Freelancers in the creative industry have little confidence in the Chancellor’s economic policies
Freelancers in the media, advertising, PR and marketing sectors have little confidence in the Chancellor’s economic policies to stimulate growth, a YouGov survey has revealed.
The survey of 1,000 freelancers found that 51% agreed the Government’s economic policies would not inspire growth in 2012, with 89% believing the self-employed sector was crucial to kick-starting the economy.
Martin Hesketh, managing director of freelance accountancy firm Brookson, who commissioned the survey, said: “The YouGov data shows an overwhelming 87 per cent of those polled from the creative sector believe self-employed professionals are crucial to stimulating the UK economy.
“This isn’t a ‘they would say that wouldn’t they’ statistic, it encapsulates a sense of frustration as to the way flexible workers are constantly overlooked or misrepresented, as with the recent controversies around the Student Loan Company chairman, Ed Lester, London Mayor Ken Livingstone and high ranking quango officials.
“The flexible workforce is a complex sector with different levels and too often is misunderstood by legislators and commentators. In the recent Budget, George Osborne praised the creative sector yet failed to provide policies to support the freelancers who underpin it.
“Instead the Government opted for a knee-jerk reaction to a series of controversies over limited companies, which fails to thoroughly understand the complex IR35 legislation currently stifling the growth of this sector of the flexible workforce.
“I think our sector, and the Government, needs to listen and understand what we are being told by self-employed professionals – give them the freedom to earn and let the country feel the benefit.”
Freelancer image via Shutterstock.