Self-employment review starts with a survey

The launch of a survey to support the government-commissioned review of self-employment has been welcomed by the trade body for contractors.

Posted by the business department, the survey will “go a long way to helping [the review understand] people [who] take the brave step” of going into business alone, said IPSE.  

It will record responses to issues like pensions and mortgages which David Cameron has said are challenging for people who work on a freelance basis, but IPSE wants it to go further.

“We hope the survey can also find the scope to address issues surrounding the tax treatment of the self-employed”, said IPSE’s chief executive Chris Bryce.

He explained: “Working for yourself can be incredibly rewarding, but it is hard work and you can often face challenges employees don't experience.”

People who work for themselves – and those thinking about it – were urged by Mr Bryce to fill in the survey, which is available via the Department for Business Skills & Innovation.