while I am not in the UK, for me #2 is simple, don't sign a contract that tries to impose those restrictions, they are too damaging to a consultancy. To some d

while I am not in the UK, for me #2 is simple, don't sign a contract that tries to impose those restrictions, they are too damaging to a consultancy. To some degree, I can understand employee restrictions as there is a long term commitment to that individual (well there is supposed to be). As well, as an employee I would not sign a contract that placed those restrictions on me and did not remove them under the circumstances of termination by the employer. For a consultancy though, they don't pay the bills after the project is done, I would not sign a contract that extended restrictions beyond the time that that pay runs out. Simply if they are not paying, they don't get a say in what I do, unless they paid me a big chunk of money for me to be bound to a covenant that extends beyond the work.