64% of freelancers & founders say that their job makes them feel lonely - can you relate?
We've got just the thing to help you connect wit a community of ambitious creatives just like you!
Hey, Creative!
Did you know 64% of freelancers & founders say that their job makes them feel lonely?
Loneliness has a huge negative impact on your motivation and inspiration.
Over the last 5 years of building my creative career, I realised that without these two key ingredients, it was difficult to pursue my goals.
👋🏻 Now, connection is one of my biggest priorities when I plan my time.
Here are some of my favourite ways to make time for connection in your week:
→ Co-working days with freelancer & founder friends 🥐
→ Local industry events & meet-ups 📅
→ Turning LinkedIn DM’s into IRL catch-ups 💌
→ Online communities + lunch & learn sessions 👩🏻💻
Adding 1 or 2 of these to my calendar every week has done WONDERS for my mental health too.
This is one of the big reasons why I wanted to create a group mentoring programme.
A place where you could connect with the same group of people regularly over 3 months, find people to support you and collaborate on future projects.
+ Keep reading to learn more before doors open this week!
📣 NEW: The Freelancer + Founder Roadmap Group Mentoring program launches this Friday!
What if you could fast-track years of mistakes & charging less than your worth?
This group mentoring programme has been designed to give you a step-by-step guide to a sustainable creative career.
You’ll learn how to:
Build your personal brand to attract new opportunities,
Position your offer so you have customers and clients queuing up to buy from you
Feel less stressed whilst working towards your goals.
This is group mentoring done differently.
Over the last 2 years, we have worked with hundreds of creatives and they have all told us the same thing…
Community!
This programme is designed to bring together ambitious founders and freelancers so you can learn from each other and feel supported on your journey. This will be an exclusive community, only for those who join the Roadmap, so you can have accountability and motivation every step of the way.
Sound like the right fit for you? Join our waitlist to be the first to be notified when doors open on Friday 22nd November.
Creative News - What’s In & What’s Out🗞️
We’re mixing up our weekly news updates by spilling the tea on what’s in and what’s out this week. Sometimes brands miss the mark and we’re going to share our favourite and least favourite campaigns of the week.
What’s In: This bright new campaign shines light on food security
Food security has become a critical global focus, with the universal belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, nutritious food. In response, the UK’s Department for Environment, launched The Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain in 2023, sparking a collaborative effort between businesses, trade bodies, and the government.
The result? Make Your Mark, a bold campaign designed to inspire the next generation to explore careers in the vibrant food and drink industry. Led by brand and design consultancy BAGGI, the campaign highlights why this sector is such an exciting place to build a future. With deep expertise in food, drink, and retail, BAGGI brought this vision to life—showcasing the innovation and opportunities that define the industry.
This campaign aims to spark imagination, attract fresh talent, and secure a brighter future for the UK’s food supply chain.
Image credit: Creative Boom
What’s out: Working class 'blocked' from arts
The creative industries remain out of reach for many young people from working-class backgrounds, according to a Sutton Trust report highlighting their elitist structures. While only 7% of UK students attend private schools, they account for 43% of top classical musicians and 35% of Bafta-nominated actors, underscoring the dominance of privilege in the arts.
The Trust recommends urgent measures to improve access, including an “arts premium” to fund school arts programs like music lessons, banning audition fees at state-funded conservatoires, and requiring socioeconomic inclusion for arts funding. It also calls for unpaid internships over four weeks to be abolished.
The inequalities in the creative industries were one of the key issues that inspired me to create Studio Self-Made, to help break down these barriers and support underrepresented talent.
What do you think about this?
I’d love it if you could share this newsletter with your creative friends so they can get the inside scoop on the creative industries.
💸 Want to learn how to soft launch your personal brand before 2025 + attract paid opportunities?
Join our free online workshop this Friday at 12 pm!
Are you ready to become a full-time freelancer in 2025?
Or do you have an idea for a business you want to launch in the new year?
Your personal brand is the tool you need to unlock opportunities that turn these dreams into a reality.
This free one-hour workshop is hosted by Emma Redfern, Founder of Studio Self-Made, THE community for ambitious creatives, founders, and freelancers with big dreams of creating fulfilling careers.
Join us live at 12 pm GMT + if you can't attend live, you'll have access to the recording for 7 days after the workshop.
Spaces are limited so make sure you get your ticket :)
Get a head-start on your 2025 goals with this online workshop 🙌
See you next week!
Please like or comment below if you enjoyed this week’s episode ❤️
Emma
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