Resources

Blogs & Insights

In 2026, referrals are driving freelance businesses, coaching and mentoring is growing, and project pricing is on the rise. But finding consistent work? Still the biggest challenge.

Dig into the 2026 report and discover what the latest data tells us.

Graphic reading “Meet the member: Jill Sainsbury”, featuring two people with question marks obscuring their faces and a cursor clicking a button labelled “Spotlight”. The L&D Free Spirits logo appears in the bottom-left corner.

Member Spotlight: Jill Sainsbury

Each month we shine a spotlight on a member of the Free Spirits community. Jill Sainsbury is a filmmaker and…
A man holding a tape measure alongside the text, ‘Does your client know what success looks like?’ with the L&D Free Spirits logo and a blog button.

Success isn’t always the obvious metric

How do you know whether a learning project has actually been successful? In this blog, Andy Candler, COO of L&D…
Graphic promoting a blog titled “Where does your work come from?” showing two people exchanging a Go Ginger Learning Solutions business card, with the L&D Free Spirits logo and a blue “BLOG” button.

Referrals pave the way…but are they sustainable?

How do I find work? It’s the question that comes up more than any other. And three years of our…

Webinars & Videos

Alt text: A pink promotional graphic featuring Kim Ellis with long red hair, wearing a colourful striped top and shrugging with a puzzled expression. Large bold text reads “How many CVs do you actually need?” with “actually” highlighted in yellow. The background uses a pink geometric triangle pattern fading from dark to light.
1 Members Only

Do you even need a CV as a freelancer?

When you’re employed, the answer is obvious… yep, you need a CV. When you’re self-employed, it gets murkier. Clients, recruiters,…

Pricing for Profit

Working as a freelancer in L&D can be challenging when you have to discuss money with a client. It’s not…

What’s the first thing you need to do before you earn money?

Thinking about starting a career as a freelancer in L&D? Before you can start making money, there are some important…

Podcasts

Alt text: Podcast promotional graphic featuring a smiling bald man with glasses wearing a dark jumper and blue lanyard against a dark green geometric background. Large white text reads “Learn, Earn, Return!” with stylised quotation marks. The Free Spirits of L&D Podcast logo appears in the bottom left corner.

The 3 stages of a freelance L&D career

In this episode we talk with Andy Candler, founder of Aprendido and self-styled “plain speaking learning consultant,” who brings nearly…
Podcast episode promotional graphic featuring Jules Wyman smiling and standing against a dark green geometric background. Large white text reads “21 years of experiments” with quotation marks in blue and pink. Jules is wearing a pink top and dark jacket. The Free Spirits of L&D Podcast logo appears in the bottom left corner. A yellow trigger warning banner at the bottom reads: “Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and suicide attempts.”

Is your freelance business solving the right problem?

In this episode of the Free Spirits of L&D podcast, we chat with Jules Wyman, coach, speaker, and founder of…
Graphic with a green geometric background and large white text reading “Let’s reflect. Free Spirits LIVE! Spring 26”. On the right, Kim Ellis in a colourful striped dress looks up thoughtfully with her hand on her chin. Bottom left shows The Free Spirits of L&D Podcast logo.

Reflections from Free Spirits Live Spring26

Join us on the Free Spirits of L&D podcast for a very special episode — we’re bringing you the full…

Templates & Development

Promotional graphic for L&D Free Spirits featuring Kim Ellis dressed in safari clothing and a cork safari hat, smiling while looking through binoculars. She stands against a pale green and safari landscape background. Large text on the left reads “Your five day Learning Safari starts here!” A bright blue button-style label says “WORKBOOK” with a hand cursor icon pointing to it. The L&D Free Spirits logo appears in the bottom left corner.

Rediscover yourself on a Learning Safari

How often do you actually stop and think about how you learn? Not what you’re learning, or what’s on your…
A promotional graphic for L&D Free Spirits featuring a "Weekly SoMe Planner" (Social Media Planner). A smiling woman in a red top hugs a large red heart-shaped piñata with the number 7 on it. A button graphic labelled "TEMPLATE" with a cursor icon appears in the bottom right corner.
1 Members Only

Stop winging it on the socials

When you’re self-employed, your LinkedIn isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s your virtual handshake, networking tool, and portfolio all rolled…
Image of Jo Lockwood, text reads leveraging your voice for business growth WORKBOOK

Take your speaking professional

Struggling to turn public speaking into real business growth? It’s your key to influence, leads, and success – if you…

Top 10 signs that ‘No’ might be the right answer

Saying “No” can feel daunting, but it’s also one of the most powerful skills you can master as a self-employed…

Create a business plan that works for you

Let’s face it, running a business can sometimes feel like you’re winging it. But it doesn’t have to be that…
Woman holding a tablet, text reads are you ready to discover your niche?

Find your niche, make it your superpower

Whether you’re new to self-employment or a seasoned freelancer, understanding and refining your niche is a game-changer. This workbook is…