Outside Perspective Y25W28 - Feeling redundant?
Opening the doors to those facing redundancy, coworking in London, backlash towards creators, killer slides for comms strats, and introducing Giles Calver.
Feeling redundant?
This horrible period of time happens from time to time across many industries - redundancies, layoffs, reorgs - many names for the same outcome, talent people losing their job, often with little notice.
Strategy roles quite often seem to take a hit in big agencies when redundancies roll around. Perhaps it’s the “intangibility” of strategy’s impact on the bottom line, perhaps it’s because many strategist’s time isn’t billed out in the same way as production. Maybe it’s because we don’t do a good enough job advocating for ourselves. Maybe it’s just cuts across the board, and strategy teams are often small, and can feel wiped out pretty quickly.
I know in the past couple of weeks - both from reading industry press, but also from the messages in my inbox, that there are lots of people right now, finding themselves thrust into a horrific job market - and many are thinking about turning to freelancing (perhaps it was the nudge they needed to do something they’d been thinking about for a while, perhaps final frustration with the way things are working, and for many - simple neccessity to make an income).
Being thrown into self-employment, not through choice but by circumstance, can be scary, Self-employment is challenging enough, but to find yourself on a steep learning curve, at an accelerated pace, and probably without the planning and preperation it requires - terrifying.
If this you, we’ve opened the doors of our community to you.
We’d normally only invite those who are actively committed to freelancing or running their own business - but as there are so many right now who might benefit from the additional support of advice, insight, experience - or just someone to chat to - we’re welcoming in those who are facing redundancy right now.
I’m working on some revised guides from our sister project Leapers on dealing with redundancy - the emotional impact, but also pragmatic steps for finding yourself in self-employment - I hope they might be helpful.
I wanted to point out a few useful resources immediately that could be beneficial:
NABS - the support charity for advertising and marketing have brilliant resources on redundancy, helping you understand the consultancy process and your rights. https://nabs.org.uk/advice/redundancy/. They also have a helpline (0800 707 6607) or you can email them
Money Helper - the excellent government resource has fantastic resources on the topic, your rights, and support for issues beyond redundancy, such as dealing with debt. https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/cost-of-living/job-loss
Mind UK - the leading mental health charity has some guides on dealing with job loss and redundancy, offering practical tips on the experience's effect on your wellbeing https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/coping-with-redundancy/
Club Redundo - a community supporting those going through their role being made redundant, along with coaching and useful tools. https://clubredundo.com/
And I’m always happy to have a chat, as I’m sure others are in the community too. If you’re facing redundancy as a strategist, considering self-employment, and would like to join the slack community - drop your details here.
Coworking in London?
If you’re a bit fed up of working from home or coffee-shops, you might be interested in Werksy. It’s a little bit like a “passport” for access to multiple coworking spaces, rather than having to sign up to a single location. And you can check in for just an hour or two, rather than having to buy full-day passes.
But even better there’s a super secret invite only mode too - Werksy Pro offers a flat £99/month fee for access to a wide range of spaces. Proper coworking spaces, rather than noisy coffee shops, for when you need some focus time. They’re currently in London and Brighton, and adding new spaces all the time.
» OP Members have access to Werksy Pro.
I’m also keen to start a few local meetups - I’m London-based, so happy to host or join other local members. Are you up for organising local things near you too? Let’s chat in the slack.
Takeover the newsletter
Do you have a project you’d like to share with the community? An upcoming event, piece of work or niche-nerdy passion you want to talk about? We welcome our members to “takeover” our newsletter.
» Drop me a note if you’d like to be considered to take part this summer.
Curiosity Stream
From our friends
» Mara on the backlash to creator freebies
» Carla was on Spin That Bottle this week - lovely interview series, using a 99 questions format (which I adore.)
» Natalie Podaima on location services as social network.
» Five reasons there won’t be an AIpocalypse
» Rob’s 16 killer charts to write killer comms strategy (not literally murderous)
&c.
» Non algo-driven feed. Feels like the good old days of Google Reader
» The “Does AI make us stupid” conversation unpacked with rigor
» On the complexity of pricing.
» Has the digital nomad dream gone sour?
Meet an Outsider
👋 Hello, I’m Giles Calver,
I’ve been self-employed since February of this year. Prior to that I was Planning Director at Sedley Place in London of 14 years, responsible for Sedley Place’s brand strategy output and headed up its Branding & Graphics Team. Before joining Sedley Place full time I worked with them on a freelance basis, as well as with other agencies (like Conran Design, Navy Blue and Studio Gutierrez) and directly with clients like BAA. I was also one of the Design Council’s Design Associates on its ‘Designing Demand’ programme.
Previous to going freelance in 2006 I was a co-founder of Lippa Pearce, a multi-disciplinary creative agency, and prior to that spent five years working in advertising as a ‘suit’, at Ogilvy & Mather Direct (OMD), DMB&B Direct and Pearson Paul Haworth Nolan (PPHN) - a veritable smorgasbord of inititals!.
I’m proud of several recent projects - First, a joint venture in the Utilities sector which has given me the opportunity to work again with a client I first worked with back in 1994 and then again in 2006. Stephen is an environmental lawyer with an entrepreneurial bent and working with him has reminded me of the value of relationships and the power of an endlessly curious mind. Secondly, revisiting a Corporate Communications audit I undertook for a Drinks client to help its Commercial Director sharpen its corporate brand pillars, based on the findings of the audit. Thirdly, delivering an internal communications strategy for a toiletry components brand (very much in Tash Peskin’s ‘boring’ territory).
What’s always been a central tenet of what I do is a deep dive into my client’s brands and sectors and a proactive mind-set. Over the years I’ve worked on projects as diverse as a 350- acre integrated township in central India, a brownfield remediation and insurance solution provider, an investor class action specialist, a five-star luxury hotel brand and a revered whisky brand. Going forward I’m keen to keep my grey matter challenged with similarly diverse projects.
Three things I’m enjoying consuming right now:
Reading: I’ve just finished Steve Harrison’s book ‘Can’t Sell Won’t Sell’ (and found myself laughing out loud at his wordsmithing) and Antonia Wade’s book ‘Transforming the B2B Buyer Journey’. Soon to start Sarah Rob and Rachel Fairley’s ‘Re-brand Right.” and Robin Bonn’s ‘Market of One’. He tells me there’s content in the book applicable to freelance consultants.
Watching: Loved the storytelling of the film ‘Past Lives’, the three central performances and the insights into Korean society. Also, I was absolutely entranced - and horrified - by the film ‘Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey'.
Listening: Still love listening to Desert Island Discs, for its variety of guests and window on the lives of a whole host of different professions. Like many, I listened to Sir Jonny Ive but I’ve also loved listening to Nick Cave and so many others.
Say hello to Giles on LinkedIn or in the community.
Gigs.
Briefs discovered and curated from across the stratosphere.
Promote your brief - or tell us if you’ve found work via the project.
junior freelance qualitative researcher (NL)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250711-research.htmlfreelance Social Media Strategist (US)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250711-pharma.htmlFractional Strategy Director (NYC,USA)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250711-cape.htmlFreelance Innovation Manager 9mo contract (Rwanda)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250711-brink.htmlFreelance Strategists with Property branding experience (UK)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250710-property.htmlFreelance Comms Planner Needed (UK)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250710-gravityroad.htmlFreelance Creative Strategist at Social agency (UK)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250709-social.htmlfreelance senior or director level strategist 6mth+ (NYC,USA)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250709-bloomberg.htmlFreelance Strategy Director with health exp (London,UK)
https://outsideperspective.co/gigs/20250709-bbh.html
Hey hirers! We can host your strategists.
If you’re a business working with freelance strategists, Outside Perspective can now host your alumni. Keep your best freelancers close, reducing costs and saving time - plus share your briefs to our entire network for no additional cost.
If you’re keen to know how we can support your bench … drop me a note.
That’s all for this week.
mk✌️