166,000 newly self employed in the UK

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I noticed two articles in the paper on Wednesday
(28/12/11), one which highlighted the fact that
there were an extra 166,000 (according to the
Office for National Statistics) joining the ranks
of the self employed between August and
October 2011, taking the total in the UK to
4.1 million, and the second (see below)
covering the increase in unemployment.

There are suggestions though many have become self employed to avoid the stigma of claiming benefit, whilst others are earning lots less that they need to survive in our inflation ridden country.

I have been self employed since 1988, and admit at times it has been tough, especially working on commission only in 2001, when the company I was representing suffered its own financial downturn. I learnt my lesson and soon diversified, creating many income streams, the latest this year, when I joined with NABO Networking.

So what has been your experience of running your own  business, and what tips would you offer?

Conversely the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) forecasts that the unemployed will reach 2.85 million in 2012 as opposed to 2.65 milion in 2011. Eventually reaching 2.9 million in 2013 – this being the highest figure since 1991.

Certainly, I have seen many more out of work than previously amongst my contacts, and likewise, I have seen many more join one of my businesses on a self employed basis too and starting to build themselves a future with Utility Warehouse – information here: www.future-biz.co.uk

So what has been your experience, whether going self employed or being made redundant?