Are you graduating and working for yourself? Are you building your business or freelance practice? You must learn how to develop your business and find work. Self promotion, marketing, legal knowledge and networking are vital in freelancing. Graduate Futures can support you in your ideation process and with the steps in developing a sustainable and scalable business or freelance practice. Browse our resources and activities in this section.
Industry and alumni insights
Graduate Futures webinar recordings
Worksheets and canvases
Beginning your business guides
Freelancer support guides
Finance and funding guides
Selling and scaling guides
Legal support
It can be overwhelming to navigate complex agreements, understand when you register your brand and identify how to protect your business ideas. IP, copyright and contracts exist to help you manage and protect the way your work is represented and enjoyed. As a freelancer you are responsible for for taxing and insuring yourself where necessary. You will need to assess your own insurance requirements, including liability insurance, life and health insurance and professional indemnity insurance.
- The HMRC e-learning package gives you the information you need to stay on the right track with your taxes and save yourself time and money.
- Check out the Companies House blog to find out more about the different types of insurance your might need.
Intellectual Property Office:
It is a legal right to protect your interests as a creative and equally for society to benefit from cultural production. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, designs, trade marks and copyright. The IPO offer a vast collection of intellectual property events, guidance, tools and case studies to help you create value from your ideas. Find out more at their website.
Useful Links:
- IP Pro Bono – Providing advice and legal support in intellectual property cases for those who cannot afford to pay.
- Anti Copying in Design(ACID) – ACID is the UK’s leading design and intellectual property campaigning organisation.
- Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) – A programme of regular clinics where you can get free advice from fully qualified professionals, who will offer advice on protecting your trade marks and avoiding infringement.
- Law Works, Legal Advice for Individuals – If you have a problem and need legal advice to resolve it, you may be able to get help from a legal adviser or an organisation which specialises in your problem.
Useful Links
- Gov.uk – Writing a business plan
- Start-up donut
- Writing a business plan – MOO (Design Works Wonders)
- Visit HMRC to register as self employed
- Visit Companies House to register a limited (Ltd) company
- Prospects – Self employment
- Gov.uk – Working for yourself