The first National Freelancers Day (NFD), being held on Monday 23rd November 2009, will put the UK’s flexible workforce of contractors, freelancers, interims and consultants squarely on the policy map as the key to ensuring Britain’s future economic success.
So says Iain McIlwee, Head of Commercial Development at the Professional Contractors Group (PCG), as preparation for NFD hots up. “The objective of National Freelancers Day,” he explains, “is to maximise the impact of many activities designed to gain recognition for the contribution that the flexible workforce makes to the UK economy.”
A huge range of activities for the day have been planned, including a webcast featuring expert speakers looking at the future of freelancing to 2020 and a profile raising event at the House of Commons where the PCG will launch its Manifesto for Freelancers.
National Freelancers Day – what’s on and where?
“Contractors are being given a variety of opportunities to engage with the day and this really is key to maximising success. Individuals can register for PCG’s special webcast on the future of work by visiting the National Freelancers Day website,” continues McIlwee, “and there are activities planned throughout the country, too, that we’re encouraging contractors to attend and take part in the debate, again registration is via the web.”
A range of suppliers from across the contracting sector have supported local events and some have even taken the initiative and run their own events to support the key messages of the day. “We are grateful for and delighted with the response we have had from suppliers and freelancers so far,” McIlwee says. “Events will not only be fun and informative, but also allow contractors to network and feed in their views on the way that freelancing is evolving. The PCG aims to capture content from all of these events with a view to extracting key messages and strengthening the freelance lobby.”
McIlwee is keen to point out that there is a serious message to communicate through NFD. “PCG is hosting a reception at the House of Commons, where we have invited MPs to meet with contractors and other key stakeholders to publicise the launch of the Manifesto for Freelancing and hear from contractors and key stakeholders about the flexibility, innovation, expertise and talent that the freelance sector is injecting into the UK economy.”
Future of contracting webcast
A centrepiece of the day’s activities is the special webcast, The future of work: role of the freelancer, in which invited speakers will include futurologist Dr James Bellini, entrepreneur and Skype Chairman Michael van Swaaij and PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Jon Andrews. They will give their views on where contractors and freelancers will be in 2020.
PCG is hosting a reception at the House of Commons, where we have invited MPs to meet with contractors and other key stakeholders to publicise the launch of the Manifesto for Freelancing and hear from contractors and key stakeholders about the flexibility, innovation, expertise and talent that the freelance sector is injecting into the UK economy
Iain McIlwee, PCG
“The impact of the credit crunch and recession has been to cause a paradigm shift in the way we view work, and the way organisations view the labour force,” explains McIlwee. “To progress in times of uncertainty, organisations need low-risk, project-based sources of expertise, which can’t be found in the traditional employed workforce. And that’s where contractors prove to be such an incredible resource.
“Contractors and freelancers provide much needed flexibility to traditional businesses and talent, leadership and experience to the start-up community that will be fundamental to the UK emerging from the current economic doldrums. This value needs to be better communicated.”
Plus, as McIlwee explains, workers increasingly have to take a greater responsibility in managing their own working life: “Our speakers have some exciting things to say and I don’t want to give too much away before the day; if you want to find out more, you simply need to register, which is entirely free!”
PCG – the new face
According to McIlwee, the inspiration behind National Freelancers Day came from many sources within PCG. But it has been the contractors’ industry body’s desire to push forward a new vision for contracting and freelancing that has lead to the Manifesto for Freelancing. Combined with the Manifesto’s launch on 23rd November will be a re-brand of PCG.
“The concept of the freelance way of life is snowballing into new areas. It now includes new categories of workers beyond the traditional IT contractors, engineers, media and interim managers,” he says. “PCG will embrace all these groups, and adapt our strategy accordingly.”
To find out what’s happening near you on National Freelancers Day, to participate in the online debate and to register for a special survey, visit the National Freelancers Day website. And don’t forget to visit ContractorCalculator on the day, where there’ll be a special surprise for those who have already taken the plunge into contracting, or are planning to do so!