Freelancers in Belgium Day 2022: Professional get-together for self-employed on 30 September

Aspiring and established self-employed professionals are invited to join the Freelancers in Belgium Day 2022 in Brussels on 30 September.

The English-language event will advise freelancers on growing their business while providing them with an opportunity to network.

Organisers say it’s targeted at a wide-range of professionals, including designers, photographers, videographers, HR professionals, IT & digital specialists, marketers, copywriters, translators, journalists, coaches and business consultants.

The conference assists in the ongoing research project Career Skills for Gig Workers: Towards a Sustainable Career, conducted by Vlerick Business School.

Freelancers in Belgium is an English-speaking community of over 10,000 members, which aims to help entrepreneurs. And more and more people are taking the plunge and diving into the gig economy, according to founder Jenny Bjorklof.

“Covid encouraged more people to take the leap because remote working became a norm, and people had more time to reflect on what is important to them. What is also trending is that more ‘established’ job categories such as sales, business development, finance, HR, operations and project management... are moving into freelancing,” she says.

Originally from Finland, Ghent-based Bjorklof was spurred to launch the support group after her own experience of going it alone.

“When I started out, I noticed there wasn’t much support for freelancers, especially not in English. I learnt the most from meeting with peers.”

The organisation aims to make working life easier by connecting freelancers with each other via Facebook groups, organising live and virtual events and providing relevant content and resources.

If the legal and administrative hurdles of setting up your own business are one hurdle, the psychological aspects are a further challenge, she points out.

“Coping with uncertainty, setting prices and negotiating, time management and finding clients, these are all best learned by doing, by sparring with fellow freelancers.”

She says newbies will gain great insights at the one-day conference as well as a sense of relief. “That is why we put a lot of emphasis on networking ambassadors and conversation starters,” she adds.

Freelancers in Belgium Day 2022
30 September, 9.00-17.00
BluePoint, Boulevard Auguste Reyers 80 (Schaerbeek)
Tickets: Standard rate €199 VAT (exc)