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12 June 2026
·
12 min
Self-employment: Britain's forgotten economic powerhouse 4.4 million people. £336 billion. Why are the self-employed overlooked? Britain's self-employed workforce contributes more than £336 billion to the economy and includes everyone from electricians and builders to consultants, creatives and business owners. Yet despite their enormous contribution, many still feel overlooked by policymakers and misunderstood by the wider public. In this episode, Liz Barclay explores what self-employment really means, who the self-employed are and why independent working continues to attract millions of people across the UK. What does it actually mean to be self-employed? In the first episode of the IPSE and Business111 FIPOD series, Liz Barclay explores the world of self-employment, from sole traders and limited companies to freelancers and contractors. With around 4.4 million self-employed people contributing approximately £336 billion to the UK economy, independent workers are a vital part of Britain's economic success. Yet many still feel overlooked and misunderstood. Topics include: • What is self-employment? • Sole trader, limited company or umbrella company? • Why people choose to work for themselves • The sectors driving self-employment • The economic contribution of freelancers and independent professionals • Why self-employment matters The UK's self-employed workforce contributes around £336 billion to the economy. But who are the self-employed? What motivates them? And why does independent working continue to grow? In Episode 1 of the FIPOD series, Liz Barclay explores the people behind one of Britain's most important economic sectors. Watch now.
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