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SMEs benefit from freelancers

Nov 23 2007

Freelance workers offer benefits to SMEs 'in exactly the same way as large conglomerates', claim industry experts.

Taking on freelance workers, particularly in administrative and support capacities, should allow SMEs to 'focus on the core business' says Katie Kirk, co-founder of Freelancers in the UK.

'For SMEs, this has immediate cost benefits since there’s no need to fund an expensive recruitment campaign, invest in training and development and absorb sick pay/pension costs,' she adds.

Many businesses have now set up long-term working relationships with a pool of freelance staff who can be relied upon to work regularly for an organisation.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the number of workers opting for self-employment is growing.

In the last two years, nearly half a million new companies have registered at Companies House. Within the last year over 100,000 people have opted into self-employment.

Freelancers in the UK is a website established to encourage growth and networking within the freelancing community.

It showcases the skills of members while also providing details of location and how to contact them for organisations looking to take on freelance staff.

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