12/09/2026
Don’t often post about my day job on here, but this one definitely deserves a shout 👇🏽👇🏽👇🏽
For those who don’t know me , and hello to the new followers 👋🏽 , alongside the DJing, I’m Principal for Creative Industries Policy at Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), working across the city-region’s creative industries and cultural ecosystem.
After almost 8 months of work behind the scenes, I’m proud to share that the Greater Manchester Freelancer Network has officially launched this week and I’ve been leading on making it happen.
This is going to be genuinely transformative work for freelancers and micro-businesses across Greater Manchester, and I’ve loved building it alongside some wonderful people.
What is it?
A network bringing together creative freelancers and micro-businesses from across the city-region — giving them a clear route to share their lived experience and sector knowledge to help shape creative industries policy, investment, and delivery.
It advises GMCA and works with to support delivery of the Greater Manchester Creative Industries Sector Development Plan.
What it does:
🔹 Shares insight on fair work, pay, contracts, skills, workspace & business support
🔹 Identifies common issues affecting creative freelancers
🔹 Develops practical recommendations for GMCA and sector partners
🔹 Strengthens links between freelancers, and local authorities
Members bring experience from different boroughs, disciplines, communities and career stages ,helping GMCA and partners really understand the realities freelancers face across GM.
The network meets three times a year, with working groups and consultation sessions in between.
If you’re a freelancer, creative organisation or commissioner and want to get involved — share evidence, flag common barriers, or bring a freelance perspective into the conversation — reach out:
📧 [email protected]
Full PR and info on the network members can found here - https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/culture/greater-
manchester-freelancer-network/
Proud doesn’t quite cover it. More soon. ✨
