The FM Story So Far...
If you’ve ever juggled a business and a family, you are at the root of our story.
2013
The beginning
It all began with a podcast.
Faye Dicker, an established freelance voice-over artist with a love for conversation, and a new mum grappling with the challenges of juggling a one-year-old and a business, needed to connect with other freelance parents.
2014
The first netwalk
The podcast was a success, but Faye saw a need for face-to-face connections and fresh air.
With that, she headed outdoors to lead the first ever netwalk around Bristol’s Harbourside.
March 2015
What's your 'moonshot'?
At Freelance Mum’s first International Women’s Day event, Brave, Bold & Bonkers, Faye was inspired by a fellow Freelance Mum to find her ‘moonshot’.
This dream was to become the awesome Freelance Mum Mega Meet-Up that we know and love today.
October 2015
Freelance Mum begins a partnership with IPSE
Freelance Mum was spotted by IPSE. They liked what we do and asked to join us at some of our key events and special occasions.
December 2015
Freelance Mum is named as Small Biz 100
Freelance Mum was named one of the Small Biz 100 in the run-up to Small Business Saturday.
Faye and the Small Biz 100s were invited to The Treasury to meet the Chancellor, George Osborne, and captured the moment on the FM podcast.
2015–2018
Famous names and faces
Freelance Mum captured the attention of some famous names and faces.
Cbeebies Andy Day and Katy Ashworth joined us on more than one occasion. ‘Trunki Daddy’ (AKA Rob Law) spoke to FMs on the importance of Intellectual Property, and to cap it all off, we made a giant Trunki train!
2018
Recognition
As Freelance Mum continued to support women in business all over Bristol, in 2018 Faye won the Freelance Ambassador of the Year Award and was listed as one of the 100 most influential women in the west in that year, and again in 2019.
2019
Freelance Mum begin a friendship with YTKO
YTKO joined Freelance Mum to guest speak on sustainability in business.
With mentoring from Phil Stott, the membership model was launched. Without it, Freelance Mum wouldn’t have survived.
March 2020
Our last big in-person meeting before lockdown
Before the world hit lockdown, we managed our final in-person meeting, on International Women’s Day, with Brave, Bold & Bonkers.
Lord-Lieutenant Peaches Golding joined us and spoke about ‘The Entrepreneur’s Secret’.
Peaches encourages amicable and productive relationships between all sectors. She is a highly experienced, award-winning Executive and Non- Executive Director, with interests in mental health, widening access to opportunities for those most disadvantaged in society, education, social justice, volunteering, and poverty.
Peaches was England’s first black High Sheriff and has led regional and national campaigns regarding corporate responsibility for Business in the Community.
2020
The pandemic hit
It was a tough time for all.
People needed to find new ways to connect, hear a friendly voice, and enjoy the safety of a consistent ally showing up every day.
So, every morning, Faye got up and broadcast a Facebook Live in The Mothership. It was a way to stay connected and keep up morale.
But it also sewed the seed for the Freelance Mum online coffee mornings.
2021
We believe in fairies
Freelance Mum was smashing it online. But humans need to connect in person. It was time to get outdoors and bring people together beyond Bristol.
The ‘We believe in fairies’ blog threw out Faye’s idea to launch nationwide hubs, with Freelance Mum Fairies heading up local netwalks.
“I believe in fairies,” replied Katie Morisey. And with that, Freelance Mum Fairies, and the first Freelance Mum Hubs, became a reality.
2021
Freelance Mum wins Covid-19 Success Story
The hard work and pivot did not go unnoticed!
Freelance Mum was a joint winner of the IPSE Covid-19 Success Story, sharing the accolade with Nadine Campbell, from ACE Entrepreneurs.
Faye and Nadine have enjoyed partnering on the FM podcast and continue to champion each other’s work.
2022
Faye is a judge in the National Freelancer Awards
Faye was asked to experience awards from the other side of the table, and judge and present the NFD awards.
2024
Freelance Mum is quoted in the IPSE Manifesto
Faye was asked to give a quote to support IPSE’s recommendations on the maternity allowance and shared parental leave.
2024
International Women's Day 2024 FM launches its first international hub
One of our members moved to New Zealand and wanted to take the strength and support of Freelance Mum with her.
2024
Still going strong, still growing
Freelance Mum now has hubs in Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, Devon, Southampton, and Bath, and runs weekly Zoom coffee mornings alongside other online and in-person networking events.
Look out for the new Digital Hub, launching January 2025!
Faye and the Freelance Mum community continue to champion the way for fellow women in business and create an inclusive, safe space for them to connect, build a network, and propel their businesses to success.
December 2024
Faye wins Creative Growth South West pitching event.
An opportunity to pitch to Angel Investors and mentors to receive a grant for their business. The grant was spent on creating the first Freelance Mum Impact Report.
December 2024
Faye wins Realising the Remarkable Grant
Faye wins with Enterprise Nation and receives grant of £3000 to launch their first Welsh Hub in Swansea Hub.
March 2025
Recognised for championing mums in business
Faye and ‘Freelance Mum host’, Carly Cannings, are recognised for their work and contributions to supporting mums in business and are named as F: Entrepreneur #IAlso100 and invited to the House of Lords to celebrate IWD.
March 2025
IWD celebration returns in person
Our IWD celebration, ‘Brave, Bold & Bonkers’ meets in again in person, for the first time since Covid-19. A milestone moment, as reflecting how far the FM model has pivoted and grown, since then.
May 2025
Faye is finalist in The Small Awards
Faye is finalist in The Small Awards, for At Your Service Award, for best small service business. She celebrates and shares the occasion, with ‘Freelance Mum host’, Jennifer Jones, from the Southampton Hub.
May 2025
Supporting Freelance Mums through it all
Our IWD celebration, ‘Brave, Bold & Bonkers’ meets in again in person, for the first time since Covid-19. A milestone moment, as reflecting how far the FM model has pivoted and grown, since then.
The (Freelance Mum) Fairy Story
In the early days, FMs were asked to sign in at meetups using a fairy pen given to Faye by her mum. We also wore pink Freelance Mum t-shirts.
When those got old, Faye had them made into a Freelance Mum Fairy, who is affectionately known as Flo (because all freelancers need to go with the flow!)
And that’s why we refer to our netwalk leaders as Freelance Mum Fairies.