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This change in outlook follows a decision from the Government not to pursue proposed changes to how freelancers who operate though limited companies are taxed.
The survey conducted by self-employment group IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed, in association with freelance talent marketplace Upwork, reveals freelancers’ outlook for the UK economy returned to positive levels (+6.2) at the end of 2015.
More than a third (35 per cent) of freelancers also indicated increased confidence in their business outlook for 2016. This is compared to record figures in the previous quarter, which revealed freelancers felt negatively about the outlook for the UK economy (-4.6), and only a quarter of freelancers felt confident their business performance would improve.
Brand
The top factors freelancers cited as having a positive impact on freelance businesses included building their brand and reputation (58.7 per cent) and innovating their services offered (40.9 per cent).
These are also the factors freelancers expect will have a positive impact on their business performance over the course of 2016. Over a third (35.7 per cent) of freelancers surveyed also said business performance improved in the last three months due to more organisations adopting flexible working practices.
However, not all freelancers are positive about the next 12 months. The confidence of those working in skilled professional occupations, such as IT project managers, mechanical engineers and journalists improved, but remained negative overall. This group has had a particularly hard year with average quarterly earnings falling by 10.4 per cent.
The attitude of the Government towards freelancing remains the major factor expected to negatively impact business performance levels in the coming year, the same as in the previous survey. 60 per cent of freelancers also expect increased business costs in 2016.
Key findings
Key findings of IPSE’s Q4 2015 Freelancer Confidence Index
- IPSE’s headline index score indicates freelancers’ confidence in their business stands at +9.8, up from +2.4 in Q3 2015.
- Confidence in the UK economy over the next 12 months stands at +6.2, up from -4.6 in the previous quarter.
- 60 per cent of freelancers expect business costs to increase in 2016.
- Freelancers were on assignment for 83 per cent of quarter four 2015. In 2015 these levels were consistently over 80 per cent.
Chris Bryce, IPSE's CEO, said: “It’s great to see freelancers’ confidence in their business and economy bounce back after a significant dip in the Autumn. These professionals play a vital role in bringing innovation and specialist expertise to British businesses and they need to be supported. The fact that confidence returned to positive territory after the Government decided to shelve its plans to change the IR35 small business tax, shows just how big an impact government intervention can have on how people feel about running their business.”
Professor Andrew Burke, Dean of Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin and co-author of the report, said: "It is good to see freelancers’ confidence returning, but very interesting to observe that the confidence of different freelance occupations diverges so much. The results indicate that freelancing is a diverse grouping and with varying business fortunes and performance."
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Susie Hughes © Shout99 2016
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