Addressing Inclusivity in the Spatial & Social Impacts of COVID-19 on the Self-Employed in the UK

Project overview

The UK's flexible labour market model has produced high levels of self-employment. The self- employed are predominant in those sectors most hit by shutdown and distancing measures. This study is to provide a systematic identification and understanding of the disparate spatial, social and economic impacts of COVID-19 on the self-employed in the UK using secondary analysis of nationally representative UK survey data and qualitative interviews with self-employed people focussing on coping strategies and experiences with the Self-employed Income Support Scheme.

The study produced a series of reports to inform small business and self-employed stakeholders and the public on the impact of the crisis on the self-employed – an important element of the UK economy.
These were as follows:
1. Covid-19 and self-employment in the UK (April 2020)
2. Changes in UK self-employment in April-June 2020 (November 2020)
3. Self-employment in the UK in September 2020 (January 2021)
4. Covid-19 and the impact on self-employment in the UK in October-December 2020 (May 2021)
5. The Coronavirus Pandemic and Changes to Self-employment in 2020 in the UK Regions (November 2021)
More background and detail can be found here https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ES%2FV008781%2F1

Collaborating research institutes, centres and groups

Work Futures Research Centre (WFRC)

We are an interdisciplinary research and enterprise hub tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing the world of paid and unpaid work.

Population, Health and Wellbeing (PHeW)

We combine expertise in population, health and wellbeing with the application of technical excellence in geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis and qualitative methods.