Can I just I say how grateful IPSE are to the Prime Minister for taking the time to make that address. It’s encouraging to hear he believes that the Government has a clear role in supporting the self-employed community.
Hello everyone and welcome.
The self-employed now represent 14 per cent of the UK’s workforce. This is an astonishing figure – it adds up to about 4 point 6 million people.
You are the key policy makers and industry representatives for small businesses and the self-employed across the United Kingdom. Thank you for being here.
We have a superb day in store for you, with an array of fantastic speakers and debates that will tackle the key issues facing micro-businesses and the self-employed.
Why did IPSE decide to hold this first Policy conference now?
Because the way we work is changing. Almost five million people are self-employed and they bring billions to the UK economy. And that number is growing.
We need the country to recognise this.
Many are now making the decision to work for themselves. And why not? From being your own boss to having that better work life balance, the benefits certainly outweigh the challenges.
We rebranded a couple of years ago with an aim to cater for and support the wider world of self-employment.
By doing so we developed our understanding and knowledge of the sector, and the many strands and industries within it.
We are now the largest organisation in the EU that represents independent professionals and the self-employed.
That’s why it’s now time to hold our first policy conference and ask: how can we enhance the enormous contribution the self-employed make to the UK economy.
We need to show just how big an impact this way of working has on our economy and the way people lead their lives today.
We also believe that as the influence of the self-employed has grown – so has the influence of IPSE.
In the last year we’ve seen a number of IPSE policy recommendations taken up by the Government.
- We will soon see the introduction of the UK Small Business Commissioner – which IPSE called for in its manifesto, and recently came to fruition in the Enterprise Bill.
With the Commissioner, small businesses now have an independent body to help resolve their disputes, which are often around late payment.
What the Government now has to do is appoint the right person as the Commissioner. - IPSE’s call for a review into self-employment was taken up by Government and led by one of our guest speakers Julie Deane. And we’re delighted she is joining us today.
It was great to see her review adopt so many of IPSE’s policy recommendations – from fair maternity pay and flexible pension solutions, to better education on self-employment for young people, and for advice and support to be more readily available.
There were a lot of really innovative ideas in this review, and we will be pushing the Government to ensure it moves them forward. We’d like to see all of the report’s recommendations acted upon.Julie, on behalf of IPSE, a big thank you for all your hard work.
I’m also pleased the Minister for Small Business Anna Soubry and her labour counterpart Bill Esterson, will be addressing us later.
Make no mistake, IPSE listens to our members and the voices of self-employed workers up and down the country. And just as importantly, the Government listens to IPSE.
When I was appointed as Chairman last year, I vowed to support and protect the UK's freelancers and seek further opportunities to build and grow the influence of IPSE as a leading business organisation.
This Conference is part of that – I know there is so much ambition and scope for IPSE to do even more.
As the self-employed go from strength to strength, we want to continue working and building closer relationships with you all. Let’s make sure this community continues to be well represented in business, in the halls of Parliament and in the devolved administrations.
We’re also working with the press and media so that they fully understand how people want to work in the 21st century.
This conference is truly a significant occasion, I urge you to get as much from today as you can.