Freelancing as a THINK Interim

So, you are thinking about becoming freelance and are interesting in becoming a THINK Interim. Great!

Working freelance can be exciting and can give you the flexibility that you may be looking for. However, moving from the security of a full-time employed position into a freelancing career can be daunting so to help we’ve pulled together these top tips.

Be clear on what you offer

When moving freelance you need to be clear on what you can and – crucially –  what you can’t offer.

Take time to consider the type, and levels of, assignments that you be interested in. You may wish to work at a certain level (e.g., Fundraising Director) but being willing to take on roles at other levels (e.g., Department Head or a Project Manager) will increase your opportunities.

THINK Interim managers (interims) are all experienced people with proven track records. They often have more experience than the assignment they take on requires, and this provides great added value to our clients.  We only place Interims in roles they have the right experience to deliver; an interim assignment via THINK is not a place to learn how to run a new fundraising discipline.

Finding work

Freelancers spend significant time building their network, marketing their offer, and networking. This is all crucial – but it’s unpaid labour. One of the key benefits of being a THINK Interim is that we do all that business development work, and our interims benefit from a pipeline of opportunities over the longer term.

Availability and capacity

When moving to freelance working, individuals need to think carefully about their availability and capacity for work. Some interims prefer to work part-time whilst others need full-time work.

Charities often require interims at short notice – it’s very rare that they wait more than a couple of weeks. So, if you are in full-time employment, we can’t consider you for an interim assignment until close to the end of your notice period.

If there is such a thing as a typical interim assignment for us it would be three days per week for a 3–6-month contract (part-time contracts are also more cost-effective for the client). If you need to work full-time, then you may need to look for multiple assignments.

Location

Most interim assignments can be completed remotely. There may be assignments that require a presence in an office or occasions when you are required to travel. We will always confirm working locations and travel expectations in advance but sometimes needs change whilst you are on assignment. Interims should be aware that travel expenses to and from a client’s named office are not chargeable.

Contracts and day rates

As a THINK Interim your contractual relationship is with THOUGHT Support Ltd, the company through which THINK’s Interim services are run . You don’t have to worry about invoicing a client, we’ll do that. We work on a day rate basis and our interims are always paid on time.

THOUGHT Support takes steps to ensure compliance with IR35 regulation. For each assignment we’ll complete an IR35 assessment. If the regulation applies, we’ll add you to THOUGHT Support’s payroll for the duration of your assignment and you’ll be paid via PAYE (you’ll also be entitled to join our pension scheme after a waiting period). There is no charge for this.  We are not qualified to provide you with personal advice about IR35; therefore, if you have any concerns, you should take appropriate professional advice.

Support

THINK does not just place interims and leave them. Whilst you are on assignment we are on hand to support. The Head of Interim will check in regularly with you and the client, and if you need any help the THINK Consultant team is on hand.

Values

Our values and reputation are important to us. We are collaborative, authentic, intelligent, reliable, and forward-looking. Interims need to carry these values with them when meeting clients and whilst on assignment. We only put interims forward for assignments when we are confident of fit and technical competence.

Interested?
If you are an experienced fundraiser and share our values, and would like to be part of a supportive interim network which provides a pipeline of opportunities, do get in touch with Gary Kernahan, Head of Interim, for a chat.
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