Success Sessions

Joanne Gordon

I’ve freelanced for 6 years after a long corporate career, and it took me about 3 years to feel settled. I now provide data and analytics services through a limited company, and this gives me the time and financial security to build out my experience supporting organisations voluntarily. Outside work, I have gone from Couch to Half Marathon in just over a year.

Topics :

• Becoming freelance after a long employed career
• Freelancing in the field you were employed in
• Approaches to finding and keeping clients
• Experiences as a perimenopausal professional
• Freelancing in data and analytics

Dan Devonald

Dan spent over a decade working as an IT Contractor developing CRM systems for big corporates.  Disillusioned with the service provided by many contractor accountants, Dan decided to retrain as an accountant and has spent the last decade providing efficient accounting solutions and tax advice to the contractor community.

Topics:

• Minimising tax
• Understanding accounting/admin requirements
• Negotiating rates
• Getting a mortgage
• Playing the game

Paula Newton

I'm a business consultant and writer and I've been working for myself for more than 10 years. I initially started as a digital nomad, living abroad, travelling and working as I went for clients all over the world. Now I'm based in one place and specialise in business planning and providing consultancy services for SMEs accessing HMRC's R&D tax relief scheme.

Topics:

• Finding work
• Getting started
• Business planning

Ole Christensen

Ole Christensen is a consultant Programme Manager with over 30 years of experience as a freelancer, mainly with FTSE100 Clients.

I’m calm, methodical and tenacious in delivering business critical and complex programmes, while taking a holistic approach by integrating technology, processes and people. I display tact, diplomacy and skill in creating strong and effective stakeholder relationships, and the leadership to build motivated global teams of specialists and 3rd party suppliers, to ensure successful delivery within budget and time.

Topics:

• Data Management
• Data Protection / Privacy
• Retention, Archiving & Destruction
• Information Security
• Cyber Security
• Identity & Access Management

Adrian Ashton

After being forced into self-employment in 2005, Adrian has managed to create an international reputation for his work around enterprise support - working with clients from national government departments to local market traders; developing new university curriculum teaching materials; and creating new business support tools. His range of services include financial modeling, impact reporting, governance and succession, growth and mergers, and even working with faith communities.

Topics:

• Balancing work with being a carer for disabled children
• Different approaches to pricing (why 'pay as you feel' can be an option)
• Considering success and achievement
• Networking in different formats (and in different states of undress...)
• Resilience (my business and family have been made homeless twice by flooding)
• Approaches to CPD

Kim Huggins

As a solicitor with over 15 years’ experience, I work with business owners who recognise the value of their business assets and want to ensure that they are protected.  My service is founded on the motto of prevention over cure and being a trusted and approachable advisor, speaking a language that you understand.  When I’m not working, I am a fitness fanatic.  I play and watch tennis as often as I can; love lifting weights in the gym and to wind down, can be found doing lengths in the pool.

Topics:

• Starting a self-employed business
• Work/life balance
• Building and managing client relationships
• The legal sector
• Contracts
• Setting rates
• Living alone and working from home
• The switch from an employee mindset to being the CEO of your business