L&D Free Spirits

Why bother subscribing to a mailing list when everything gets shared on the socials? We get it. Social media is where the action happens - quick updates, engaging posts, bite sized snippets and engaging discussions. But here’s the thing… 😕 You’re not seeing everything. Algorithms decide what lands in your feed, and even if you follow us, you might miss some fab updates. 🥳 More depth, less noise. Our emails go beyond the snippets and scroll-stopping headlines…and you get them delivered without having to doom scroll. 🥇 First access to opportunities. Whether it’s events, offers, or new resources, our subscribers hear about them first. Some things may never even make it to social media! 🤯 Exclusive updates in our monthly newsletter. Be the first to find out who's featuring on the L&D Free Spirits podcast, plus get top tips, community highlights, and behind-the-scenes insights. 👉 Subscribe now and get the good stuff straight to your inbox: https://lnkd.in/e5f2XM4k #LDFreeSpirits #MailingList #LNDCommunity #FreelanceLife #SelfEmployed #Podcast #LearningAndDevelopment

🎉 Celebrating Our Members at the World of Learning Summit 🎉 At L&D Free Spirits, our mission is simple: help our members thrive. That’s why, when we secured a stand at the World of Learning Summit (4-5 Feb), we didn’t want to exhibit alone - we wanted to share this opportunity with a fellow Free Spirit. After a competitive application process and presentations to our panel of judges, we’re excited  to announce that Stuart Birley from Pathfinder Digital Consultancy will be joining us at stand P240! Pathfinder specialises in helping individuals and businesses navigate the complexities of technology and digital systems. Inspired by the loyal and instinctive nature of the beagle, they act as a trusted technology partner - tracking down the best solutions and guiding clients toward successful tech investments. If you’re heading to World of Learning Summit, make sure to swing by stand P240 for a chat! Whether you want to discuss learning tech or digital transformation with Stuart, or have a natter about your freelance journey with Kim and find out how we can help, we’d love to see you there. If you haven’t snagged your expo ticket yet, head over to https://lnkd.in/eFKKrMXR #LDFreeSpirits #WoL25 #LMS #HRTech #LearningTechnologies #FreelanceLife #Conference

Have you made a change yet? The new year is a great time to reflect and rework your personal and business life. But let’s be honest – change doesn’t have to wait for January. If something isn’t working six months in, it’s time to pivot. This could be anything - the way you’re working, a project that’s draining you, or even how you’re managing your mental health and wellbeing. 🌟 Take care of you 🌟 If your work-life balance is out of sync, it might be time for a change. Our Wizard of Mental Health and DEIB, Jim Oldroyd 🍞💡, delivered an amazing webinar last year about looking after yourself when you’re self-employed. You can catch the replay here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eeCmF5XQ 💡 Say “No” and feel empowered 💪 If you find yourself saying yes too often and want to get better at saying no, then why not pop along to our  webinar with Mark Sheppard on 29 January at 1pm GMT 👉https://lnkd.in/ew6Ei-Kt "No" doesn’t have to be negative – there are so many flavours of no! Saying no to the wrong thing can free you up for what excites and energises you. This webinar is open to everyone, whether you’re self-employed or not. So, come along and be inspired to use your "no" superpower a little more often. #LDFreeSpirits #LearningAndDevelopment #FreelanceLife #SelfEmployed 

Running your own business means wearing a lot of hats 👒– and sometimes, you need an extra pair of hands. 🤝 If you're scaling up or managing a team, having the right HR support can make all the difference. That’s where our Corporate Partner, Mint HR, comes in. Mint HR | Outsourced HR Support are experts at helping companies deal with the challenges that managing employees brings - producing easy to digest, no-nonsense solutions that are both compliant and right for your business. As well as delivering the best of the basics like contracts, employee handbooks and new starter checks and supporting you whenever people-related issues arise - Mint pride themselves in keeping up to date with new legislation and changes in the employment landscape. 👁️👁️Check out Mint HR Director, Tracy Carpenter’s recent Yorkshire Post article on Artificial Intelligence in the workplace: https://lnkd.in/eM-yBFMg 👉You can contact Mint by emailing tracy@mint-hr.com or calling 0113 863 0011 #LDFreeSpirits #LearningAndDevelopment #HR #SmallBusiness #HumanResources

Have you attended one of our Challenge Hours yet? If you’re a freelancer in L&D, trust us – you don’t want to miss this! Every month, we host a free-for-all hour where you can: 💡 Ask burning questions. 💡 Share challenges and ideas. 💡 Get advice from people who truly get what it’s like to work for yourself in L&D. It’s a space to connect with others in the same boat as you – whether you’re navigating tricky clients, refining your offer, or just looking for fresh perspectives. 🗓️ The next Challenge Hour with Kim is on Wednesday, 15 January, at 2pm GMT. Sign up here 👉 https://lnkd.in/egyw89Mg Go on, grab a cuppa ☕, log on, and let’s figure this freelancing thing out together. To give you an idea of what you can expect, check out the video below where Mark Berthelemy poses a marketing question to Hayley Maisey. #LDFreeSpirits #ChallengeHour #FreelanceLife #LearningAndDevelopment #CommunityMatters

🎉 Phew, we’ve made it through the first full week of 2025! 🎉 Congratulations, everyone – that’s one week down, 51 to go. If you’re anything like us, the “new year, new me” vibe might already be feeling a bit wobbly 🤔. But hey, progress is progress, right? So, let’s get real. What’s the one thing you’re determined to do differently this year? Maybe it’s: ✅ Setting better boundaries to protect your time ⏰ ✅ Finally updating that portfolio you’ve been putting off 💻 ✅ Committing to fewer meetings that could have been emails ✉️ ✅ Join our fantastic community of Free Spirits? 😉 Our founder, Kim, says she’s going to push herself out of her comfort zone and make more talking head videos. What about you? Drop your one thing in the comments – we’d love to hear what’s on your list for 2025! Let’s hold each other accountable and cheer each other on so we can thrive together. #NewYearNewYou #2025Goals #ReflectAndReset #FreelanceLife #LDFreeSpirits

Why the heck should you include case studies in your portfolio? Because they can have a massive impact, that’s why! 💥 Join us on Wednesday, 22 January, at 2pm GMT for a webinar with Chris F., Head of People and Performance Strategy at Ride Shotgun. He’ll reveal his winning formula for crafting case studies that kick ass. Here’s what Chris has to say: "High-quality case studies aren’t just stories – they’re powerful tools that turn curiosity into trust, showcasing your impact and sealing the deal. In this webinar, I’ll share everything you need to know to create compelling case studies that win deals, time after time." This webinar is free to Free Spirit members, you can book your spot here 👉https://lnkd.in/e6E_Rpxd Go on, get yourself booked on and take your case studies from ‘meh’ to marvellous. #LDFreeSpirits #LearningAndDevelopment #Portflio #CaseStudies #FreelanceLife

🦸Have you discovered your superpower yet? 💪 Let’s face it, freelancing in L&D can feel like a buffet – so many options, so many skills, so many sectors, so hard to choose. But whether you’re a proud generalist or a laser-focused specialist, knowing what makes you stand out is what wins the work. That’s where ‘Find your niche, find your superpower’ comes in. It’s a practical workbook to help you get clear on your strengths, define your value, and get you one step closer to clients saying, “Yes, we need you.” Whether you’re juggling a bit of everything or carving out a specific focus, this resource helps you lean into your thing – whatever that may be. 🦸♀️Ready to discover your superpower? Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/e5J2GiqC (oh and if you’re a member you get this resource included in your subscription). #FreelanceLife #LearningAndDevelopment #FindYourNiche #LDFreeSpirits 

Do you have something to say? Do you have advice for fellow freelancers? At L&D Free Spirits, we believe in the power of shared experiences and collective wisdom. Our blog is a place for insights, tips, and stories that inspire and support our community of self-employed professionals. We’re looking for contributors who want to make their voice heard. Do you have: ✨ Practical advice on navigating freelancing challenges ✨ Top tips for staying motivated, managing your time, or building client relationships ✨ Stories of lessons learned on your self-employment journey ✨ Insights into the future of L&D from a freelancers perspective We’d love to hear from you! This is your opportunity to showcase your expertise, build your personal brand, and help others thrive. 📩 Interested? Send Kim a message with your idea and let’s collaborate! Your voice could be exactly what another L&D Free Spirit needs to hear. #LearningAndDevelopment #LDFreeSpirits #FreelancingTips #FreelanceLife #SelfEmployedLife #LDBusinessTips 

How important is it to go to industry events when you’re self-employed? Let’s break it down… 💼 You can find potential clients. 🤝 You can find potential collaborators. 👀 You can see what the competition is doing. 🍵 You can become buddies with the people exhibiting. 🧠 You can create a mental rolodex of people, products, or services – so when a client needs something you don’t do, you know who to recommend or collab with. But, yes, there is a but… 💷 It costs money to attend these events. 🚗 Depending on how local you are, there’s travel and accommodation to consider. ⏳ Plus, it’s the cost of your time – if you’re in a day rate contract, you lose however many days you’re at the event. But should the but stop you from going? Absolutely not, attending these events get’s you seen, it gets you networking with people you may never have met or have only met virtually. It’s a great place to have informal chats over a brew while you rest your feet. And yes, you will get sold to, but you need to appreciate the exhibitors are there to get leads too. Just make sure you have an open and honest conversation with them about what you do and why you’re there – you never know where that conversation will lead. It’s less than a month to go until we see you at the World of Learning Summit at the Olympia in London on 4-5 February. We will be exhibiting alongside one of our Free Spirits, stay tuned to find out who that will be and which stand we’ll be on. We can’t wait to meet you all. You can register for your ticket to the expo here https://lnkd.in/e2_5WsNV If you’re planning on going, what are your top tips? #LDFreeSpirits #LearningAndDevelopent #WOL25 #WorldOfLearning #Conference