GM Creative Industries Freelance Network

The GM Freelancer Network will be a new voice and expert advisory group, designed to represent the thousands of freelancers and microbusinesses that power Greater Manchester’s creative industries. We want to recruit a diverse group of around 20 freelancers from across all 10 boroughs and all creative subsectors to help shape policy and influence how we can improve conditions for creative workers as we deliver the ambitions outlined in the Greater Manchester Creative Industries Sector Development Plan.

If you’re a creative freelancer who wants to influence change, share lived experience, and work collaboratively with peers and policymakers, we’d love to hear from you.

What the network does

The GM Freelancer Network will play a central role in shaping a fairer, more sustainable freelance environment in GM. Members will:

Advocate and influence

• Provide insight into freelance precarity, payment practices, workspace challenges, wellbeing, and access to finance
• Co‑design creative industries policy interventions with GMCA (e.g., fair pay, portable benefits, contracting standards)

Champion freelancers

• Improve visibility of freelancer contributions through evidence, testimony, and data
• Ensure real lived experience informs local and national conversations

Strengthen the ecosystem

• Build stronger cross subsector and borough-based peer networks
• Feed directly into the GM Creative Consortium, ensuring freelancer voices shape regional strategy

Who we’re looking for

We aim to recruit a balanced group of freelancers representing:

• All 10 GM boroughs
• A mix of creative sub‑sectors
• Diverse demographics (gender, race, disability, class, LGBTQ+, age)
• Varied career stages (early, mid, experienced)

Recommended sub‑sector mix

• Music (2–3 freelancers)
• Screen (2–3)
• Design and fashion (2–3)
• Performing arts (2–3)
• Visual arts (2–3)
• Craft and maker economy (1–2)
• Literature / publishing (1–2)
• Createch (2–3)
• Grassroots community creatives (2–3)

If your practice or identity is underrepresented in policy conversations, we particularly encourage you to apply.

How the network works

Meeting cycle

• 3 meetings per year, plus optional working groups
• Remuneration for time spent and travel expenses

Key outputs

• Annual GM Freelancers Report
• Recommendations to GMCA on skills, funding, and infrastructure
• Guidance on ethical and fair freelancer engagement

Shared working groups

Members may contribute to joint task-and-finish groups on:

• Fair pay and contracting
• AI and the future of creative labour
• Workspace and infrastructure
• Skills and MBacc alignment
• Business support pathways

Apply to Join the GM Freelancer Network

Help shape the future of creative work in Greater Manchester.
Bring your experience, insights, and voice to the table.

GM Freelancer Network Application Form – Fill in form

Deadline: Friday 28 March 2026