Create your own career as a freelancer & command an average day rate of £584

READY to be your own boss but don’t want to run a small business?

Then ­consider setting up as a freelancer.

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Freelancing is a form of self-employment where you work as a contractor and are usually paid per hour or per job.

Freelancers tend to be experts in their field, commanding a hefty average day rate of £584.

Most work for a number of firms, rather than a single main employer.

The latest figures from freelancer body The Association Of Independent Professionals And The Self-Employed (IPSE) show there are now over two million freelancers operating in the UK, a jump of 11 per cent from 2022.

They make up 49 per cent of the self-employed population and the amount they contribute to the UK economy soared by more than £50bn in 2023, to £331bn.

So what is driving so many ­people to freelance?

The latest IPSE report suggests it is flexibility.

Nine out of ten freelancers rate it as the key reason they stopped working in a conventional role — along with more control over their workload.

Four in five freelancers felt be­coming self-employed had a positive impact on their mental health.

Working mums are a key group seeking freelance flexibility, ­making up 16 per cent of the total freelancer population.

Increasing numbers of young staff under 30 also want the freedom to set their own hours and work for multiple companies.

The number of freelancers aged 50-plus has jumped by 89,000 since 2020, while the number aged 60-plus has rocketed by 77 per cent since 2008.

The most popular industries for freelancers include digital marketing, teaching, tutoring, project management, IT, graphic design and content creation.

Matt Dowling, CEO of Freelancer Club, said: “UK freelancing is poised for growth in 2024, particularly among young professionals.”

Harvey Morton, who was named Young Freelancer Of the Year, as we explain above, has the following tips to set up as a Freelance:

• Do your market research. Choose a sector you’re passionate about and consider how you can do it better than the rest.
• Getting started isn’t easy. Be aware you may need to work in another job while you build your business.
• Prioritise the work that pays your bills, even when you don’t want to.
• Be transparent about what is realistic for you to achieve in the early days of your business.
• Use social media to promote yourself. Documenting your freelance journey on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels will help you to reach a big audience.

• Be yourself — as long as you’re honest, your customers will love you.

‘Do something you love or solve a market problem’

DIGITAL marketing freelancer Harvey Morton says: “Being a freelancer is about finding your passion at work and pursuing it.

“You either need an idea to solve a market problem, which will also make you money, or find something that you love, and you make this into your job.

#“You will also need to be self-motivated, willing to adapt and change, and a good communicator.”

The 26-year-old, from Sheffield, adds: “It’s important that you surround yourself with positive people too, because it can be lonely being freelance and having cheerleaders on your side or to go to for advice makes it easier.”

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Harvey has already been crowned Young Freelancer of the Year and is now the author of a book, Succeeding As A Young Entrepreneur: Lessons In Life And Business.

He says: “I would advise anyone to have a go at being freelance – even if you start it as a side hustle.

“Make 2024 the year you give it a go.”

Renew faith in work

SUNDAY is World Religion Day, but almost half of employees don’t feel comfortable discussing their beliefs at work.

Paul Anderson-Walsh, CEO of The Centre For Inclusive Leadership says: “Smart management is about creating a space where everyone can be true to themselves and that can mean bringing our faith and spirituality into the office.”

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Here are his key messages:

1. For many people their religion is a core to who they are, but it is often something they feel they need to hide in the workplace.
2. Whether in the office or out, respecting what’s important to everyone makes a huge difference.
3. People with religious beliefs aren’t all about strict rules and judgment. We need to break that stereotype.
4. There’s a big difference between genuine faith and extreme views. True faith is all about all of us, not them vs us.
5. To borrow from Sinead O’Connor’s songbook, it’s all about being yourself – and letting others do the same. It’s vital to be real and respected.
6. All true religions are based on love. And there is nothing to fear in love.
7. As managers, understanding these pointers can transform your team. When everyone feels valued, including for their spiritual beliefs, you’re not just building a better workplace, you’re crafting a success story.

Benefits of hiring

THREE in five small business owners say they will be hiring staff this year, compared to just a quarter who plan on making redundancies.

However, the study from business utilities comparison site LoveEnergySavings.com revealed one in five small firms is finding recruiting the right staff “stressful”.

Founder Phil Foster said: “Many SMEs undoubtedly feel more optimistic about 2024 compared with the past few years.

“Investing in people is the best way a business can set up on a positive footing, so while hiring is a difficult and stressful process for many, the need to do it outweighs the difficulties.”

Entry-level woe

ALMOST four in ten entry-level jobs now require prior work experience, making it almost impossible to break into certain industries.

Previous experience was mentioned most often for IT technicians, junior software engineers, baristas and assistant product managers.

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The average amount requested on an “entry level” role was two-and-a-half years.

The entry-level jobs most likely to not ask for prior experience were teaching assistants and social workers.

A spokeswoman for Standout-cv.com, which conducted the study, said: “Misleadingly, many ‘entry-level’ jobs actually require lots of work experience.”