Whether you're in the early stages of your self-employed career or if you’re about to start a business, stepping into self-employment is an exciting move. National Freelancers Day, taking place on Tuesday 17 June 2025, is here to help you make it with confidence.

Join us online for a day of expert insights, practical financial guidance and the chance to connect with others making the switch to freelancing. 

National Freelancers Day is your opportunity to learn from those who've been there, get practical tips, and build your freelance support network.

For the best part of four years, the total self-employed population has been stable at around 4.3 million – still down from its pre-pandemic peak of 5 million. Why hasn’t it bounced back more strongly by now? Do we expect it to grow over the next few years? Does the current government actually want it to? These are the questions we’ll be putting to our panel of experts at this year’s NFD. 

Panelists including Sara Whybrew, Director of Skills and Workforce Development at the British Film Institute, Dr Sarah Marks, School of Business, Swansea University and Ben Legg, CEO and Co-Founder of The Portfolio Collective, will be discussing why now could be a great time to go freelance, but also touching on the challenges that freelancers face in today’s market.

Hosted by IPSE's Director of Policy, Andy Chamberlain, we’ll also consider the following questions:

• Are freelancers in demand? What are clients looking for?
• Does this government support self-employment or would it prefer to see more people in employed roles?
• Despite strong growth in female self-employment in the last decade, there are still more men than women – why is this?
• What does the future look like? Is freelancing on the verge of a great expansion?

This will be a virtual panel, with lots of opportunities to ask questions and make comments, so join the debate!

Join IPSE's trusted financial partner Chase de Vere for an exclusive essential financial planning for the self-employed session, hosted by Matt Beck and George Hope, Chartered Financial Planners. Over the course of 60-minutes, we will dive into the essential elements of a robust financial plan designed specifically for the self-employed. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your strategies, this virtual session will provide you with actionable insights to secure your financial future. 

The speakers will cover the following key topics:

• Pensions: Addressing the self-employed pension gap - fewer than 16% of the self-employed contribute to a private pension. Learn how to bridge this gap and safeguard your retirement.
• Investing: Discover smart savings and investment strategies, helping you grow your wealth.
• Protection: Explore essential insurance options to protect your income, business, and personal assets.
• Estate Planning: Understand inheritance tax allowances and how they apply to your estate, ensuring your legacy is protected.

Don’t miss this opportunity to give your financial plan a thorough check-up with expert guidance.  

Important disclaimers: Investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you originally invested. Tax planning is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Join us for a special edition of Community networking at National Freelancers Day! Hosted by our friends at The Portfolio Collective (a community-led business of portfolio professionals), this is the perfect opportunity to meet 8-12 diverse, collaborative professionals from National Freelancers Day in a fun, fast hour of networking.

You’re invited to step out of your comfort zone and connect with a community of self-employed professionals on the same journey as you. We’re a friendly bunch – we promise! You really never know who you might meet (or who might just be wowed by your story).

How it works

These networking sessions are run via Zoom. During the 60 minute session, you’ll be split into four breakout rooms in groups of 3-4 each time, allowing you to meet 8-12 new faces. If you identify possible ways to collaborate or chat further with those you meet, you can then schedule 1:1 follow-up calls to discuss in more detail. 

Freelancing can be empowering, exciting — and exhausting. On National Freelancers Day, we're running an interactive session as a free add-on for all attendees. 

Led by Sonny Side Up's, Sonny Ferretti, we’ll explore real-world strategies to help freelancers manage stress, avoid burnout, and protect their wellbeing while building a thriving business.

You’ll learn:

• How to spot early signs of overwhelm
• Simple, practical self-care strategies that actually fit your freelance lifestyle
• How to create healthy boundaries with clients (and yourself!)
• Why community and connection are key to staying mentally strong 

You’ll leave this workshop with tools you can use straight away to support your mind as much as your work. Your business is only as strong as you are. Let’s build it right.

How to register for the workshop

This workshop is free to attend for anyone who has signed up to National Freelancers Day. If you would like to attend this workshop, when registering for the event please select this option.