As lockdown restrictions are finally easing, freelance models, photographers, stylists, hair and makeup artists are (understandably) eager to get back to working on shoots. However, the close contact required means that extra strategic planning is needed so that things can run as safely as possible.   I spoke to two Freelancer Club members to see how getting back to work has gone for them since lockdown.

Coronavirus has hit us hard. Not only has it wreaked havoc on our health, it’s rattled our economies and toyed with our livelihoods.

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” - This has long been a regrettable reality for freelancers seeking to develop their career.

There’s no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has caused tremendous disruption and confusion. We all know this well by now. What’s more, the social and economic ramifications are continually developing and hard to predict. Whilst the UK has been in lockdown for what feels like a very long time, settling into “the new normal” still remains a struggle.

Social distancing, self isolation and empty shelves in supermarkets. Welcome to the new norm. As freelancers adapt to the changes in their lives, Freelancer Club is doing exactly the same. When I started Freelancer Club more than 5 years ago, we had one simple mission: to support creative freelancers and we remain committed to this mission now more than ever. We've been listening to you, brainstorming ideas and working hard to adapt to the corona crisis. Below is an outline of the changes we've made to Freelancer Club membership. 

IR35 has been postponed for 1 year. It's official. Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Steve Barclay, has announced that IR35 will be deferred until April 2021. This is very welcome news for freelancers who have already been directly and indirectly impacted by IR35.

Freelancers have been an afterthought for far too long. The government continually undermines the value of the 5 million self-employed individuals in the UK with harmful policy changes, token gestures and empty promises. A risky strategy when one considers that freelancers make up around 15% of the UK workforce. Amide the current coronavirus crisis, the government have provided support to the self-employed but, in our opinion, not enough so we've decided to take action and we're asking our members to join us.

Freelancers who write, shoot, design, style, dance, paint faces and just about anything else can benefit from working with magazines. However, not every magazine operates in the same way. From independent passion products to international publications, the manner in which they engage with freelancers can vary dramatically. We spoke to a wide range of magazines across the travel, fashion, employment, and music industries to discuss their business model, their way of working with freelancers and what the future holds for the magazine industry.