Addressing inclusivity in the spatial and social impacts of COVID-19 on the self-employed in the UK

The self-employed are a particularly vulnerable group in the current coronavirus crisis. In contrast to elsewhere, the UK has seen significant growth in self-employment, reaching 15% of the workforce before the coronavirus outbreak. The self-employed are predominant in those sectors most hit by shutdown and social distancing measures. This disproportionate impact on self-employment is likely to have a longer-term effect on entrepreneurial activity and regional economic performance in the UK if current policies are not able to support groups and areas that are particularly hit. Self-employment has specific social and spatial features which means that the crisis will impact on specific social groups and areas in the UK differently. Women and some ethnic groups cluster in the most affected sectors, and some regions, particularly in the North and Scotland, have large shares of self-employment in accommodation and food services. Although generous to those eligible, government support (SEISS) excludes some significant groups.

This programme of research will investigate the social and spatial consequences of the coronavirus crisis on the self-employed in the UK. The project comprises two elements. First will be extensive secondary analysis of nationally representative UK survey data. This will allow detailed analysis of self-employment before, during and after the lockdown, including exits from self-employment and the ability of the self-employed to maintain earnings levels. A particular focus will be on gender as early analysis of the impact of this crisis suggested that women are particularly affected. The secondary data analysis we will be augmented with narratives from the self-employed. For this purpose we will interview self-employed women and men in different regions in the UK.

The second element is designed to generate expert evidence for the UK as a whole through engagement with nationally representative bodies such as the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Association of Independent Professional and Self-Employed (IPSE). The purpose of both elements is to support recovery strategy proposals, tailored to the particular context of key UK Industrial Strategy stakeholders - City Regions, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Devolved Administrations.