Latest news for freelancers

1+ day, 13+ hour ago (683+ words) This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Petey Stathopoulos, 29, owner of Peteys World Cafe, a coffee cart in New York City. It has been edited for length and clarity. I run a coffee cart in Midtown New York City, but it wasn't the life I'd planned for, nor a life I want to keep up long-term. My dad's been in the food truck business since before I was born and always told me, "Don't ever get into this business. This is the hardest and the worst business in the world. You'll destroy your life." During COVID, I was going through a major depression. I was out of a job, and I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I just stayed home at my parents' place with my wife and kid and was kind of…...

1+ day, 13+ hour ago (683+ words) This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Petey Stathopoulos, 29, owner of Peteys World Cafe, a coffee cart in New York City. It has been edited for length and clarity. I run a coffee cart in Midtown New York City, but it wasn't the life I'd planned for, nor a life I want to keep up long-term. My dad's been in the food truck business since before I was born and always told me, "Don't ever get into this business. This is the hardest and the worst business in the world. You'll destroy your life." During COVID, I was going through a major depression. I was out of a job, and I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I just stayed home at my parents' place with my wife and kid and was kind of…...

3+ day, 16+ hour ago (495+ words) A Swindon marketing company is expanding its team and taking on more clients thanks to a "25,000 loan from the South West Investment Fund via SWIG Finance. Sara Witham launched Evil Empire Marketing in 2019 in a bid to find a flexible work-life balance that could work around family life. As business took off, she realised an extra pair of hands was needed and the loan enabled her to take on multi-skilled Jess Edwards two days a week. Part of the government-backed British Business Bank, the "200m South West Investment Fund covers the entire South West region and provides loans from "25k to "2m and equity investment up to "5m to help small and medium sized businesses to start up, scale up or stay ahead. Witham is now working on a job description for a second, full-time member of staff, as well as supporting and extending…...

4+ day, 17+ hour ago (21+ words) Citrus-Lime has expanded to global markets with a US base Multimillion-pound BGF funding support for Cumbrian retail technology provider...

1+ week, 2+ day ago (974+ words) This was not a Budget for public services Lancashire CC's pause and reflect fostering programme won the award for innovation at the LGC Awards 2025. Objective: Address critical strategic challenges relating to the availability, choice and cost of homes for our children in a crisis and to manage foster family resource effectively in a time of national shortage. Timescale: From concept in 2022 to launch of delivery February 2024, It is now embedded part of fostering offer in Lancashire Cost to authority: Saving made for each PAR arrangement No. employees working on project: At any given point in time at least 10 for each PAR arrangement made Lancashire CC's pause and reflect (PAR) fostering arrangements ensure the council's fostering service can meet its duty to provide the right homes for children, regardless of the complexity of their needs, amidst a national foster carer shortage....

1+ week, 2+ day ago (954+ words) Taking charge of future retirement plans can feel daunting, but you don't need to be an expert In our'weekly series, readers can email any question about their finances, to be answered by our expert, Rosie Hooper. Rosie is a'chartered financial planner'at Quilter Cheviot Financial Planning and has worked in financial services for 25 years. If you have a question for her, email us at'[email protected]. Question: I'm self-employed and therefore need to open a personal pension, but I don't know anything about investing. What are the best options for someone who wants their money managed by someone else? And are the fees likely to be very high? Answer: 'Starting out as self-employment can feel like a mix of freedom and responsibility. You finally have control over your work, although the flip side is taking charge of the benefits that…...

1+ week, 4+ day ago (384+ words) I will be honest: my September column on the suggestion made by a German economist that pensioners should be enlisted into national service to alleviate staffing shortages, unsurprisingly, did not fin I will be honest: my September column on the suggestion made by a German economist that pensioners should be enlisted into national service to alleviate staffing shortages, unsurprisingly, did not find universal favour. But the question of "older workers" (and we'll come back to that term) surfaced again recently, at the New Statesman's Politics Live conference on 19 November. We all know Britain has an ageing population; the key statistic to keep in mind is that while one in three UK workers is over 50, four million people in the 50-65 age bracket are "economically inactive". An estimated "31bn per year is lost to the economy from people retiring before 66: that's 50 per cent…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago (25+ words) Owners of British Garden Centres step in to support business it'd long collaborated with Lincolnshire family saves the UK's biggest climber grower from administration...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (385+ words) Dr Jason Wouhra OBE, CEO of Lioncroft Wholesale, reflects on the 2025 E2E Profit 100, celebrating the companies thriving through adversity and calling for a renewed national commitment to entrepreneurial growth Profit is not just the lifeblood of any business endeavour, but it enables courage and conviction to do things differently, says Dr Jason Wouhra OBE, CEO of Lioncroft Wholesale, Chair of Unitas Wholesale and Chancellor of Aston University. And of course, we all know that when it comes to running a business, generating a profit isn't optional, it's essential. While the principle of profit may be a relatively simple maths equation " more money in than money out " the fact is, profit remains the lifeblood of every business endeavour. Profit not only enables businesses to weather unpredictable storms, but it also enables you to invest for the future. Profit to play with means…...

4+ week, 12+ hour ago (343+ words) 10'000 Hours / Getty Images About one in 10 U.S. workers plan to take a sabbatical (or "micro-retirement) in 2025. Financial planners often recommend saving enough to pay living expenses for the length of your sabbatical, such as three months. Most sabbatical-takers rely on personal savings. It is also a good idea to maintain a separate emergency savings fund to handle unexpected disasters that arise, such as medical crises and home repair, experts agree. Start a "sabbatical fund now. The sooner you begin saving specifically for your time off, the easier it will be to reach your goal. Even small amounts add up. Consider automating transfers to a dedicated savings account nicknamed "Sabbatical Fund so you're not tempted to dip into it. Treat this just like any other important financial goal. Also, take a hard look at your current spending and see where you can…...