An article in The Guardian newspaper today discusses how freelance managers offer diverse skills and deliver efficiency and that is why the public and voluntary sectors are turning to them for support.
For the first time, the demand for freelance senior experienced executives to work in the public sector is higher than the private sector. And all the indications are that the trend is likely to continue. Interims who have traditionally worked in the private sector but have seen their freelance opportunities disappear because of the recession, are now turning to the public and voluntary sectors instead.
Tom Brass, chairman of the Institute of Interim Managers, which represents those working in the profession, says: “While the market has been very tough, that’s been confined to the private sector. The general feeling is that public sector has held up pretty well and, if anything, has grown.”
Specialist agencies that recruit interims in the public and voluntary sectors believe the future is bright for these highly skilled managers, because one of their key roles is to go into organisations and help them run more efficiently.
IMA chairman Paul Botting says: “The most important thing is that for the first time the public sector has seen a dramatic growth over the private sector. I think the public sector generally sees interims as a solution – that they get pragmatic, experienced individuals who can hit the ground running who have the experience, the scar tissue and credibility to take the team with them.”
