EDITOR ’ S CHOICE A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES
KOLABTREE
The benefits of becoming a freelance engineer
According to a report by the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed ( IPSE ), there are almost 2.2 million freelancers working in the UK , with over 1.9 million reporting that freelancing is their main source of income . Freelancing provides freedom for individuals to choose projects that align with their interests , while being beneficial for companies that require specialist skills for one-off projects . Here Ashmita Das , CEO of science and engineering freelance platform Kolabtree , highlights the benefits of being a freelance engineer and offers tips for getting started .
It ’ s no secret that engineering businesses are facing a skills shortage , with many companies flagging access to talent as one of the biggest challenges they are facing . According to some estimates , the STEM skills shortage costs UK businesses £ 1.5 billion a year . With the rise of the gig economy , this once traditional industry is starting to be able to benefit from the work of freelance engineers — meaning one person can solve engineering challenges in several organisations .
Freelancing provides a world of opportunity . It offers the freedom to choose what projects you work on , while enabling you to set your own working hours and salary . With remote working now the norm for many businesses , the age of the “ digital nomad ” is here — you can now apply your skills around the world and earn a living without being tied to a particular institution or organisation . This reduces travel and allows you to work around other commitments , like family .
FLEXIBILITY
In traditional employment , you either have a job or you don ’ t , and your working hours are determined by business needs . With the knowledge and expert economies on the rise , more highly specialised experts are moving into freelancing because of the versatility it offers . In a recent study ‘ Understanding the work of independent scientists ’, conducted by an international social science research team with the University of North Carolina , University of Michigan , McMaster University and the University of Calgary , over 90 per cent of freelance scientists said that flexibility was highly important . Although many projects will have a timeline and involve scheduled meetings with the client , you will generally have the freedom to work when you want during the day .
CHOOSING PROJECTS
The types of freelance roles available to engineers is broad : in 2021 , top LinkedIn listings for freelance engineer posts in the UK included project , site and electronics engineers . The desire for flexibility also applies to the work itself : the previously mentioned freelancer survey found that 85 per cent of respondents said they choose to freelance because they wanted to select the projects they work on . People also value being able to use their knowledge in a variety of areas — 42 per cent said their independent work was a mix of gigs both inside and outside of their specialization . Again , traditional full-time employment provides little room to manoeuvre here .
Freelancers are in the unique position of being able to choose the clients they work with and , consequently , the projects that they take on . As well as this , they can set their own conditions and select clients that share their values and priorities .
“ I take on a wide range of projects as a freelance expert , but I really like working on projects that focus on relevant problems in society ,” explained Dr Hugo Lisboa , one of Kolabtree ’ s freelancers . “ For example , turning polysaccharides extracted from food waste into medical devices was something that greatly appealed to me , since you ’ re solving a problem whilst simultaneously creating something out of it .”
There are no limits to the projects that freelance engineering experts could take on . Once the project has been won , the freelancer can discuss the project details , like budget , timeline and conditions , with the client before beginning work .
BUILDING SKILLS
According to CV Library ’ s 2020 Candidate Behaviour Barometer survey of 1,700 employees , 35 per cent searched for new roles while at work due to boredom in their current jobs . Improving engagement is key for both boosting productivity and ensuring workplace satisfaction , and one way to do this is by injecting more variety into work schedules .
By moving into the world of freelancing , you can take on multiple projects at the same time , each bringing something new and giving you the opportunity to broaden your horizons . Not only can you offer your skills and expertise to those who need it , you can also continue learning and developing on the job — building and refining the skills of everyone involved while meeting the project ’ s objectives .
Being your own boss also means you can innovate and experiment with your skills , applying them in all sorts of ways . Say you are recruited to help with developing a particular product , like an internal combustion engine or fuel cells . You could join the project at the preliminary design phase and then offer your services right through to the beta and release build stage by assisting with technical challenges , providing advice on product development , and helping with the actual assembly .
With over two million people in the UK now signed up to the gig economy , there ’ s never been a better time to join the world of freelancing . In contrast to traditional in-house jobs , freelancing allows you to pick and choose how and when you work , select what projects to take on and continue learning on the job .
On Kolabtree , our freelance experts help companies publish research papers , develop products , analyse data and more .
Register your services for free , visit www . kolabtree . com
12 PECM Issue 56