Promoting the Freelance Movement
Meeting the People Bringing Freelancers Together
by Ethar Alali
Over the past few years, the freelance economy has exploded, riding the wave of startup success, which has built up an ecosystem of services around it. From co-working spaces, pay-by-the-minute cafes and meet-ups offering support to freelancers and remote workers, even from larger companies.
One such scheme is #FreelanceFriday. Held in Ziferblat in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, it provides a relaxed place for freelancers to co-work and meet other freelancers. We spoke to Katy Carlisle of The Wheel Exists, a Squarespace specialist who makes websites for freelancers, startups and non-profits, and runs training workshops on how to use Squarespace.
What made you set up #FreelanceFriday?
I spent the first six months of my life as a freelancer at home in front of a computer screen and realized that I as really missing the connection in an office environment. I went to work in cafés in the northern quarter, and despite sitting next to people who also appeared to be freelancers, interacting with them wasn’t facilitated in any way. There was nothing bringing us together.
Why did you start freelancing in the first place?
I managed the online presence of a non-profit that aimed to make the events industry more sustainable. My boss at the non-profit was very passionate about the team having a good work life balance and was eventually very supportive of my moving into a freelancing. As my management responsibilities grew, I no longer felt connected to my passion and I ultimately wanted to get back to what I loved.
As do a lot of freelancers we assume. How did you encourage people to join #FreelanceFriday?
#FreelanceFriday initially started as a side project. I didn’t have a lot of time to devote to it, so set up a group on meetup.com to try to increase momentum, but there weeks where I was sat in Ziferblat by myself. Not a bad place to be. But it grew from there. Now we regularly take over several tables at the venue.
Was there a particular point where it took off?
After about 6 moths we started to see regulars. Some of them there from nearly the beginning. Eventually business started to be generated within the group and the socials really helped encourage new members to join and become regulars.
It’s of course still growing now and we’re now focusing on increasing our social media presence to raise awareness of the group.
I hear that you’re a finalist in freelancer of the year award. It must be nice to be recognized for all the effort you’ve put in. How did you get there? How has the experience been so far?
Yeah, my secret is out :) I am a member of IPSE, the association of independent professionals and the self employed and they have a very good social media presence which is where I first heard about the awards. When I looked into it, I discovered another #FreelanceFriday attendee had won it the previous year.
Northern Powerhouse… :) [fist-pump]
She encourages me to apply, so I did.
At the beginning, I felt a bit embarrassed blowing my own trumpet. But just filling in the application form was a really good way of taking stock of what I had achieved as a business.
Cool. So when do you find out you’ve won?
I will find out if I’ve won at the awards ceremony on National Freelancers Day on the 9th June in London, The Hospital Club, somewhere fancy :)
Thanks Katy and very best of luck! We certainly hope you win :)
#FreelanceFriday meet every Friday afternoon at Ziferblat on Edge Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. Katy Carlise is founder of The Wheel Exists. A Squarespace specialist making websites for freelancers, startups and non-profits, she runs Squarespace training workshops. Follow her on twitter @thewheelexists
