The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Hub is organising a Christmas party for people who work as sole traders, self-employed or freelancers.

There are an estimated 55,000 people self-employed in Cornwall, 20 per cent who work here locally.

Matt Borne, business connections manager, said: “Over the last three years over 35 per cent of the people we have seen for a review were self-employed”.

“People who work on their own often don’t think of themselves as a business, so the party is a way to encourage people to book a review and see what support might be out there to help them work smarter, be more productive or move to the next level.”

The Growth Hub can help sole traders get help with business planning, research and marketing to sales and finance, to help their business grow.

“Sole traders miss out on a Christmas party,” explains Kirsty Miles-Musgrave, communications manager for the Growth Hub, “so this is a way for people who work on their own to get together for networking and make connections with other businesses across Cornwall.”

The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is match funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.

Anyone who books a review with the Growth Hub will receive an exclusive invite to a free festive party on Thursday, December 5 in Truro.