Equipping students with an understanding of freelancing in the creative sector
Being a great freelancer is more than being great at working ‘in’ the work you do – you need to be great at working ‘on’ your freelancing. In this session you’ll learn from author of The Freelance Bible, Alison Grade, how to guide your students to work ‘on’ their freelancing. and prepare them so they are best positioned to find the work they want to do.
A Creative Industries Federation report on freelancing showed that 47% of work in the creative industries is freelance. It’s highly likely that new entrants will need to be ready to work as freelancers whether it be traditional self-employment or short-fixed contract work, either way these new entrants will need to think like freelancers. This workshop will give participants the knowledge and confidence to prepare students to be great freelancers as well as a framework which they can use to work ‘on’ their freelancing and build successful and sustainable freelance careers.
This session will explore how to build students successful freelance psyche by maintaining a balance of:
- Skills – what skills and mindset does a freelancer need?
- Finances – what do freelancers really need to live on? How do can they value themselves?
- Desires – how do freelancers find and date clients to win business?
It provides a framework to use for working ‘on’ freelancing and building a successful and sustainable freelance career.
CPD Session Objectives or Leaning Outcomes:
- Understand what it means to work as a freelancer
- How freelancing works in the creative industries
- How to build a sustainable freelance career
CPD Session Leader/s: Alison Grade
Alison describes her key skill as transforming creative ideas into a business reality. She accomplishes this with the films she produces, the creative entrepreneurs she mentors, SMEs and freelancers she advises and in her Penguin published book, The Freelance Bible. Alison has an unique skillset in that she has formal academic training (INSEAD MBA); has worked at senior level in many media companies; is an entrepreneur who has established several businesses and is a Nesta accredited Creative Enterprise trainer and mentor. She has recently joined the Skills Leadership Board for the Centre for New Midlands, is a member of Creative Industries Federation UK Council and Vice Chair of Governors at BOA Stage and Screen Production Academy. She brings her passion, knowledge and experience with her in all the work she does.
Website: https://alisongrade.com
LinkedIn: @alisongrade
Instagram: @freelancebible