Our freelance listeners are furious – and maybe they have a right to be.

Cancelled bookings. Late payments. Chaotic onboarding. Loneliness. But with nearly half of the creative industry being self-employed and studios relying on freelancers to bolster their teams, what’s going wrong?

This week, we talk to two experts in all things freelance. Sadia Noor, Creative Partner at Small World shares what it’s like to run an entirely freelance model. Matthew Knight, Chief Freelance Officer at The Independency Co. discusses the issues his community encounters time and time again.

They discuss the benefits of hiring freelance talent, the biggest frustrations, and what we need to do to help change the way the industry looks after its largest talent pool.

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Stats: https://www.leapers.co/research/2024/#chapter-headlines

https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2025/03/report-finds-creative-freelancers-hit-by-loss-of-work-late-pay-and-rise-of-ai/#

https://www.thedoers.co.uk/blog/are-freelancers-more-productive-than-employees

Leapers: https://www.leapers.co/

Freelancing support: https://www.freelancing.support/resources/guide-to/dealing-with-late-payments/at-a-glance/

WithJack: https://withjack.co.uk/

South West Freelancers: Kerry Wheeler

Stories: Sam Edwards / Tarn / Ellen / Chris Greenwood / Miltos Bottis / Jack

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