Founder@ Interview
With Julia Kermode
“Be true to yourself. If you can answer your own self-criticism then you can answer anyone’s.” – Julia Kermode :
Today we feature Julia Kermode :, the founder at IWORK. We hear their story in their own words, their successes, their challenges and their insights.
Let’s start by getting to know you. Can you please tell us a little bit about you and what you do?
I’m a podcaster, network builder and campaigner with a passion for the rights of independent workers. I founded IWORK during the pandemic to support and champion this section of the UK workforce many of whom are key workers in precarious jobs.
It is all too easy to be exploited due to lack of knowledge, so IWORK empowers the UK’s army of agency workers, temps, gig workers, freelancers, self-employed, the lifeblood of the economy in all sectors.
A great introduction and start to this interview. Can you please tell us, how did you start, from what age, and what made you decide to change direction and start?
Advocacy and fighting for the underdog have been common themes throughout my career. I’m driven by making a positive difference to the world and I’m passionate about ensuring fairness for everyone.
In my previous role I spent many happy years ensconced in the world of tax, legal and compliance issues that affect independent workers, and my job was to educate people and protect them from being lured into tax avoidance schemes. I became increasingly frustrated that the people most affected by tax and employment legislation are those with the least amount of say in relation to how it applies to them, i.e. the workers. It was clear to me that businesses often don’t support such workers to the same level as they would their permanent employees.
During the pandemic I re-evaluated my purpose and founded IWORK to support and champion the UK’s army of temps, freelancers, self-employed and gig economy workers. These independent workers are critical to the economy, and it’s my mission to empower them.
Thank you for that insight. So can you tell us…What does your business do and where is your company based?
Championing Independent Work, IWORK provides many resources to help all types of independent workers, from agency workers, temps, gig workers, contractors, freelancers and the self-employed to better understand the business of working independently.
We have years of expertise that we’re sharing through our many online resources, blogs and weekly newsletters. There are two podcast series “All About Self Employment” and “Empowering Agency Workers” available through all the main podcast channels including google, apple, spotify and stitcher. New episodes are issued every week with carefully selected guests to bring you discussion, knowledge and insights from experts who also champion independent work.
IWORK’s community is the lifeblood of the UK’s economy in all industries. From temps who provide vital support when needed, to self-employed freelancers bringing their skills to businesses, to consultants and interims working on projects, to entrepreneurs and disrupters. Whatever it is that you’re doing, if you’re working independently then we’re here to support you.
What’s the story behind your success? What led to your aha moment? how did you get to where you are now?
I’ve always highly ambitious and driven, so it was no surprise to anyone when I took my first CEO role aged just 31. It was certainly challenging to have such a responsibility at a young age, but of course age is ultimately irrelevant – if you have the skills and ability to succeed then you will no matter what your age.
I’ve had many ups and downs during my time leading various enterprises, including the shock of discovering that an organisation I just joined as CEO had no financial viability whatsoever! That was a low point. I could have panicked and walked away, but instead I faced the arduous task of bringing about significant change, despite a board who failed to comprehend the situation and did not believe anything was wrong.
Whilst this was incredibly difficult at the time, the experience taught me a lot about resilience, rational decision-making, and doing what is right for the business. I’ve also had what I thought was my dream job, but the reality was anything but, which was crushingly disappointing for me. I had even relocated some 75 miles for the job, and after a painful time I realised it would be best to leave that organisation.
I tried really hard to make it work, but I eventually realised I had to put myself first, and that was best achieved by moving on. I ended up in the niche world of tax and employment rights. Heading up a much maligned and misunderstood sector meant that I was often called on by the media to be answerable during live discussion programmes (such as Moneybox and Look North) so I’ve had my share of challenging interviews.
Consequently, I’ve experienced unfair public criticism on social media, even occasional death threats, however my resilience and passion for doing the right thing got me through. As the pandemic took hold during 2020, I could see that increasing numbers of people would be turning to temporary work, self-employment, platform work (getting work via online apps such as driving for Uber) and other forms of work as an alternative to permanent employment.
I was concerned that people new to these ways of working would be at risk of exploitation, either deliberately by those businesses engaging them, or just through a lack of knowledge. So I set up IWORK to support and protect people who are working independently, i.e. not in permanent employment. This is a really important part of the UK’s workforce that no-one else is properly championing, and IWORK is like a trade union for all contingent workers.
Thank you for sharing that. What’s been your life’s biggest lesson so far?
I learned an awful lot whilst running an organisation that was often misrepresented in the media, and at times was heavily criticised. When you lead an organisation you are the public face of that organisation too, like it or not, so you have to be prepared for what that means – the possibility of social media trolling and criticism against you personally.
I had a death threat following a TV appearance where I was talking about tax deductible expenses, which is hardly inflammatory or controversial but for some reason an individual was really offended by it! I learnt very early on not to take these things to heart, social media is just a means for some people to vent.
You have to remember that they don’t know you personally and they have no right to judge you personally, it’s just frustration on their part. Resilience is key to surviving, don’t take anything personally and make sure you’ve got a good support network to bolster you when needed.
Changing the world takes time, but don’t lose sight of your vision.
If you were to go back in time, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self?
Always have the courage of your convictions – if you truly believe you are doing the right thing, then you probably are. Most of all, go for it! If you don’t give something a try then you’ll never know what could have been. So make a plan, work out all the possible outcomes, and then go for it!
Anyone can be successful, you just need the confidence to get started, plus the drive and determination to make your dream a reality. Importantly, make sure you look after yourself and know when to be selfish.
What do you know now that you wished you had known before?
Changing the world takes time, but don’t lose sight of your vision.
What has been your greatest or proudest achievement or moment?
Launching IWORK was a massive achievement for me. I made a difficult decision to leave a stable job that I loved in order to follow my heart and make a positive difference to a forgotten workforce. I am passionate about what I do, and I have never once regretted making that decision.
What future life goals do you want to achieve and why?
Levelling up the workforce so that independent workers are equally as valued as permanent employees. This is starting to happen as the pandemic and worker shortages made businesses increasingly reliant on temporary workers for their survival. All ways of working should be accepted and we should stop assuming that permanent employment is the best choice for everyone.
To finish our inspire questions…”We believe that sharing inspiring words can inspire others.” If there was one positive thing you would say to someone to inspire and empower them what would it be and why?
Be true to yourself. If you can answer your own self-criticism then you can answer anyone’s.
“Thank you it has been great learning more about your founder story and IWORK”
To learn more about IWORK Visit www.iwork.co.uk
Find on social media @ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iwork.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JuliaKermode and https://twitter.com/IWORKcouk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IWORK.CO.UK/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliakermode/ and www.linkedin.com/company/iworkcouk/
Have an inspiring founder story?
Every entrepreneur’s journey is unique and powerful.
Your story of perseverance and success could be the spark that ignites the next generation of world-changing ideas. By sharing your experiences, you’re not just telling a story – you’re lighting a path for others to follow, dream, and achieve.
Disclaimer:
The views, thoughts, information, and opinions expressed in the text, videos, images belong solely to those of the individuals involved, and do not necessarily represent those of Founderat.com and its corporate owners, employees, organization, committee, or other group or individuals.