WITH the second National Freelancers Day just around the corner, there’s never been a more fitting time to shine the spotlight on the often unsung heroes of the city’s creative scene.

Tuesday, November 23, is billed as a day for the freelance community to reflect on its economic contribution to the nation. While this may sound like an excuse for a bit of self-congratulatory back-slapping, a serious message lies behind the day’s events.

Data gathered by PCG, the professional association that supports the UK’s growing freelancer community and the driving force behind National Freelancers Day, suggests that the UK’s freelance marketplace is growing rapidly.

Today, there are an estimated 1.4m freelancers contributing £82bn to GDP across all sectors of the economy. These figures will continue to rise as more organisations, driven by headcount freezes and cost cuts, look to tap into the benefits of a flexible workforce.

The creative industries have long relied on freelance talent to bring an extra pair of hands and a fresh pair of eyes to projects. This explains why Merseyside is already home to a thriving freelance community; according to Merseyside ACME, around 4,800 freelancers currently work in the region.

Collectively, freelancers make a valuable, often low-profile, contribution to the local creative sector, while individually they are a source of specialist skills, such as photography, graphic design, PR and web development.

Good freelancers are usually highly-skilled, highly- experienced individuals who hit the ground running and are motivated to get results. They’re also flexible and cost-effective – you don’t have to pay a freelancer when there’s no work to do. Food for thought, as we continue to live in an “age of austerity”.