One of the leading UK’s creative recruiter, is reporting an increase in the number of briefs calling for freelance digital designers. Freelancing Career can be a lucrative path for those with enough experience and incredibly rewarding financially. Although rushing in could have an adverse affect on career development

1. Dazzled by the dollar signs: are you rushing into freelancing?
Major Players, the UK’s leading creative recruiter, is reporting an increase in the number of
briefs calling for freelance digital designers but is warning emerging talent that rushing in
could have an adverse effect on their career development and indeed, on industry growth.
Mark Begley, Major Players recruiter for creative & design and digital jobs says: “60% of all
digital designer briefs that we’ve picked up this year are for temp or contract roles and it’s
easy to see why. With the economy on the up, business can use contractors to plug talent
gaps quickly and candidates love the extra cash temp roles bring - often twice that of
permanent roles*.”
Cash vs. Career
Career freelancing can be a lucrative path for those with enough experience, but creative’s
who jump in with only a few years experience can seriously stunt their development and end
up with a less than stellar portfolio. In most cases it’s better to put in the time, pay your dues
and get some great experience before making the shift to freelance.
Naomi Da Costa, Major Players recruiter for freelance design and creative jobs comments:
“Freelance rates can be very attractive but the scope of work can be really limited. A
permanently placed copywriter working in an agency can be involved in all sorts of exciting
projects and build up a great portfolio of work, while their freelance counterpart could be
stuck writing product copy all day. They’re not really giving themselves a chance to develop
their skill set and can get pigeon holed really quickly.”
Stunting industry growth?
It’s not just careers that can be stalled by rushing into freelancing. Creative businesses
themselves could suffer in the long term. Taking on talent at contract rates for a short term
fix not only means shelling out loads of money, it could also leave you with a revolving door
team of creative’s who don’t really buy into your brand.
Taking the time to invest in quality permanent talent while using <a
href="http://www.majorplayers.co.uk">digital freelancers</a> to keep up your work load
gives you the opportunity to grow your creative department and put you in a stronger
position in the long term.
Speaking of permanent roles…
Creative businesses looking to fill their team with permanent talent and candidates looking
for a new home should contact Major Players using the info below.

2. * Calculated by comparing average yearly permanent salaries against average freelance day rate multiplied against
the number of days in a year minus 20 days holiday, bank holidays and weekends
ABOUT Major Players
Headquartered in Covent Garden, London, Major Players’ team of more than 80 consultants
provides freelance and permanent personnel. The firm recruits for various advertising jobs,
marketing, design, PR & media, events, interactive media, creative, design, digital production
jobs UK.
Contact
MajorPlayers: +44(0)207 836 4041
Mike Iannella: mike.iannella@majorplayers.co.uk
Charley Caines: charley.caines@majorplayers.co.uk