State of the Market

[ladymuck]

So the report says there was an increase in demand, an increase in outside roles and steady (not declining) rates and you're complaining? Did you expect to see some kind of exponential growth spurt?

I have two gigs lined up for next year, and potentially a third, all part time, all outside, all remote. Three very different sectors. I would say my experience is exactly mirroring that report.

Two of the three could have been full time if I wanted but I knew I would struggle to do them properly and the workload doesn't really justify full time. The third was always going to be very minor effort if it does come off.

[SchumiStars]

Just in case doing more than one contract at a time seems like a good idea:

https://harrowonline.org/2025/12/17/...n-authorities/

[quackhandle]

She was a Full time public sector worker. Freelance working with a Ltd company is something entirely different, you are allowed to have multiple clients and I would have thought you are less likely to be taken to court.

(See the word *less*, I did not say it wouldn't happen, before NLUK comes along with his Alan's in a twist. )

qh

[avonleigh]

She was a Full time public sector worker. Freelance working with a Ltd company is something entirely different, you are allowed to have multiple clients and I would have thought you are less likely to be taken to court.

(See the word *less*, I did not say it wouldn't happen, before NLUK comes along with his Alan's in a twist. )

qh

Yep and if she was fully employed by two private companies, all that would happen is she would be fired for breach of contract and possibly sued. Civil servants are seen differently, hence the criminal prosecution.

[ladymuck]

Just in case doing more than one contract at a time seems like a good idea:

https://harrowonline.org/2025/12/17/...n-authorities/

As qh says, that's a full time employee, not a freelancer. They had distinct clauses in their employment contract about second jobs, and they were failing to deliver either job well or else performance issues would not have been raised.

It's perfectly normal for a contractor/freelancer to have more than one client at a time. I have had two on the go for most of 2025 and it's looking like I'll have three in 2026. All are part time and the main requirement is that I deliver on time and attend on site or remote meetings where necessary.

[ensignia]

Just in case doing more than one contract at a time seems like a good idea:

https://harrowonline.org/2025/12/17/...n-authorities/

I'm beginning to see why you haven't been able to land a contract for years now...

[SussexSeagull]

Just in case doing more than one contract at a time seems like a good idea:

https://harrowonline.org/2025/12/17/...n-authorities/

I had a brief stint contracting at one of the London local authorities and with the amount of staff movements between them it is no surprise she got found out.

That said, if she carried it on for any period of time one has to ask questions of management.