An ambitious new project is set to shine a light on the working world of 1.6 million people as, for the first time, Britain’s freelance workforce is celebrated on film.
With 1.6 million freelancers in this country contributing £82 billion to UK GDP*,freelancing is increasingly being recognised as a vital element in helping get the UK economy moving again, as the need for a mobile, flexible and cost-effective resource in business rapidly accelerates. The project, dubbed ‘7 days in June’, will see a select team of freelance film-makers create a series of seven films, each highlighting a different aspect of freelancing.
The films, all being shot in just a single week starting on the 23rd June, will reflect various aspects of freelancing, from advice on taking the leap into working as a freelancer through to the many benefits freelancers can bring to a business.
The films featuring contributions from a number of leading industry experts, will be shot in and around Media City UK in Salford and will be released one by one in the run-up to National Freelancers Day (NFD) on November 21st, 2012. The final film – the culmination of the 7 days in June project - will be premiered on National Freelancers Day and will be a unique overview of freelancing in the UK. It is hoped the series of films will kick-start a debate around the benefits of freelancing, how important it is to UK and what the freelance experience is in 2012.
7 Days in June was conceived by Rob Edwards, a freelance content producer with first hand experience of just how liberating freelancing can be.
Talking of the project Rob said:
“Freelancing is a growing and vital aspect of the business landscape but there is still so much more we can do to help people get into freelancing and educate businesses on just how much contract workers can contribute. That’s what we’re aiming to do with 7 Days in June and it’s why we’ve taken on such an ambitious project!”
The project is being co-sponsored by Brookson and PCG. Brookson is the specialist accountant that provides services for more than 9,000 contractors, freelancers and self-employed professionals. PCG is the UK’s biggest professional association representing freelancers.
Andrew Fahey, Business Development Director at Brookson, said: “We are proud to be a key sponsor of this project, as we are a business started by contractors to deliver services to other contractors and freelancers. It therefore attracted us to back Rob’s vision and help raise awareness of freelancing as a genuinely rewarding way of working”.
PCG managing director John Brazier is equally enthusiastic about the project saying: “Our research shows that freelancing is increasingly recognised as a vital force for innovation and growth in the economy. The better it is understood, the greater its impact will be, which is why this is such an important project and one that PCG is delighted to be involved in”.
A number of other partners are also supporting the activity, including Media City, the Peel Group ,the University of Salford, the RSA, Creative England, the Northern Soho Meetup Group, and new business consultancy Acquire.
More information about the 7 Days in June concept is available at www.7daysinjune.com
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