IER News & blogs

IER and Coventry University undertook research into the contribution of creative freelancers to the economic and place-based impacts of the creative industries. The aim of the research was to develop new understandings of the role, contribution and challenges of creative freelance work – examining the experiences and different business models of creative freelancers. With the onset of the pandemic, the research also focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the work and lives of creative freelancers.

The findings from the research have been presented in a discussion paper published by Nesta's Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC). The discussion paper identifies how creative freelancers generate value in their immediate place and places, and presents different types of creative business models, encapsulating the diverse experiences of freelancers and their contribution to economy and society. It also identifies the policy implications of the analysis. The discussion paper is available here.

Along with Rand Europe colleague Christian von Stolk, IER Director Chris Warhurst gave a talk this year’s Cambridge Festival.

Promoting the drive to improve the healthiness of jobs, their talk – ‘Why work needs to shape up: redesigning jobs for better employee wellbeing’ – is part of their joint advocacy of improving the physical and mental healthiness of jobs.

In March, IER Director Chris Warhurst was invited to participate in an expert roundtable on skill in R&D, hosted by the UK Government’s Department for Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). His contribution focused on skills for innovation.

It complements research led by Professor Terence Hogarth for BEIS on the talent pipeline for UK R&D.

In March, IER Director Chris Warhurst was invited to give a talk to the ACAS East Midlands Conference on the role of good work in the future of work in the UK.

The focus was on the role of good work in post Covid economic recovery and renewal.

In March, Director of IER, Chris Warhurst, was invited to give evidence to the Building Back Better Inquiry of the Liverpool City Region All Party Parliamentary Group.

He presented evidence focused on the opportunities to create good jobs within the green economy and outlined the framework of a plan to do so.