‘I make £1,000 a month from Mumsnet’
In some recent research for Leicestershire Rural Partnership I expected to find that homeworking had grown rapidly between the last 2 censuses. It seems I was wrong – statistically there has been a relatively small change. In 20011 in England and Wales it was running at under 3.5% of the workforce. Far more interestingly it has allowed us to change our patterns of working more profoundly rather than emptying out traditional office and other work places. This story provides one interesting insight in this context. It make me reflect that it is more important to think about how IT offers the chance to change patterns rather than places of work. It tells us:
Mother of two Cherry Forrest is part of a growing army of workers embracing a shift in the economy. The 39-year-old can earn more than £1,000 a month by working as a local editor for the social networking website Mumsnet.
Her story is one that’s increasingly common among British households as traditional working patterns break down and the internet provides new opportunities for more flexible employment.
Mrs Forrest found her Mumsnet role, developing listings and advertising from home for her local area, when she was made redundant from her job in marketing 18 months ago.
Pictured with Rose, 18 months, and three-year-old Elsie, she said that although the role was “frightening at first” she has managed to work from home in Kingston Upon Thames in between her children’s naps, and some months can replace her salary entirely, without having to pay childcare costs.
“It is so relevant to my life stage,” she said. “I don’t have to feel apologetic for having children. Rose has come to interviews with me and sat on my lap while I have had online conversations.”