Xchangeteam is the leading people resourcing company to the marketing and creative services industries.

Xchangeteam is not a typical recruitment company - we use our industry backgrounds to cherry-pick talent rather than have a sales scattergun approach. We pride ourselves on our personal approach, industry knowledge and tough vetting procedures.

We are pioneers in the resourcing marketplace, seeking out the talent and creating new flexible work arrangements tailored to the needs of individuals.

Where traditional recruitment agencies incentivise their agents on an individual basis our unique team approach means that more than one person will look after you and find work for you. We were pioneers in freelance matchmaking, whereas traditional agencies who "bolt on" freelance and don't have our expertise.

Our registration processes are thorough and ensure that we only put freelancers' and permanent candidates' forward for opportunities they are completely happy with.

Unlike recruitment companies and on-line directories, we aim to establish a long-term two-way relationship, representing your interests as your Agent which include:

• Investing time getting to know you and understanding your experience, skills and working requirements
• Sourcing suitable opportunities with our clients
• Communicating with you regularly via telephone, email, NewsXchange magazine, XchangeClub events, www.xchangeteam.com
• Helping you manage your career
• Giving you a professional and personal service

No, Xchangeteam's services are totally FREE to you. We charge our clients an introduction fee calculated as a percentage of your daily rate (freelancers) / salary (permanent candidates). This does not affect your daily rate / salary in any way.

Yes, We match freelance consultants and permanent candidates to roles throughout the UK and select locations internationally.

To work as a freelancer consultant you will need to:

• Be free for work or certainly available as soon as possible
• Update your CV and register at www.xchangeteam.com so we can market you effectively to companies
• Have at least two good business references, from past employers and clients
• Create a portfolio of past work
• Decide your preferred employment 'status': PAYE; sole-trader; limited company. If you decide to become a sole-trader or be employed by a Ltd Co, you will need to find an accountant to advise you on your tax affairs
• You will also find the following extremely useful:
  • A mobile phone
  • Email address and Internet access
  • A computer and basic office equipment if you wish to work from home

Freelancing is an excellent way to gain a wide variety of experience of different businesses, industry sectors, client cultures and types of projects. Some companies will only choose you on the basis of your existing experience if they want someone who can 'hit the ground running'. Other companies may simply require a good 'all-rounder'. It is also a good idea to develop new skills through training and have the confidence to go for assignments that challenge you.

Absolutely. We will always discuss a brief with you before submitting your details to a company - and if it is not of interest you are under no obligation to accept. But once you accept a role, we will expect you to honour your commitment. If you don't and there's not a good reason, we reserve the right to remove you from our register.

Daily rates vary between assignments according to the level of experience required, the skills and industry knowledge requested and the length of the assignment. Some disciplines command premium rates. Most freelance consultants set themselves a range for their daily rate, which gives them greater flexibility. We are happy to guide consultants on the going market rates for specific briefs.

We work hard to provide our freelance consultants with as many work opportunities as possible. However there can never been any guarantees. We have no way of determining what skills clients will be requesting from one day to the next, and unless your experience / availability matches a client's requirements, we will not be able to put you forward. Finding an assignment/role is a two-way process. Keep an eye on the Xchangeteam Jobs Board and call the team if there is an assignment/role which interests you.

On the contrary, the trend towards freelance working is growing rapidly across all business sectors. It is estimated that 40% of the UK workforce will be freelance by 2010 and 80% of UK organisations currently use some form of flexible employment. It is increasingly recognised that the most talented, confident and experienced professionals are choosing to become freelance consultants.

Yes, our service is totally flexible and tailored to your requirements - whether it's to work full-time, part-time or flexi-time, from the client's office or your own - just let us know and we will endeavour to contact you with suitable briefs.

Payment terms between hirers companies and freelance consultants are agreed by all parties before starting an assignment. Some contracts require us to pay our freelancers and others make payment the responsibility of the hirer company. If we are responsible for payment, the process will be dependent on your employment status:

• If you are paid under the PAYE system, you will be required to submit authorised timesheets online on a weekly basis. All timesheets received by the 18th of each month will be paid MONTHLY on the 27th of that month. If the 27th falls on a weekend, then payment will be paid on the preceeding Friday.
• If you are a limited company, you will need to complete a work log and invoice us or the client at the end of each month for work done during that month. Your limited company will then be paid after 30 days.
• If you are a sole trader - because of the Inland Revenue's rules we will only pay you on a PAYE basis. Or you can invoice the company direct and take responsibility for your own tax and national insurance deductions.

Your employment status could be one of three options:

• PAYE: employed and paid either by the client or by us - with tax and National Insurance deducted according to law
• Sole trader: self employed - taking responsibility for your own tax and National Insurance and invoicing the client directly
• Limited company: employed by a limited company of which you are a director/shareholder and invoicing us or the client
  
  You should seek professional financial advice if you are not sure which route would suit your personal circumstances.

Your employment status affects the tax and National Insurance you have to pay.

• If you are employed it will normally be your employer's responsibility to deduct tax and National Insurance from your pay under PAYE (pay as you earn). However, being a freelancer on a PAYE basis does NOT mean you are an employee of the client.
• If you are a sole-trader you are responsible for your own tax and National Insurance which is paid in arrears. Being a sole-trader also affects the social security benefits you can claim, certain employment rights (maternity leave, redundancy, holiday pay, notice rights) and your liability to the public for the work you do for them.

Contact your local tax office for more information or consult a professional Financial Advisor.

Contact your local tax office for more information or consult a professional Financial Advisor

Give your P45 to us or your hiring company (depending on who is responsible for paying you) at the beginning of your assignment, so that we/they know your tax code and how much tax and National Insurance to deduct. If you do not have your P45, complete a P46 - otherwise you will be put on an emergency higher rate of tax, which will be not be repaid until the end of the tax year.

You are now obliged to keep all appropriate records for six years. It is important that you separate your business from your personal expenses, so it is advisable to open a separate bank account. You need to record all receipts and keep records of all your financial transactions including:

• Invoices
• Bank statements
• Cheque stubs and paying in slips
• All purchases and other expenses as they arise
• All purchases and sales of assets used in your business
• All amounts taken out of the business bank account, or in cash, for your personal use
• All amounts paid into the business from personal funds (e.g. the proceeds of a life insurance policy)

VAT (Value Added Tax) is charged on most goods and services by their suppliers. There are three rates:

• Zero rate which applies to certain goods such as food, children's clothing
• Reduced Rate which is 5% and applies to domestic fuel and power
• Standard Rate which is 17.5% and applies to all other goods and services

You should register for VAT if your total sales are more than £54,000 in a 12 month period and you are trading either as a sole-trader, partnership or Limited Company. It is important to keep accurate records for six years.

If you are paid by the PAYE system you can receive paid holiday under the Working Time Regulations. Currently, you are entitled to 20 days' holiday pro rata (approximately one day for every twelve days worked).

If you are a sole-trader, in general, you are NOT entitled, so many freelancer's' daily rates reflect this.

If you are operating under a limited company, it is the responsibility of that company to pay your holiday entitlement.

If you have an office you will be required to register for and pay business rates, which is a local property tax. This is calculated and levied by local councils. To work out your bill, the local council multiplies your rateable value by the Uniform Business Rate, which is fixed every year by the Government. If your office is in your house, you may be liable to pay business rates on the non-domestic part if the business use is clearly identifiable (but, for example, if you use your dining room table to do your accounts, this does not become rateable!) and part of your capital gains tax exemption (available on the sale of your residence) may be lost.

We strongly advise that you obtain professional indemnity insurance. This is insurance against claims for:

• Negligent advice causing loss to your client
• Libel and slander
• Breach of confidence

For assignments of up to three months, you must give us one week's notice. For assignments of more than three months, you should give us one month's notice. These notice periods are mutual i.e. they apply equally to clients, notice periods exist to protect BOTH parties and give adequate warning to either find a new assignment or to find a replacement freelance consultant.