Made In Manchester: The Ups and Downs of Freelancing

These days many careers in the ever-growing Creative Industries are freelance.
Hear from our experienced panel as they discuss how to survive as a freelancer, make the most of opportunities, and stand out in the new "gig economy".

Tom Clarke from The Sharp Project
Tom is head of PR & marketing for SharpFutures, The Sharp Project and Space Studios Manchester. The wide ranging role covers press, comms, graphic design, social media and event production working with clients such as BBC, ITV, YouTube and CoderDojo as well as training apprentices for the creative digital sector. Having worked in the Manchester creative industries since 2000 for organisations such as Factory Records, In The City, Unity Radio and into his current role, Tom has worked with freelancers on a weekly basis, collaborating on a wide range of creative projects.

Alison Surtees from the Manchester Music Digital Archive & BECTU
Alison is a Creative Producer/Project/Production Manager. She is co-founder and Board Member of Manchester District Music Archive, a user led archive celebrating Greater Manchester’s musical heritage, Learning Organiser for BECTU, developing training and CPD for creatives across the creative industries. She is also Director of Programmes at In Place of War and Trust Administrator for Future's Venture, and long time collaborator with Soup Co, a Manchester based digital media and arts collective.

Pip Rustage, Photographer
Pip is a professional photographer mainly working in advertising with personal shoots demonstrating her creative freelance offering. 15 years in the industry working as a pro photographer, 6 in photojournalism and currently nine years freelance.

Moderated by Martyn Walsh from the Inspiral Carpets and Creative Industries Guru in Residence at the Business & IP Centre Manchester

Made In Manchester is a new series of panel events discussing the business aspects of the creative industries in the city.