The way we work has changed for good. There are now 4.5 million self-employed workers in the United Kingdom, and the growth in this way of working has outstripped the growth in permanent employment by three to one in the last decade.
Government policy is only now beginning to catch up with this shift. For too long policy was always made with employees or employers in mind, with little thought given to those going it alone, who have their own unique challenges. However, increasingly politicians are beginning to realise the value of self-employment. Academic research shows that freelancers deliver innovation. Freelancers are also happier, more confident and freer to choose their own path. Of course, there are also vulnerable workers who need protection, but the majority of the self-employed work in professional or technical occupations selling their skills and are happy doing it. This is particularly the case for freelancers.
With this in mind, the government recently launched a review into self-employment, intended to look at issues such as mortgages, maternity pay and pensions. Sadly, it has done so alongside implementing very damaging tax policy proposals. To truly unlock the potential of the self-employed, this review must come up with ideas that support and promote the self-employed, and the tax system must be simple, clear and easy to use for this group. The Labour party has the opportunity to support this structural shift in the way work, but before it can do this, it will need sound policy proposals to help the self-employed.
To this end, IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed is holding a fringe event at the Labour party conference on 28 September 2015 at 6pm. This will be a fringe event with a twist. Entitled Dragons Den: What can give micro businesses and freelancers the boost they deserve? in partnership with The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed, we will be inviting selected academics and the audience themselves to suggest policy ideas which will unlock the potential of microbusinesses and freelancers. These ideas will be presented to a panel of ‘dragons’ including shadow economic secretary Alison McGovern MP, and Brighton MP Peter Kyle. The dragons will decide on the merit of these ideas and IPSE will then take the ideas away and consider next steps.
Among those presenting to the dragons will be the Brighton FUSE project, a group of academics who have researched the local impact of collaborative freelancers in the Brighton area. They have come up with a number of proposals to help improve the economic success of freelancers. By monitoring how freelancers can work together, and the benefits this can bring, they have seen first-hand how vital it is to support freelancers and microbusinesses.
The fringe event is therefore a unique opportunity to both hear the ideas of experts in their fields and present your own ideas to our dragons, helping to unlock the success of the 4.5 million self-employed workers, freelancers and microbusinesses for the benefit of the UK’s economy.
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Suneeta Johal is head of research, education and training as IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed. Suneeta has led IPSE’s research programme for four years and has forged good relationships with leading academic institutions and research agencies. Suneeta’s experience of research with IPSE members gives her a strong understanding of freelancers in general, particularly their education and training requirements
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JOIN US FOR …
Dragons’ Den: What can give micro businesses and freelancers the boost they deserve? in partnership with The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed
6pm, Monday 28 September 2015
Glyndebourne 1, Holiday Inn Seafront Hotel, 137 Kings Road BN1 2JF
Alison McGovern MP Wirral South
Peter Kyle MP Member, Business, innovation and skills select committee
Suneeta Johal Head of research, Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed
Chair: Victoria Groulef Member, Progress strategy board
Refreshments provided. Wheelchair access available.