London,
09
April
2020
|
10:36
Europe/London

COVID-19: CIPR looking for evidence from freelancers to support lobbying call for financial protection

As part of its continued efforts to lobby the Government to offer financial protection to freelancers impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is asking practitioners – whether a member or not - to share anecdotal evidence. The Institute does not believe the package of measures announced by the Government goes far enough and is looking for evidence on how the pandemic has affected practitioners' work and income. 

Following the publication of research which showed that half of freelancers have had their income drop by more than 60% while most will receive no help from the Government’s Covid-19 measures, the Institute has written to a number of MPs in key positions and also shared the evidence with the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Institute of Directors (IOD) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The professional body for the public relations profession is asking those whose livelihoods have been impacted by coronavirus to share their stories, including details of lost income, for it to use in their efforts to push for more financial protection. In particular it is looking for evidence from those operating as limited companies. 

Alastair McCapra, CIPR Chief Executive
We know that business groups are continuing to raise the problems faced by directors of small companies when they speak to the Government. We are using our membership of these groups to share the experience of our sector and support our own lobbying efforts. The statistics are shocking in themselves and the real-life stories and experiences behind them tell a worrying story. We won't stop working on behalf of every one of our members.
Alastair McCapra, CIPR Chief Executive

Please share a short summary of how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting your work by emailing CIPR’s PR and Policy Manager, Jon Gerlis, being sure to include your employment status (ie sole practitioner, director of a limited company). All evidence will be shared anonymously and, depending on the number of responses received, may be anonymously hosted on CIPR’s website. 

  • The PR Cavalry and Intuit Research survey is still live – please complete the survey here. 
  • The CIPR and the PRCA had previously written to the Chancellor calling for more support for freelance practitioners. Read more here.