As the negative impact of staff shortages is felt across a myriad of UK industry sectors, freelancers can play a critical role for businesses. Freelancers were considered a last-minute stopgap that garnered the bare minimum of investment, there is now an increasing acceptance of the value freelancers bring. Due to a combination of changing perceptions on different forms of working and pandemic-driven resignations, businesses are more focussed on the quality of the work they can get, rather than treating it as a way to cut costs.
A recent survey by PeoplePerHour showed that 84% of businesses believe freelancers can make a positive difference to their business, with nearly half (45%) more focused on quality than cost when hiring. A fifth (20%) said they would pay whatever rate it takes to get the best person for the job. The research also found that London is the top city for businesses using freelancers, followed by Manchester and Birmingham.
You may have been thinking about taking on a freelancer for a while, or you might have a sudden emergency on your hands that needs dealing with right now. Either way, if this is the first time you’ve considered getting some freelance help, you’ll find it’s the ideal solution if you’re:
Struggling to keep staffing costs down: When taking on another permanent employee would eat into your profits too much, a freelancer is the most economical solution.
Employee churn: Freelancers don’t churn, they thrive on multi-tasking between clients while being proactive enough to own their project.
In need of a boost in your business: When you need more hands on deck but don’t want to take on someone permanent until things settle down, a freelancer is an ideal alternative.
Stumped by staff losses: When one of your staff leaves and you need someone to take over their role in a hurry, a freelancer can fill that gap temporarily. A freelancer will also help you work out what you need as a long-term solution.
Shocked by surprise extra costs: When you set the budget for a job, the freelancer sticks to it.
Lacking expertise: When nobody in the office can do the task that needs to be done, it’s easy to find a freelancer with the skills you require.
Weighed down by your workload: When you’ve got far too much on your plate already, a freelancer can help bring your workload down to a more realistic level.
Seasonal staffing issues: When you need coverage for employees’ summer or winter holidays, who better to call on than a freelancer. No matter what your reason for using a freelancer is, the best benefit is that you’ll always have peace of mind knowing that whatever problem comes up in your business, there’s someone out there who can solve it for you.
Author: Xenios Thrasyvoulou, Founder and CEO of PeoplePerHour
