Dr Matt Sutherland’s job title is Associate Professor in Marketing within Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School.

But that doesn’t even begin to describe the role he plays.

Both within the university, and with roles with Knowledge Exchange UK, The Open North Foundation and on the management board of the Small Business Charter, Matt has carved out a niche for himself as a conduit for interaction between the worlds of academia and business.

Freelancing offers incredible freedom, but it also comes with its challenges. Alongside your creative work, you're managing finances, marketing, client communication, and all the behind-the-scenes tasks that keep your business running. Without a built-in support system, it’s easy to find yourself stretched too thin.

This is freelancer fatigue, and it’s more common than you think. The constant pressure to stay busy, meet client demands, and chase new opportunities can quickly lead to burnout. But the good news? You don’t have to sacrifice your wellbeing for success. Here’s how to break the cycle and build a thriving freelance business, without running yourself into the ground.

With social media increasingly filled with hate and misinformation, political agendas and polarisation slicing through communities and anti-queer rhetoric on the rise, you would think that Phil Douglas, founder and director of Curious Arts, would be despondent, but he’s anything but. 

I find Phil sitting in the corner of an independent café, sipping on a latte and reading the news that the UK government has announced an indefinite ban on puberty blockers for under 18s, impacting those with gender dysphoria - a move that various groups that work with trans youth have criticised.