The UK’s infrastructural landscape has been shifting steadily since the start of this new digital age, with continued technological developments making way for new ways of working, and new ways of engaging in practice. Remote working has been the major topic of conversation in the past two years, on account of the pandemic accelerating adoption of more flexible home working policies. However, the pandemic was something of a distraction from an arguably more impactful shift, in the form of the gig economy.

Freelance working has always been a cornerstone of the UK’s skills infrastructure, but the expansion of freelancer platforms and gig economy industries has created even more fertile ground for sole traders and contract workers – with implications for both workers and businesses. From either perspective, how can one flourish in a new gig economy?

Employers

As a business owner, the new landscape of gig economy work is at once a world of possibility and a harbinger of potentially damaging changes. Not only are there new ways in which you can engage with freelancers or meet certain business needs, but also fresh competition to which you could lose some of your finest workers. How, then, should you engage with your business with the gig economy in mind?

Update Your Systems

Firstly, you should update your systems in order to better facilitate the hiring of freelancer workers. For smaller business, agility can be retained through using payroll outsourcing services, which improve efficiency and keep costs down while covering all bases with regard to worker situation.

Be People-Centric

The gig economy is a game of give and take. While you may lose talented workers to freelancing, you also gain some agility in covering workload through freelancers as opposed to salaried staff. Still, taking a people-first approach will yield the best results; try not to overload freelancers, and don’t be afraid to pay above market average to ensure longevity.

Freelancers

The other side of the coin, of course, is that which most are by now familiar: utilising the gig economy as a freelance operator. Between websites, work portals and app-based opportunities, there are many ways to make your way freelancing – but what should you be doing to make waves instead?

Know Your Worth

Crucially, you need to understand your own worth as a worker. This works two ways, though: as a green worker in your field, your work might not be up to the standard of others, making higher rates a poor choice; alternatively, you may be significantly undercharging for your knowledge and experience.

Network, Network, Network

Networking is vital to success in freelancing. Often it isn’t what you know, but who you know – even in a professional capacity. Networking amongst business owners gives you the opportunity to gain direct contacts and potential work, while networking with other freelancers can open you up to new opportunities and newer networks besides.