Freelancing from www.pcg.org.uk. You have no idea how much you don't know or understand.

**quackhandle** · 6 March 2013, 10:14

Originally posted by TestMangler View Post

You have a lot of reading ahead of you too. Start with a dictionary !!

Okay, it was late. Averse is the word I was looking for.

Wel spooted.

qh

**gadgetgeezer13** · 6 March 2013, 20:33

Anyone able to answer my other questions?

I notice there's wasn't much in the way of positivity

**malvolio** · 7 March 2013, 08:34

Originally posted by gadgetgeezer13 View Post

Anyone able to answer my other questions?

We have, you're just not seeing it...

Some questions:

1. Is there any difference between a perm vs contract PM role?

Yes, lots. Permanency, stability, support, training. paid leave, pension funding , sick pay, bank holidays, appeals processes, carreer progression (you won't move from coder to PM as a freelance), HR support, regular payments.... If you mean in terms of work, yes, lots: you can't sack a permie PM for missing a deadline.

2. Whats the PM market like in and outside London? Is the market good, difficult?

That's two questions (three if you're a pedant). It's horrible. Each valid role will have 150+ applicants. Some of them can even do the job. The people deciding who to put forward won't have a scoobie which is which.

3. I'm keen to work locally if possible (i.e. not london). Is this feasible?

If there' s job there, why wouldn't it be? Depends where you are though - not too many major projects in the Hebrides, for instance

4. Rates, what are the typical rates for a PM? Is it all daily or are there many hourily contracts?

Whatever the client's budget will stand. Not as much as you think. And mostly daily - how else do you get extra hours for free

5. IR35, is this still around and do they still off those insurance protection policies?

That is naive in the extreme. You will be on your own as a freelance so go find out. If you have to ask that question, you really aren't ready to go contracting.

6. Working hours. As a Dev Contractor in the city the hours were long. Is this the case as a contract PM in / out of London?

If the team are working long hours, whos going to be watching the first one in and the last one out?

7. Why did you move from a perm to contract PM?

Personally I didn't; I took on the challenge of building a complete support service from scratch in 18 months and decided I liked being my own boss. Everyone has their own reasons, mainly around not having to deal with Human Remains.

Thanks in advance...

You reckon?

**gadgetgeezer13** · 7 March 2013, 22:23

I was a Dev contractor in the City for 6 years, so I might be out of touch but not wet behind the ears.

All I hear is negativity. Perhaps that's the life of a contract PM.

Thanks for your opinions.

**cojak** · 10 March 2013, 10:53

Contracting as a PM in UK

I would like to point out that the Welcome/FAQ forum is a particular safe place for new members.

I will point this out more forcibly to those regulars who forget this rule.

**oracleslave** · 10 March 2013, 13:12

Originally posted by cojak View Post

I would like to point out that the Welcome/FAQ forum is a particular safe place for new members.

I will point this out more forcibly to those regulars who forget this rule.

He got pretty good answers imho. That he didn't take kindly to the the reality that London is not lined with streets of gold for newbie contractors should be neither here nor there.

Contracting as a PM in UK