There has been a growth of 14% in freelance staff since 1998, putting the current number in the UK at 1.4 million.

According to Kingston University, 58% of freelancers describe themselves as full time but 163,000 people carry out some form of freelance role in addition to working in another main job.

John Kitching, co-author of the report, said: "Freelancers play an important role in the UK economy both in their numbers, their contribution to business turnover and in the range of activities they perform."