The UK events sector long relied on a blend of permanent and contract staff. In 2019, the total self-employed workforce in the UK had grown to roughly five million (economicsobservatory.com), reflecting a decade-long rise in freelancers and micro-businesses. Companies routinely used freelancers for peak demands and niche skills – a trend in line with the broader expansion of the gig economy (consultancy.uk).
Then COVID-19 hit. Live events stopped almost overnight, and many event freelancers sought stability elsewhere. Live Recruitment notes that, “from the offset of the pandemic, the absence of live events forced AV technicians to seek employment in other industries.” These alternative roles offered regular hours and competitive pay compared to the demanding events schedule. Official data supports this… by late 2021 there were over 680,000 fewer self-employed workers in the UK than before the pandemic (economicsobservatory.com).
As events slowly restarted, many specialists have been slow to return. Live Recruitment observed a noticeable reluctance among AV technicians to resume old roles, noting that confidence is resuming now 5 years on, however, those who did come back often prefer freelancing.
As Sabrina Pattison, Account Director of Live Recruitment explains, “among those AV technicians who have returned…we’ve seen a significant number choose to work on a freelance basis”. In other words, firms found themselves rebuilding crews one project at a time. In summary, the pandemic transformed the events staffing model. The freelance pool shrank as many walked away in 2020–2021, but those who stayed (or later returned) are more likely to work contract-to-contract.
As the events industry continues to grow and stabilise, agencies and brands are investing in both permanent hires and freelance support to build agile, high-performing teams. A blended approach to recruitment is now key - flexibility, strategic planning, and access to a trusted talent network are essential in delivering successful live experiences in today’s fast-moving landscape.