Invisible Creativity? Highlighting the Hidden Impact of Freelancing in London's Creative Industries

Abstract

The creative industries have been identified as a key sector for the UK's economic recovery. Despite the intense focus, however, the working practices of their labour force remain largely enigmatic to public policy. Particularly, freelancers, who make up a large proportion of labour within the creative industries, remain largely under-researched. This paper seeks to highlight the importance of freelancers to the creative industries through a case study of London's creative economy. Moreover, by discussing the prevalence of project-based work, this research shows there is a high propensity for firms to regularly engage with freelancers on a project basis—but it is the freelancers who often conduct the more creative aspects of the work. The paper concludes by suggesting that freelancers are a crucial component of the creative industries and should be included in future political decision-making.