Freelancers' Shop

Self-employment rises, as freelancing is celebrated

by Susie Hughes at 12:43 14/11/14 (News on Business)

The latest ONS figures show the number of people going into self-employment has risen 6.6 per cent compared to this time last year.

This means that almost 15 per cent of the UK workforce is made up of independent individuals. Chris Bryce, Chief Executive of IPSE, the trade body for freelancers and the self-employed, said: "People from all works of life are choosing to work independently, including young people straight from university. The latest ONS figures also show the number of women in self-employment is up 8.6 per cent on year, which is far outstripping the growth of men working independently. "We will be celebrating the consistent rise of people becoming their own boss on National Freelancers Day. This is the UK's biggest celebration of the enterprising individuals who make the brave decision to go it alone and will showcase the important work of freelancers up and down the country." National Freelancers Day A series of events will be held around the country on November 19 to mark National Freelancers Day. Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna MP, has added his support to the occasion whi, he says, 'shines a spotlight on Britain’s independent professionals'. Advertisement Mr Umunna said: “In recent years we’ve seen more and more people starting out on their own and setting up independently. For many, this can be the best route for people to realise their aspirations and dreams. But there are still many challenges facing self-employed people which must be tackled such as bureaucracy and late payment, while at the same time self-employed people have seen their income fall more in the last four years than those in employment. “I am a big supporter of National Freelancers Day, which shines a spotlight on Britain’s independent professionals and the huge contribution they make to UK PLC, and I hope November 19 this year continues to raise the profile of freelancers in Britain.” National Freelancers Day will see celebrations of self-employed professionals across the country, with a headline evening event in the heart of London’s Tech City. The event will showcase the important work of self-employed people from across the UK in a wide range of sectors and will also see a panel of politicians, freelancers and business experts discussing the rise of freelancing and its implications on policy making for the next Government. Simon McVicker, Director of Policy and External Affairs at IPSE, said: “As more and more people opt for the flexibility of working independently, this year’s National Freelancers Day will be bigger than ever. It’s fantastic that the Shadow Business Secretary is backing the day and it’s greatly encouraging that he understands the huge contribution freelancers make to the economy year on year.” Tweet -- If you wish to comment on this article, please log in and use the Reply button below. Registering is free and easy - see 'Join Shout99'. - Susie Hughes © Shout99 2014

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