A survey released today by Crunch Accounting, shows that UK freelancers want greater support and recognition from Wednesday’s 2014 Budget announcement.
The poll found that 34 per cent of UK freelancers consider greater Government recognition to be the most important potential Budget outcome, whilst 31 per cent want more support for home-based workers.
Greater recognition and support was ranked far ahead of other high profile business issues, including mandatory penalties for late paying companies and a reduction in business taxes.
With 4.37 million self-employed people currently working in the UK, freelancers now account for 14.5 per cent of the country’s total workforce.
Jon Norris, editor of FreelanceAdvisor.co.uk said: “Most government initiatives target the small business community as a whole, but the needs of the freelancer are significantly different from someone who employs a small workforce.”
Darren Fell managing director of Crunch Accounting added: “The time is right for Government to formally recognise and promote the contribution that freelancers make to the economy, and offer tangible business support specifically for the self-employed and their unique business needs”.
