Assignment 2- Task 3 Trade Journal

Trade Journal 

How can a trade journal help you?

Trade journals can be a key source of information about people, businesses, and industries. A trade journal contains news and items of interest in a particular trade.  A trade journal will also help improve efficiency as it keeps track of the trading day. It keeps track of what went well and what went wrong, so it can help you to improve. 
An example of a trade journal is Forex Smart tools. Forex Smart tools helps to: 

• Records every trade from all your brokers
• Reduces losses by identifying weak points in your strategy
• Increases profit by analyzing entries and exits
• Sorts trades to see what's working and what isn't
• Stores screenshots and video of each unique trade
• View equity curves for any parameter you set up, such as strategy, currency or timeframe

Forex Smart Tools is designed to improve efficiency for workers. It helps to carefully analyse trades in order to keep on top of business. 

The importance of keeping up with industry news

It is important to keep on top of industry news and trends. This is in order to keep up to date in your chosen industry, which is forever evolving and developing. Threats will be easily spotted from an early stage when knowledge of competition is kept up to date. 

Keeping up to date in your industry is key for building expert power. By developing expertise in your job and industry, trust will be earned as well as respect for good jobs done. 

Assignment 2 -Task 2 Skill Set Website Evaluation

Website evaluation

www.creativeskillset.org

What do you think of the layout?
The layout is easily navigable and easy to locate chosen topics. The search bar also helps the audience to find what they are looking for. Key text is highlighted in bold so navigation is particularly easy on this website. The colour scheme keep the website looking professional and not too cluttered. The colours also

Can you find what you want easily?
The website is very helpful when it comes to navigation. There are links to chosen topics such as careers and apprenticeships which helps the audience find what they are after quicker than searching through the text. The search bar is also specific which means the perfect match can be found.

For your specialism, is the info useful?
My chosen specialism is Graphic Design. Graphic Design does not come up as a chosen sector under the search bar. However, when graphic design is searched, there are a lot of choices which come up. The site enables you to refine search into level of education e.g degree. This was helpful. However there wasn't any further information on the site.

Training?
Skill set offers help to find various training and courses. There are also pages giving information on funding for training, in TV in particular. There is lots of information available when it comes to funding. Skillset also has a search bar to find the best training available for you.

Contacts?
Skillset has links to email, social media and contacts. This means the information can be shared or further help can be found. The course search also enables you to find contacts you would need if you would be interesting in signing up for a training programme or educational course.

What other help?
If at first the website does not have what you are looking for, then the search bar will help to find the best help available on the website. This is a very useful tool on the website.

Assignment 2- Task 1 - Skills audit

Skills audit

Name: Rosie Winslade..

It is important to be realistic about the skills you have, and the skills you need to attain, in order to be a successful freelance.

Your chosen specialism:

Graphic design

What technical skills do you have to do this job? Please answer AS FULLY as possible.

I have full knowledge of Adobe software, which would be needed for this specialism. I also have general knowledge with computers and technology to a high standard.

What technical skills do you need?

You need to have technical knowledge of software and equipment used in design work and for blogs etc. The knowledge has to constantly be up to date.

How do you intend to get those skills?

If you did not have the skills, you would need to be trained. Knowledge of the software would have to be constantly evolving and developing along with the technology which would also be developing and evolving all the time.

What personal skills do you have to do this job?

I am a creative, determined person and I would enjoy creating pieces of work for a client or company. I am also organised when completing tasks.

What personal skills do you think you need?

In order to be a graphic designer, you need to be good at timekeeping, organised, creative and determined. You also need self-motivation and will power in order to work from home. Effective communication is needed to keep In contact with clients. You also need knowledge for commercial advertising.

How do you intend to get those skills?

The skills needed for this specialism are personal skills, however they can be adapted and developed further through hard work and an increase in knowledge. 

SWOT

S- Strengths
I pick up new technology quickly 

W- Weakness
Easy distractions would limit work being done at home

O- Opportunities
Opportunities to improve with practice

T- Threats
Competition in the market

British Film Institute

Who they are

BFI (British Film Institute) founded in 1933. They are governed by the royal charter. They combine cultural, creative and industrial roles, bringing together the BFI National Archive and BFI Reuben Library, film distribution, exhibition and education at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX, publishing and festivals. 

British Film Institute award Lottery funding to film production, distribution, education, audience development and market intelligence and research.

What they can do for members

BFI Cinema Membership is the best way to enjoy the special events, previews and screenings at the BFI London Film Festival and at BFI Southbank all year round.

BFI Champion Membership is the best way to give extra support to the BFI and enjoy extra priority access to the hottest tickets, invitations to special events and a new release BFI DVD every quarter.

How they can help freelancers in that field in particular

Not Found

How much they charge

BFI Cinema Membership- £45 (£40 by Direct Debit)

BFI Champion Membership-£255 (£250 by Direct Debit)

What they offer for the money

BFI Cinema Member-
• Priority booking for BFI Festivals and BFI Southbank.
• Free tickets to an exclusive events programme at BFI Southbank.
• £1.50 off BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX tickets.
• No booking fees for BFI Festivals and BFI Southbank.
• BFI Southbank and BFI Festivals programme guides.
• 10% off food and soft drinks at BFI Southbank.
• Savings on an annual Sight & Sound subscription and at the BFI Shop.
• Regular promotions on streaming films on the new BFI Player.

BFI Champion member-

 Extra priority booking for BFI Festivals and BFI Southbank
• Priority booking of free tickets to the exclusive events programme at BFI Southbank
• Free new release BFI DVD every quarter
• Invitations to additional special events throughout the year

• £1.50 off BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX tickets

• No booking fees for BFI Festivals and BFI Southbank

• BFI Southbank and BFI Festivals programme guides
• 10% off food and soft drinks at BFI Southbank
• Savings on an annual Sight & Sound subscription and at BFI Shop
• Regular promotions on streaming films on the new BFI Player

Assignment 1

14: Working Freelance in the Creative Media Sector

Name:…Rosie Winslade....

WORKSHEET ONE:

1  What is your chosen sector?

        Graphics

2  What is your chosen specialism?

Graphic design work

      What is full-time work?

Full time work is where you work a contract of around 30+ hours a week. You have a set wage and are paid monthly. In full time work you get paid holiday and sickness pay. The job will have set hours so a set routine. This is why it is ideal for family people or just general people with a lot of bills to pay and children. Redundancy pay applies if you lose your job for no reason of your fault.

4   What is part-time work?

Part time work is a short contract, perhaps of 6 months. At the end of the contract you may get a new contract or just lose your job completely. This type of contract would be good for graduates or students who are looking for experience in the job field. People who are not committed to any major household bills or children would be ideal.

  

5    What is freelance?

Freelance work is where you are working for yourself and do not have fixed work, hours, money etc. Often, freelancers get a lot of money but that depends on how many jobs they get in a month. It has its disadvantages of not being able to plan ahead as you are unaware of how much money you will be making.

6  What qualities do you think you need to be a good freelance?

To work freelance you need to be good with money and be determined to get the work done in your own time.

7   If you could choose a type of contract to have, which one would you pick and why?

I would pick to work full time, as it would be reliable and a set amount of income per month.

8   Search for details online of someone who works freelance in your chosen sector/specialism. Summarise their duties/responsibilities and comment critically on their job. Does reading about them make you more likely, or less likely, to go freelance?

Lee Mason is a freelance graphic designer. His duties include designing logos and other work for clients. Responsibilities include time management and keeping on top of finance.  Some of his work includes designing menus for restaurants. He has 5 years experience.  As he is freelance his pay depends on how many jobs he works on, this makes me less likely to work freelance. 

WORKSHEET TWO:

       Which working environment is best for you? Why? Please answer as fully as possible, comparing and contrasting the two methods of working, giving pros and cons for each.

Hiring office space would be best for me. This is because it would give a more professional feel and would feel like a real working environment. Working from home would be too informal and unprofessional for me. Hiring office space, however, would cost money. Working from home would be cost effective as there are no hire fees, however it would merge work and free time into one and there would be no escapism from work whilst at home. Working from home also gives no social opportunities.

      You have decided to work from home and will need to equip your office. Please list AT LEAST five things you will need for your office, and find out the prices so you can work out how much you will need to spend in setting it up. Make sure you list the websites where you have sourced the prices.

Laptop- Apple Macbook- £1000-Apple Store

Printer- HP Smart Print- £39.99- PC World

Desk- Corner Oak- £249- Staples

Chair- Spinning chair- £49.99- Staples

IPad mini- £260- Argos

Lamp- £5- Asda

Setting up an office at home would cost a lot of money. I researched different websites to get the best prices and products and made a list of the chosen ones (above).

       You have decided to hire an office.  Research and show at least three possible sites in the local area. Discuss the pros and cons of each, together with rent. Again, please list your resources.

Western Road Portsmouth- from £249 a month

Pros-

Kitchen areas

State of the art technology

Staff and support teams

Cons-

Most expensive

Furthest away

Southampton Road Portsmouth- From £200 a month

Pros-

Surrounded by the sea

2 minutes from M27

First month’s rental free

Cons-

No support staff

Not as high tech equipment

Kingston Cresent Portsmouth- From £220 a month

Pros-

Car parking

Printing services

Kitchen

Showers

Cons-

Lots of offices may be harder to get a parking space

No direct transport links

WORKSHEET THREE

Financial stuff

1    What is income tax?

Income tax is a tax levied directly on personal income.

2     What is National Insurance?

 The system of compulsory payments by employees and employers to provide state assistance for people who are sick, unemployed, or retired. 

3    What does VAT stand for and how much is it set at?

 VAT stands for value added tax.  VAT is tax on the amount by which the value of an article has been increased at each stage of its production or distribution. Basic rate is 20%. 

3) Calculating the cost of a job – making sure you don’t lose out.

You are doing a job which involves you travelling to Swindon, either by train or by car, staying overnight. You will have three meals while you are there – dinner, breakfast and lunch.

The job will cost you £80 in materials and the company you are working for will not pay your expenses additionally. You expect the job in total to take you three days.

You want to make £100 a day net – ie after your tax and VAT has been taken out. Work out how much you are going to charge the company for the job.

)          Find a hotel in Swindon where you are going to stay. Don’t ‘take the mickey’ – the company will not be impressed with you using a five star hotel. Look up their rates – is breakfast included, even dinner? Obviously then you would not have to add an allowance for these meals.

n   3 * hotel Jurys Inn Swindon- £47 Per night. TOTAL: £141

     Free Breakfast is included & free wifi. 

        Calculating petrol – using google maps should give you how much it will cost in petrol.

The chosen route will take 1 hour 26 minutes. Googles est. fuel cost is set at £16.28 

d      Make allowances for any meals that are not included in your hotel rate. Again, you are not fine dining – how much does a good meal at Nando’s cost?

      Breakfast in the hotel is included. Therefore I will need 3 days worth of lunch and dinner. As there is a Tesco Express nearby, lunch is covered at £3.50 per day for a meal deal covering a sandwich, crisps and drink. This totals at £10.50. 

      Dinner averages at £10.00 per person per meal at restaurants such as nandos, harvester, pizzahut etc. So i will allow a £30.00 dinner allowance. 

I

e      Add all these costs together – your travel, hotel, and meals, your £80 in materials and the £100 a day for three days you want to earn.

         How much is this?
      Travel- PETROL- £16.28
      Hotel- £141
      Meals- £40.50
      Materials- £80
      Earning- £300
 
    TOTAL: £577.78

Tax at the basic rate is 20%, so how much is that on the total for your job? Find out and make a note of it, then add that to your total. This final amount is how much you will charge for the job.

The cost is £577.78 before tax.
Then the cost is £693.36 after tax.

Then list:

The total you will charge the company for the job.
£693.36

How much are you putting into a savings account to cover your tax?
£115.58. When working as a freelance, tax is not taken automatically it is my responsibility to pay it. £115.58 is how much tax there is on the cost of the job.

How much of the final amount will be there to cover your expenses?

The money charged is £100 per day which is £300. With taxes that is £360. So £333.36 is the cost to cover expenses.