Small businesses across the UK are being encouraged to take part in National Apprenticeship Week in order to help raise awareness of apprentice opportunities to school leavers, graduates and those out of work.
Jon Norris | Getting a Job,News
The economic climate may be stormy and the weather chilly, but there was great news for freelancers last week when PeoplePerHour’s Small Business Survey revealed that the UK’s SMEs are turning to freelancers in droves to fill their skills gap as full-time employees continue to be a costly and compliance-laden burden.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,Resources
One of the main aims when you carry out just about any project as a freelancer is to get repeat business, to ensure you have regular work coming in as time goes on. However, you will find that in a lot of cases repeat business can be hard to find.
You may think this is a crazy notion; you’re fresh out of Uni, your CV is sparse, your bank account decidedly mothball-ridden, but jumping into the world of being self-employed could be a very wise move given the current climate. As recent figures have shown, more young people and recent graduates are out of work than ever before.
Selina Murray | Getting a Job,Technology
The last year has seen a rise in UK companies using social networks to win new business, says a new global survey from workplace provider Regus. In 2010 Regus found that 33% of UK firms were successfully winning new customers through social networking activity. A year later, the proportion has risen eight percentage points to 41%.
A survey carried out by recruitment website, Monster, has revealed that more than a quarter of employees spend three hours a week searching for a new job while in work time.
Rachel Soothill | Getting a Job,Guides
Some see networking meetings as the foundation of any successful freelance business. It is an opportunity to meet potential clients, form relationships and share contacts which could turn into new business. Others see these meetings as an awkward and pretentious excuse to drink tea and waste business cards.
Mel Dixon | Getting a Job,Money
Despite a sense of restrained optimism from business leaders the year ahead is likely to be a testing one for the UK economy. For example, the impact of the VAT rise on SMEs is uncertain – the Shadow Chancellor believes that it will lead to 250,000 job losses. While this could work in favour of a freelance workforce called upon to fill the gaps, it may also have an adverse effect if whole businesses go bust – particularly if they happen to be your clients.
The Longtail rule, the Zipf law, the Power law or (easily the most dramatic) ‘The law of the vital few’. It might have many names, but ultimately all forms of the 80/20 rule amount to the same thing – that 80% of effects come from 20% of causes.
The same applies to freelancers: you can gain new business simply by offering great service to your clients.
An inspiring case study in the Guardian this week telling how Chris Clarke, a former financial controller, used Freelance jobs site PeoplePerHour.com to get back into business as a book-keeper.
Chris, a victim of the recession, was made redundant when his employer had to cut-costs so he went it alone and setup his own business. To find more clients, he has been attending events at his local chamber of commerce and using websites like PeoplePerHour.com where he can advertise his services.
The Farm‘s Paul Silver talks freelancing; getting started, working for clients, finding work and staying alive.
Crunch MD and Freelance Advisor supporter Darren Fell talks about the steps freelancers should take to ensure a sustained supply of business.
New in the Freelancer Hot Tub this week:
* Little known ways to find freelance work (Feature)
* 6 things that may happen if you falsely claim expenses
* Potted guide to IR35
* Freelance Rates: What do you charge?
In part one and part two we looked at the marketing process and what you are actually employed for, e.g. the way you think respectively. Today we look at how to identify the unique features of product, you. Understanding the product – You, Your Abilities, Competencies & Transferable Assets Many of us realise that every [...]
