Each month we shine a spotlight on a member of the Free Spirits community. This month we’re featuring Dan Roddy,…
Why you should join Free Spirits
A while ago Kim Ellis wrote an article for the IDTX Evidence Informed Practice Conference (EIPC) listing five reasons why…
The L&D Freelancer Insight Survey is back for 2026 (and we want to hear from you)
Kim Ellis, founder of L&D Free Spirits, shares everything you need to know about the 2026 L&D Freelancer Insight Survey.…
Why shared language drives consistent performance across global teams
When training scales, does understanding scale with it? Leigh Lovering from Accentua explores why shared language is one of the…
Member Spotlight: Tejas Kotecha
Each month we shine a spotlight on a member of the Free Spirits community. This month we’re featuring Tejas Kotecha…
I finally stopped doing social media the hard way
The most important part about social media marketing is consistency, and Publer is a great tool to help. Kim Ellis…
I was so full of excitement…
Then everything came crumbling down. In April 2026, Canva held its annual Canva Create event in California and Kim Ellis,…
A Tale of Two Hats at Learning Technologies 2026
Wednesday was one of those days that reminded me exactly why I love this industry. Andy Candler rocked up to…
Why localisation is critical to effective global learning outcomes
Global eLearning programmes often fail because translation is treated as an afterthought. This article explains why localisation is essential to…
Being a Jack of all trades isn’t a flaw
What if your niche isn’t just one thing? Kim Ellis, Founder of Free Spirits, explores why freelancers don’t need to…
10 tips for getting the most out of Learning Technologies Expo as a freelancer
Kim Ellis has experienced Learning Technologies Expo from both sides of the stand – as a visitor navigating the noise…
Member Spotlight: Emma Lancia
Each month we shine a spotlight on a member of the Free Spirits community. This month we’re featuring Emma Lancia,…
The power of understanding: Why confident AI output can quietly undermine learning at scale
As AI reshapes how learning content is created and translated at scale, how confident can we really be in its…
Member Spotlight: Matt Brown
Each month we shine a spotlight on a member of the Free Spirits community. This month we’re featuring Matt Brown,…
How can Email Marketing strengthen your freelance business?
Hayley Maisey, our Wizard of Marketing, shares why email marketing remains one of the most powerful, steady and underrated tools…
What actually matters most when you’re building a freelance business?
What matters most when you’re building a freelance business? Kim Ellis ran a LinkedIn poll with freelancers and self-employed professionals,…
How you can make the most out of World of Learning
Do you look at expos and conferences and wonder if they’ll be worth attending? If you have to pay for…
Build your freelance L&D business in a way that plays to your strengths
Freelancing is often sold as freedom, but many L&D professionals find themselves quietly battling self doubt, decision fatigue, and the…
Should bereavement support be part of manager training?
We teach managers how to run performance reviews, handle absence, and have awkward capability chats. But almost never how to…
The power of understanding: Why learning only works when it speaks your language
Learning is supposed to unlock people. Yet in global teams, it often leaves them stuck. Not because the content is…
Why peer-to-peer learning is the most human way to upskill
This guest blog is written by Sam Miles from Skill x Swap. Sam shares the story behind her dream of…
What the heck should you include on your website?
Your website is often the first real impression a potential client gets of your business. For freelancers, it is not…
Neurodiversity Training in Learning and Development: 3 Top Tips
I recently delivered the webinar “Unlocking Potential: Neurodiversity Understood for L&D Professionals” with L&D Free Spirits. We explored how learning and development professionals…
Thriving as a Digital Learning Freelancer in a changing market
The digital learning landscape is shifting, and freelancers are feeling the ripple effects. In this guest article, Brookwood’s Sam Dyde…
After the expo glow, here’s the debrief
Kim loves a good expo… the buzz, the catch ups, the conversations spark some inspiration. Here’s her round up from…
Lessons from Free Spirits LIVE! 2025
Running a virtual conference sounds glamorous and super fun until you realise you’re juggling nine breakout rooms, a bunch of…
Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh, my God. It even has a watermark!
Are business cards dead? Not quite… Kim looks into why they still matter for freelancers. Do you still carry business…
40 webinars, 47 fiestas, 1 unforgettable year
One year ago, L&D Free Spirits was just an idea. Today, it’s a buzzing community of self-employed L&D professionals who’ve…
Have you outgrown your free software?
Kim Ellis looks at the free open-source tools many freelancers rely on to keep costs down and explores the tipping…
I had a cunning plan…
Thinking about turning that brilliant idea in your head into something you can actually sell? In this blog, our Founder…
L&D Freelancers Insight Report 2025: more strategic, more skilled – but still searching for support
Curious how your freelance journey stacks up? Here’s the L&D Freelancer Insight Report 2025 – packed with fresh data, and…
Dipping our toe into LinkedIn automations
Curious about LinkedIn automations but not sure if they’re your vibe? Here’s what happened when Kim Ellis gave Dripify a…
Making the leap to freelancing
Is there ever a perfect time to ditch the payslip and dive headfirst into freelancing? Spoiler: absolutely not. But Adam…
Why having a Directors Agreement is a good idea
Even if you’re the only person in the business If you’re a freelancer and you’ve set up a limited company,…
Product or Service? What’s your offer?
This is something self-employed folk and small businesses have debated for years… should you have an ‘off the shelf’ product,…
How being kinder to yourself can help you grow
I’m TK, a freelancer who once believed discipline fixed every problem. By Tomasz ‘TK’ Kropiewnicki My first year outside full-time…
A mountain of selfies and even more hugs
What do you think about when preparing to go to the Learning Technologies Conference and Exhibition? The vendors you’ll visit?…
Client boundaries and revision limits: the secret stress buster you didn’t know you needed!
Ever found yourself knee-deep in a “quick tweak” that somehow turned into a full rewrite worthy of a Booker Prize?…
What is the most effective approach to Marketing for a freelancer in Learning and Development?
When you become self-employed, you must market your offering and shout about what you do. Why? To build awareness of…
Learning Technologies vs. World of Learning
Are you new to L&D and don’t know which of these two exhibitions to visit? Or are you getting a…
Are you feeling a bit wobbly?
Being self-employed is full of mountains and valleys, how do you cope when you’re in a valley? By Kim Ellis…
Have you heard about SEO?
L&D Free Spirits member Stuart Birley – Pathfinder Digital Consultancy, outlines what it’s all about and debunks some of the…
Lessons from our first exhibition at World of Learning
It was amazing, overwhelming, tiring and fabulous. By Kim Ellis When I set up L&D Free Spirits I knew 1…
Do you actually need a business plan?
Do you actually need a business plan, or can you do without one? By Kim Ellis Well, it really depends…
From attendee to exhibitor
From attendee to exhibitor: How exhibiting at World of Learning can transform your business By Kim Ellis Have you ever…
Is it time to wind down yet?
Employed folk don’t know how good they’ve got it. By Kim Ellis Ok, now I have your attention, seriously think…
To freelance or not to freelance? Now there’s a question…
Although freelancing is not for everyone, some people absolutely love it! Here’s a warts and all look the pros and…
What the heck does the Autumn Budget mean for you?
The Labour Autumn Budget announcement has stirred up quite a conversation… Now that the dust has settled and things are…
Swag, insights and networking at World of Learning 2024
The 2024 World of Learning conference and exhibition took place at the Birmingham NEC 8-9 October. Hari Patience-Davies, one of…
Stop neglecting your LinkedIn profile
Let’s be honest, as a self-employed professional, your LinkedIn profile is your digital shop window. It’s where potential clients, collaborators,…
