It is our new year's resolution to continue to build our database of Occasional Assistants and to work hard to make small businesses aware of the huge benefits of using our members.

If your new year's resolution involves a return to work, or a commitment to expand your current freelance workload, please do contact us to see how we can help advertise your professional services.

Alternatively, if you run a small business and have decided that 2012 is the year that you will regain that all important work-life balance, why not search our members' database and begin the new year with high quality, reliable assistance in place for the times you need it most.

Happy New Year!

Well, Christmas is finally upon us. We hope that you all have a very lovely time and Santa is kind to you too!
Merry Christmas, love from Sarah and Beckie x

FREELANCERS - list your profession in the comments section below and let us see if we can advertise your professional services
for free* in the New Year!

After many months of hard graft, we are in definite need of a Christmas night out to celebrate launching OA. But, Newbury or beyond, that is the question - any suggestions?

A very warm welcome to our two new members:

Jo Livings, Virtual PA
http://www.occasionalassistants.co.uk/jo-livings---virtual-assistant.html

and

Catriona Reeves, Copywriter
http://www.occasionalassistants.co.uk/catriona-reeves---copywriting.html

Please take a look at their membership profiles for full details of the services they provide.

Occasional Assistants is very pleased to be able to help spread the word about Mary Hare School's latest fundraising bid. It is a national school for severely and profoundly deaf children, based just outside Newbury, and it is currently raising funds to build a much needed new boarding house for the year 11 students.  Please see our 'Links' above or click here for more - http://www.occasionalassistants.co.uk/links.html

The end of the year will also herald the end of our introductory free offer, but there is still time to join before it runs out.
Members joining Occasional Assistants this month will receive the first six months, absolutely free. So what are you waiting for?
If you are keen to return to a profession and want to provide your extensive professional knowledge and skills to other companies and individuals, on an ad hoc basis, Occasional Assistants is the only place you need to go.
Contact us today to find out more and take advantage of this limited offer before it expires. Email info@occasionalassistants.co.uk

Bit more market research:

If you represent a local small business, would you consider using a reliable experienced freelancer on an adhoc basis or would you prefer to advertise a contracted role, despite the various costs associated with permanent recruitment?

What would your rationale be for this decision?
 
All feedback very gratefully received.
 

Bit of market research.... If you were looking to return to work, would you consider self-employment over a contracted role? If not, what is it that would put you off setting up as a freelancer?