Blackbird welcomes research showing freelancers are key to business growth

21 January 2011

 

A survey of 2,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has revealed that more than half (52%) believe that freelancers are key to their stability and growth.

The research by freelance website OfficeCavalry.com found that 93% of respondents considered freelance workers as a real alternative to employing permanent staff and 52% said that freelancers would make a significant contribution to their workforce over the next five years.

Andy Turner, founder of OfficeCavalry.com, said that using freelancers can allow firms to grow in a more cost-effective way.

"SMEs are changing the way they operate. Together with improved access to finance initiatives to do business with the public sector, we are seeing SMEs opt in favour of a more flexible way to do business; one that is cost-effective, scalable and flexible."

The report also indicates optimism among SMEs for the year ahead, with 95% saying that they were ambitious to expand in 2011 and one-fifth predicting growth.

As a result of this optimism, a quarter of SMEs said that they plan to expand their workforce this year and just under two-fifths (38%) of these intend to use freelance workers.

Stuart Brooks, Managing Director of Blackbird Communications, who won the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Freelancer of the Year Award 2010 for the Thames and Chiltern region, welcomed the findings:

 

"This research is a real shot in the arm for freelance operators who are able to bring huge experience and expertise to a business without all the expense and bureaucracy associated with full-time employees. External collaboration will grow significantly over the coming years, as will remote working, thanks to improved communications technology."

 

 Ends

 

Full report available at http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2011/01/20/57258/freelancers-key-to-sme-growth.html