Week 3: Identifying my support network

Introduction

Last week, you reflected on your own needs and perspectives when considering self-employment or working as a freelancer. This week you’ll focus on those needs and explore the support networks that can help to meet them. These might be organisations that offer support to freelancers, or individuals who can help you with your specific needs. You’ll also consider ways in which you can help yourself by networking more proactively and using social media.

Watch this short video in which creative freelancers share insight into their own first steps, and the courses and individuals who supported them.

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Transcript: Video 1

CASSIE LEEDHAM:

I started while I was still in University. So I started taking on clients. And I had really good work experience where I went and worked in Birmingham for a really lovely little agency. And I just tried to make as many connections as I could.

JOHN SIMPSON:

For me, it didn't happen overnight. You have to persevere with it. And yeah, you have to-- it's networking. That sort of thing. And a bit of luck. You need a bit of luck as well.

CASSIE LEEDHAM:

But I also started a creative collective when I left University. So we shared the space, but we were all self-employed. And that gave us a bit more credibility as a group I guess.

TERRI BROWN:

The job center were actually massively helpful. When I set up my business, they sent me to a course to setting up for my voice acting, to setting it up, to doing all the things, to getting a loan, to get the equipment that I needed. And they were actually really, really helpful.

ZAKIA RASHID:

I did apply to Creative Warwickshire. And they put on a week's worth of tutorials and lessons and networking events where I learned new ways to market myself, new ways to speak about myself, and put my website together in a particular way. What people were looking for.

And they supported me, but also the group that I was with-- so there were 12 of us in that group. And we've all stayed in touch really, and they've been amazing. So just build your network is what I would say. Just build that network, and make it strong.

CRAIG SPIVEY:

First thing I did was went and found myself an accountant because that's my biggest fear-- the complete unknown. Everything else I could find my way with.

ZAKIA RASHID:

You've got to talk. You've got to make sure everyone around you knows exactly what you do. So I was helped a little bit by the fact that when I was working, I did win some awards. And so if you've got your name in the paper, people do recognise the name. And so that was helpful to me.

So I had a successful employed career so that when I moved into my freelance career, I already had a bit of a start.

CASSIE LEEDHAM:

Having people around me and getting into a local creative community was the most important thing I think and having advice from them on how to do things. And my university was very good as well. And my old tutors were really helpful.

LUCY MARCOVITCH:

That's what amazed me. As soon as I started looking, all these people started coming out of holes. There's hundreds of us. And I talked to people, and I picked their brains, and I took them out for coffee and just said, what should I do? How should I do it?

And people, what I found from creative freelancers, is that they are so helpful, and they are so supportive. Everybody wants you to do well. Nobody wants you to fail. And so the amount of support and help I got just from ordinary people was incredible.

End transcript: Video 1

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By the end of this week you should be able to:

• analyse gaps in your own skills and knowledge
• identify the support available to you
• build a useful network of contacts and collaborators.

You’ll begin this week by investigating some of the key elements involved in the growth of your idea and your freelance business.