FE ATURE PROMOTIONAL
SAMANTHA KAYE from Wellesley discusses some of the key areas self-employed women often battle with while being your own boss has undeniable benefits, this way of working can also come with particular challenges – but you don’t need to face them on your own
SELF-EMPLOYED WOMEN: You work for yourself but you’re not alone
M
ore and more women are self employed nowadays, whether that’s running a business, freelancing or contracting out. Females currently make up approximately a third of the five million people who work for themselves,1 with the number of freelance working mothers soaring by 79% since 2008.2 It’s a seismic shift in a world where the self-employed sector has historically been dominated by men.
It can be a balancing act to tick all the boxes, but it’s crucial to have a plan in place nevertheless 18
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ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
Being your own boss can give you a real sense of freedom, both professionally and personally. You can set your own rates and hours, specialise in a vocation that suits you, and focus on clients who you’ve chosen to work with. Yet being a self-employed woman can also present certain challenges. More often than not, females find themselves juggling clients and workload as well as further challenges. For example, you’re battling the gender income and pension gaps, childcare costs and other unpaid responsibilities. Here’s how you can thrive in three key areas that selfemployed women often battle with: