As COVID-19 cases begin to rise again, freelancers who provide face-to-face services are being left in the lurch once more. Even with minor to no symptoms, the precautionary self-isolation that comes with a positive test renders freelancers unable to work on sets, in offices, at events or shoots of any kind. Make no mistake, there is more than just the direct one-off financial loss on the line. Our client relationships, social lives and mental health are also at risk. Once again, freelancers are being forced to choose between their health and financial stability.

I must say it feels a little cruel to be writing this piece straight after my last one.   There I was, trying to get our Freelancer Club family all pumped up with ways of finding your rhythm when getting back to work, or should I say, figuring out how to let the rhythm find you.    I really can’t explain that feeling of empowerment, self-worth, and purpose that pulsates through you when you have that lightbulb moment as a freelancer. You feel indomitable.

Whilst the numbers of female freelancers have been steadily rising since 2008, they still make up less than half of the UK’s freelance workforce. But it’s not enough to simply have more women in the workplace. Over 46% of women found that freelancing proved to be more of a challenge than they expected - with the figures showing a pattern of unique issues plaguing the female entrepreneurs attempting to advance their freelance careers. What are these issues and why are there still so many?

In 1987,  Gloria M. Estefan told the world that “at night, when you turn off all the lights, there’s no place that you can hide, the rhythm is gonna get’cha.”  “In bed, throw the covers on your head, you pretend like you are dead, but I know it, the rhythm is gonna get’cha.” I won’t lie, these lyrics hit home with me—particularly coming out of the pandemic as a freelancer. So much of my life and routine have been ‘flipped-turned upside down’ (thank you Fresh Prince), and I lie wide awake at night trying to figure out how on earth I’m going to get “back into the swing of things” again, “find my feet,” and “get my groove back.”  Hey, would you look at that—those are all dancing idioms too.  Maybe Estefan has a point. Maybe all we need is the rhythm to find us freelancers too.

Mike Hogan from A List Photography has always been fascinated by world records. After seeing the call on The Freelancer Club, he jumped at the chance to document Edward Draper’s recent Guinness World Record attempt to be the fastest team of two to hang up ten items of clothing.

Despite numerous challenges, more women than ever before are choosing to start their own businesses as a way to fight back against their workplace troubles. But why is freelancing the better option for these women?

It’s a well-known fact that setting up your own business is hard. However, this process is often ten times harder for entrepreneurs with a migrant background thanks to the additional challenges caused by a language or culture barrier. However, help is at hand. A new program in the South West and West Midlands aims to help support third country nationals run their own businesses in the UK

I recently took a look at how the make-up, hair and beauty industry recovered post-Covid. While that sector experienced a surprisingly positive upswing after 2 years of lockdowns, forced closures and social distancing measures, other industries weren’t as lucky. Every year, IPSE, the UK’s only not-for-profit association for the self-employed, and Kingston University take a look at the demographic and occupational trends for the self-employed in the UK. By comparing the annual reports from 2019, 2020 and 2021, we can see the real impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on freelance workers.