Research paper based on economic influence of freelancers launched in Bognor Regis

That’s the premise of a new research whitepaper launched in Bognor Regis this week. Authored by start up and small business experts Town Square Spaces Ltd, the paper asses the current landscape for freelance workers, the support available to them and what can be done to promote the position as a positive career choice.

With 1.86 million freelancers in the UK, freelancers make up a larger part of the UK workforce than the NHS, the UK’s biggest employer, and exist as a sub-category of the self-employed population, distinct from people with their own businesses or side hustles, but they are nonetheless exposed to serval unique risks, with no access to sick leave or paternity/ maternity support.

To find out more about and read the paper, visit nomorefreelancers.com

Claire Antill is a freelance social media consultant based at The_Track, in Bognor Regis, who served as a case study for the paper. “As a freelancer, I’m in charge of all parts. I’ve got the agility to work across different projects, building teams and putting things together quickly,” the mum of three said.

“As a freelancer, I’m in charge of all parts. I’ve got the agility to work across different projects, building teams and putting things together quickly.

“Sometimes people think freelancers are some sort of disposable resource. We have insecure working conditions, and even getting paid on time can be a challenge. We need a shift in mindset – a respect for freelancers and the role that they play. We’re freelancers but we’re not free!

“I get the impression that more and more people are choosing to start their own businesses since the pandemic. From a female perspective in particular there are a lot of people for

whom the traditional working model no longer works. It feels like the freelance sector is growing – thriving.”

Gareth Jones, CEO of TownSq, added that he hopes the research paper inspires greater discussion about how to support freelancers in the future.

He said: “The idea for the paper came from hearing an unsympathetic quip from a Special Adviser in Whitehall after the 2020 COVID furlough and emergency loan schemes for employees and businesses offered no support for many self-employed workers. They said ‘Can’t all these freelancers just go and get jobs?’.

“At first, it just seemed out of touch, but it got us thinking - the role that freelancers play in our economy is often undervalued, underappreciated, and for some governments and large organisations, seemingly invisible.

“While there are millions of freelancers in the UK, the sheer diversity of skills and focus means that it can be difficult to represent them all, which perhaps is why this form of self-employment tends to be so overlooked. However, it's why having individual stories like Claire’s helps to showcase the personal insights of this unique way of working.

“We hope that, through this paper and the discussion it might raise, we can start a dialogue with the policymakers, educators and enterprises to see how we can collectively do more to support freelance entrepreneurship and help it flourish as the viable and respected career choice that it is.”