Founder Kim Ellis, said, "After nearly a year of planning, I am thrilled to launch L&D Free Spirits, a dedicated community for self-employed folks to grow, connect, and thrive! I'm excited for freelancers across L&D to join the community, dive into the development opportunities, and access the best business knowledge support to help them succeed."

Sixteen L&D professionals joined L&D Free Spirits within a week of its launch, including Jo Cook, Director at Lightbulb Moment Ltd.

Jo said, "Investing in yourself when you are freelance or running a small business is a challenge, as is networking and knowing whom to ask so you don't look naive to your potential clients on LinkedIn. Working in L&D is a passion and a privilege, so joining L&D Free Spirits to help me help others seems like a no-brainer."

Kim added, "Joining L&D Free Spirits is not just about working independently; it's about becoming part of a dynamic, supportive community of entrepreneurs in which you can grow, connect, and thrive."

Membership provides a platform to host and share an e-portfolio to showcase services with potential clients. It also gives access to a member directory, dedicated Slack community, and jobs board, offering additional ways to enhance visibility, engage with others, and find new opportunities globally.

Other benefits include online networking and virtual events for upskilling, engagement, and staying ahead of trends and best practices, as well as course discounts and reduced rates on executive coaching, downloadable resources, and development tools to broaden business knowledge.

Multiple businesses have joined as corporate partners of L&D Free Spirits, organisations that recognise the importance of continuous training and professional development. These organisations offer resources, advice, and industry insights to support members' professional growth. They include 2Late, K&K Legal Consulting, Maisey Marketing, Mint HR, and Plus Accounting.

Victoria King, Marketing Manager at Plus Accounting, said, "We are delighted to join L&D Free Spirits as a corporate partner and support its members. We know freelancers thrive on creativity and flexibility, but handling accounts can be a time-consuming drain on both. Hiring a professional accounting team frees up their time to focus on what they do best and provides peace of mind, knowing their finances are in expert hands."

Corporate partnership benefits include brand exposure and opportunities to drive thought leadership, community support, and product promotion.