IPSE backs calls for more support for creative freelancers
- 17 Jul 2017
IPSE is supporting the recommendations in a new report on creative freelancers. Published by the Creative Industries Federation, the report calls for a number of key supports for freelancers in the creative industries. IPSE is particularly supportive of the Creative Industries Federation’s call for self-employment across all sectors to be made ‘part of a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) ministerial brief’.
IPSE also supports the report’s other recommendations to improve conditions and opportunities for creative freelancers, including improved access to universal credit, ‘a UK-wide virtual hub or “business booster network”’ and funding for the accreditation of online courses for freelancers.
IPSE’s Director of Policy, Simon McVicker, said: “Reports like this are vital not only for underlining the difficulties creative freelancers face, but also for pushing for much-needed support. As the report shows, 65% of creative freelancers have worked for free and – even more shockingly – 80% think this is normal. In fact, our own research has shown that the average creative freelancer loses approximately £5,400 per year by working for free.
“That’s why we fully agree with the Creative Industries Federation that the Government must recognise the importance of creative freelancers and do more to support them. Of course, unpaid work and lack of support are problems not just among creative freelancers, but across the self-employed community. So we wholeheartedly support the report’s calls for self-employment across all sectors to be made part of a BEIS ministerial brief. This would be a significant step towards getting freelancers across all sectors the support and recognition they deserve."
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