Businesses are under increasing pressure to deliver projects quickly, access specialist skills and remain flexible without increasing permanent headcount. That’s one of the reasons freelance talent has become an essential part of many creative, marketing and presentation teams.
Whether you’re covering annual leave, delivering a major pitch, managing a busy campaign or bringing in expertise that doesn’t exist internally, the right freelancer can make an immediate impact. The challenge isn’t deciding whether to hire a freelancer; it’s finding someone with the right skills, experience and availability, while ensuring contracts, right-to-work checks and payment arrangements are handled properly.
At Devonshire, we’ve spent years helping businesses find experienced freelance professionals across presentations, creative and marketing. We take the time to understand your project, introduce carefully matched freelancers and manage the process from initial brief through to onboarding.
If you’re still weighing up whether freelance hiring is the right option, our guide to 10 reasons to hire freelancers explains why more businesses are choosing flexible talent to support their teams. And if you’re wondering how to hire a freelancer for the first time, the steps below cover everything you need to know.
Our 5-Step Guide to Hiring Freelancers
Step 1: Define your project
Before searching for a freelancer, be clear about what success looks like.
Consider:
- What work needs to be completed?
- What skills are essential?
- Is this project-based or ongoing?
- What software or industry experience is required?
- When does the freelancer need to start?
A clear brief helps us identify professionals with the right technical skills and relevant experience from the outset.
Step 2: Set your budget and understand your engagement options
Before hiring a freelancer, it’s important to understand how they’ll be engaged and the budget you’ve allocated for the project.
Freelancers can work through different engagement models, including PAYE, Umbrella or their own Limited Company, depending on your requirements and the assignment.
If you’re engaging a freelancer through their own Limited Company, you’ll also need to work out whether the role falls inside or outside IR35. This is an important part of the hiring process, as it affects how the freelancer is paid and taxed. You can find more information in the official GOV.UK – guidance on IR35
Having an idea of your budget, expected duration, working pattern (remote, hybrid or onsite), and preferred engagement model allows us to recommend suitable freelancers quickly and advise on current market rates.
Not sure which engagement model is right for your project? Our Payroll Manager can talk you through the available options and explain how each works from a recruitment perspective.
Step 3: Let Devonshire do the searching
Rather than spending hours reviewing applications, we do the hard work for you.
Every freelancer we introduce has been registered with Devonshire, had their Right to Work verified and been interviewed by one of our experienced consultants. Where required by our clients, we can also coordinate additional background screening, including reference checks, DBS checks and adverse financial checks, to name a few.
Because we specialise in freelance recruitment, we often know who is becoming available before they are actively looking for their next assignment. This means we can quickly introduce suitable freelancers and help you find the right person ready to start when you need them.
Step 4: Review a carefully selected shortlist
Instead of spending time reviewing multiple applications, we’ll introduce freelancers who closely match your requirements and the needs of your project.
Depending on your preference, this could be a shortlist of suitable freelancers to review, or a recommended individual who we believe is the strongest match for your brief. We’ll always provide insight into their experience, availability and suitability, arrange interviews where required and gather feedback throughout the process.
For businesses with ongoing freelance requirements, we can also help build a dedicated pool of trusted freelancers who understand your business and can be considered for future projects as they become available.
Our aim is to save you time while giving you confidence that every freelancer we introduce has been carefully considered and is aligned with your needs.
Step 5: Onboard quickly and stay supported
Once you’ve chosen your freelancer, we’ll handle the required paperwork and help ensure a smooth start to the assignment.
During the assignment, your Devonshire consultant remains your point of contact, supporting both you and the freelancer. We’ll manage the freelance admin too, including access to our online portal, where freelancers submit timesheets and clients review and approve hours worked.
Once approved, we’ll process the timesheets and ensure freelancers are paid accurately and on time. If your project changes or you need additional freelance support, we’re here to help.
Why work with Devonshire?
Hiring freelancers shouldn’t feel complicated.
Our consultants understand the fast-moving nature of freelance recruitment and work closely with businesses to find experienced professionals who can add value from day one.
Whether you need a presentation designer for a high-profile pitch, a creative specialist for a campaign or marketing support for a product launch, we’ll help you find the right person quickly and efficiently.
Ready to hire a freelancer?
If you’re looking for freelance support, the Devonshire creative team would be happy to discuss your requirements and advise on the best approach. Visit our Freelance Recruitment page to learn more about our service, or get in touch to discuss your next project here!