Meet Angelica, a freelance photographer who has turned her passion into a thriving career in a very short space of time. After completing the Rise, Freelancer programme in association with Xero, Angelica’s freelancing journey skyrocketed, proving that with the right support and determination, dreams do come true.

Freelancers and the self-employed are a significant part of the British workforce, accounting for over 13% of total employment. Recent data from the Office for National Statistics indicates that as of early 2024, there are approximately 4.3 million self-employed individuals in the UK. This marks a notable increase of 146,000 self-employed workers in the past six months.

Notice the word I use in the title?  I don’t say thrown into the deep end. I say jump. That implies it’s done voluntarily. It’s done with ownership and accountability.  Once you make that leap and enter the water — you have zero excuses. You are either a victim or victor to your own ego.  Nobody threw me in against my will. I threw myself in. I may have well ignored all the advice, all the warning signs…as I know I’m a good swimmer

Hey there gang! Been a while.    But there’s a reason for that…I’m currently following my own advice. Look, freelancing is still my ultimate masterplan, but right now I’m in the hunt for a more stable, full-time stopgap.  And I’m noticing a common reaction from colleagues, friends, and even my own family upon hearing all about this change of pathway I’ve decided to take a stroll down… They all appear to be really excited for me. They all appear to be impressed with my attitude.

Christmas is just around the corner and, for freelancers, it tends to be a busy period or deathly quiet. For the former, December can bring with it some financial anxiety as businesses slow wind down and work drys up. To help keep your spirits up and motivation high, here are a few ways you can get productive and continue to progress this December. 

In the bustling creative landscape of London, thousands of individuals aspire to turn their passion into a legitimate career. Although the act of registering a business, creating an online presence, and landing a couple of early-stage clients may be relatively achievable, becoming financially sustainable doing something you love is far more challenging. One such individual currently on this journey is Michael Naylor, a talented photographer who has been working in photography for 5 years, assisting and developing his craft, who is now carving a niche for himself in the world of cinematic portrait photography. 

There’s a lot of stats out there about freelancing.  There’s stats about freelancer failure rates that raise concern. According to the IFS, 20% of sole traders don’t make it past their first year, 60% will fail to make it past 5 years, rising to 80% by 12 years. On the flipside, there’s stats about new freelancers quitting their day jobs and earning more money than they could ever possibly imagine over their previous full-time employed salaries. There’s stats aplenty covering every nook and cranny about the ‘plunge into the freelance life.’  Some of it exciting…many of it downright depressing.

Right, no messin’ about. No beatin’ around the bush. Let's get right into this. What is your freelance destination? What is your freelance endgame?