Representative Groups
What Are They?
To understand the ethos of representative groups it is important to appreciate that their diverse aims and objectives do vary in both direction and intensity. They range from the philosophical aspirations of not-for-profit organisations and charities through to wholly commercial corporations that offer professionally managed representation and lobbying, all staffed and funded from a membership levy.
Whilst convention suggests that they all perform the same function as other apparently similar organisations there are differences. To quote from the Cabinet Office website "Some may be made up of people who have a particular interest in a subject and have very strong views", this can on occasions be perceived to manifest itself as self-interest and protectionism. Another quote from the same website reads "Depending on the type of organisation, the group may contain particularly motivated people who aren't fully representative of users". There is no hard and fast instruction set; there are many shades of the same colour.
How Do They Work?
It is generally accepted that these groups (of whatever shade) do a fair job of representing their members’ interests, where the common theme is 'seeking recognition'. Their reason for existing is simple, to exert influence. Their primary purpose is to try to ensure that their vested interests take precedence over other vested interests, nothing new there then.
Which Ones Are Relevant to Me and Why?
That’s a decision for you to take. What we have done and will continue to do is to highlight who they are and what they do, particularly where they excel. The other side of our own particular coin mandates that if we have concerns about any organisation we will highlight those concerns and investigate on behalf of the marketplace; therein lays the beauty of us not having a vested interest.
What Are We Doing That is Different?
We are creating an Open Door policy where no organisation is initially excluded; on the contrary we operate on a strict mandate of inclusivity, without exception. As we have stated repeatedly elsewhere, we recognise that there are many roles and a multiplicity of players in our freelancer marketplace and we open our doors to all. Our aim is to bring knowledge and understanding of all the disparate business models that operate in our community.
Supergroups
The 70s and 80s saw the advent of the so-called 'Supergroups', a merging of talents who became spokesmen for their generation. In a business sense, today’s supergroups include the CBI, Intellect, REC, ATSCo and hard to believe but yes, another Genesis (this one with a European slant as well, PEGI). All of this 'coming together' is designed for one purpose only, to increase the volume of the supergroups who have more chance of being heard and even more importantly, being assigned credibility.
Which Ones Are the Most Effective?
First of all you must define your version of 'effective'.
- Do you want lobbying and representation to be a priority for you and your fellow freelancers and then how do you measure success?
- Do you simply want insurances in case enquiries are made as to your company’s legislative compliance?
- Do you want help in ensuring that you are running the business, your business, in the most rewarding, compliant way?
The IFA freelancer market provides you with access to most relevant representation groups, what you have to do is decide what the questions are.
Here are just some of those organizations in the UK; The Genesis Initiative, FPB, FSB, TAF, CBI, REC, Atsco, Intellect, BCS, Oil & Gas UK, ABOI
European examples: UEAPME (Brussels based lobbying organisation for SMEs), NORMAPME (a subset of UEAPME responsible for standards for SMEs), SBE (Small Business Europe, Brussels-based ex-DTI-funded unit tasked with making it easier for UK Representative Bodies to access power brokers in the Commission and the European Parliament) and the London-based PEGI, the Pan European Genesis Initiative.
Why Are We So Different?
One of the more compelling of reasons for our emergence has been to draw together those disparate and diverse voices that carry out very good work on behalf of their members but always within their limitations of scope, within their usually restrictive spheres of operation. We are fortunate in that we have no such limitations; we do not recognise those boundaries.
We host all groups and associations and promote them, communications between then and provide via our freelancer and business forums and eVoice a composite platform for the VOICE of all stakeholders to be heard.
On points that require direction to Government or other legislative agencies we will both provide a 'structures précis of the freelancer issue, concerns and expectations' to the appropriate lobbying group or IFA sponsored lobbying professional and where necessary, provide the full and considerable weight of IFA behind it.
We essentially operate the modern-day version of the Guild, we co-ordinate and/or publish/manage freelancer issues, in this our virtual marketplace.
An open mind with clarity of vision, transparency and conviction.