IPSE

What IPSE does

IPSE (The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed Limited) is a UK not-for-profit membership association structured as a company limited by guarantee, founded in 1999 as the Professional Contractors Group in protest against IR35 legislation and rebranded to its current form. It operates exclusively in the UK market from its registered office in the City of London and serves the UK's self-employed population — a group the organization estimates at one in seven UK workers. IPSE is positioned as the only not-for-profit membership association dedicated exclusively to this segment, with no parent company, no external investors, and no public listing.

The organization runs a tiered subscription model with five membership levels (Community £114/yr, Kickstart £179/yr, Freelancer £273/yr, Director £390/yr, and Umbrella) plus a one-time £150 Incubator programme. The core technology stack consists of a content management system, a member portal (portal.ipse.co.uk), and a Discord-based Community Hub that connects members for peer networking. The member benefit bundle combines insurance products (delivered through Qdos, an FCA-regulated Appointed Representative relationship), tax/legal/contract helplines, an IR35 contract review service, a curated content library (Business Hub), events, webinars, a podcast, a partner marketplace (IPSE Offers), and a cashback platform (IPSE Rewards via BHSF). Free unlimited co-working access via AndCo is bundled in.

IPSE's go-to-market is community-led and direct-to-consumer, processing sales through ipse.co.uk and the member portal with phone support. Customer acquisition draws on member testimonials, content marketing across 439+ articles, a bi-weekly newsletter, the Freelance Corner podcast, events/webinars, and a University Partners Programme with Wandsworth and Cardiff University. The organization also generates revenue through partner commissions and referral fees from its 16+ partner network, while sustaining a 27-year track record of policy advocacy — most recently the May 2026 Commercial Payments Bill campaign targeting late-payment reform.

Name

IPSE

Legal name

The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed Limited

Website

https://ipse.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IPSE is the UK's only not-for-profit membership association dedicated to the self-employed, offering tiered annual memberships (Community, Kickstart, Freelancer, Director, Umbrella) that bundle insurance, tax/legal helplines, IR35 contract review, a content library, and a Discord-based community for UK freelancers, contractors, and limited company directors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership fees with five tiers: Community (£114/year), Kickstart (£179/year), Freelancer (£273/year), Director (£390/year), and Umbrella. Monthly payment options available via Direct Debit with the full annual balance remaining due regardless of circumstances.
2. IPSE Incubator Programme: One-time purchase of £150 including VAT for the 4-week Incubator programme for aspiring self-employed individuals.
3. Partner Commission and Introductions: IPSE acts as an introducer for partner products and services, receiving commissions or referral fees from partners including Qdos, Mazuma, Chase de Vere, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IPSE is a not-for-profit membership association that sells annual membership subscriptions to UK self-employed professionals across five tiers (Community, Kickstart, Freelancer, Umbrella, Director). Members receive insurance protection, tax/legal helplines, IR35 contract review, a curated Business Hub of templates, partner discounts, an Incubator programme, events, and access to a Discord-based community of self-employed professionals.

Product overview

IPSE (The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed) is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to the UK's self-employed community. It offers a tiered membership model with five levels: Community (£114/year), Kickstart (£179/year), Freelancer (£273/year), Umbrella, and Director (£390/year). The core offering combines insurance protection (income protection, legal cover, tax investigation cover, contract failure cover), advisory services (tax/VAT/legal helplines, IR35 contract review, contract health check), and business resources (The Business Hub, contract templates, 1-to-1 Success Sessions). Additional benefits include the IPSE Incubator programme, Freelance Corner podcast, IPSE Offers marketplace with partner discounts, IPSE Rewards cashback platform, Discord-based Community Hub, free AndCo co-working access, and events/webinars. The organization also conducts policy campaigning and research for the self-employed sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Membership Base-level annual IPSE membership tier at £114/year offering tax, VAT and legal helplines, IPSE Offers partner discounts, IPSE Rewards, unlimited co-working via AndCo, Business Hub access, events and networking, member directory, advice and guidance, discounted contract review and 1-to-1 Success Sessions.
• Kickstart Membership Entry-level annual IPSE membership at £179/year for those early in their self-employed career or about to start, including all Community benefits plus illness and injury cover up to £1,500, IPSE Incubator access, and events and networking.
• Freelancer Membership Annual IPSE membership at £273/year for sole traders and freelancers, including jury service cover up to £2,500 per claim, tax and VAT investigation cover of legal fees up to £50,000, £250 per day for loss of earnings up to £750, managed service company cover, contract failure cover up to £1,000, and legal cover up to £50,000.
• Director Membership Premium annual IPSE membership at £390/year for limited company directors, including illness and injury cover up to £2,000, jury service cover up to £5,000 per claim, tax and VAT investigation cover of legal fees up to £100,000, £500 per day for loss of earnings up to £1,500, tax pre-dispute cover, and end client or agency failure cover up to £10,000 for loss of earnings.
• Umbrella Membership Annual IPSE membership for umbrella company workers providing clarity on pay, contracts, and rights, including Umbrella Company Failure cover of £3,000 any one claim and in the annual aggregate, plus expert tax, legal, and IR35 support.
• The Business Hub A curated library of essential templates and guidance created by qualified legal and business advice experts at Qdos, supporting self-employed professionals with everyday business, tax, and compliance needs via contracts, letters, checklists and guides.
• IPSE Incubator A 4-week (or 30-day) programme designed to help individuals transition to self-employment or launch a business with confidence. Priced at £150 inclusive of VAT for non-members; IPSE members receive unlimited access for the duration of their membership or 12 months access from purchase.
• Tax, Contract, and Legal Helplines Telephone advice lines providing general guidance on tax queries (income tax, Corporation Tax, CGT, IHT, PAYE, IR35, NIC, VAT), legal matters (intellectual property, small claims, debt recovery), and employment issues. Tax/VAT helpline 9am-5pm Mon-Fri; Legal helpline 9am-8pm Mon-Fri, Sat 10am-6pm.
• IR35 Contract Review Detailed review service helping members determine whether their contract and working practices place them inside or outside IR35, including Working Practices Assessment, Review of Contractual Terms and Clear Actionable Recommendations. Free for members with standard 3-day turnaround; same-day or next-day available for additional fee.
• Contract Health Check Broader commercial review providing complete confidence in agreements before signing, covering contract terms, commercial provisions, termination clauses, insurance requirements, and indemnity provisions. 20% member discount on retail price with 5-day turnaround.
• 1-to-1 Success Sessions Personalised business support sessions connecting members with experts for up to 30-minute consultations, subject to a fair use policy.
• IPSE Community Hub Discord-based community platform connecting IPSE members for networking, peer support and collaboration, operating under community rules requiring professionalism, confidentiality and respectful conduct.
• Events and Webinars Programme of events, networking opportunities and webinars for members, ranging from free to paid member-only events, supporting skill development and peer connection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 54% of freelancers have experienced delayed payment from clients during their self-employed career
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QdoscoreOthersQdos is IPSE's insurance partner providing specialist insurance for contractors, freelancers, self-employed professionals and micro-businesses. IPSE members receive 10% discount on contractor insurance. IPSE is an Appointed Representative of Qdos Broker and Underwriting Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
• Chase de VereminorOthersIndependent financial advisory firm established in 1969 offering bespoke financial planning. IPSE members receive free initial consultation and complimentary home buyers' protection. Services include tax planning, pension planning, income protection, savings, investments, mortgage assistance, and estate planning.
• The AAminorOthersThe AA offers business breakdown cover to IPSE members with up to 69% discount for plus members. Designed for companies with vehicles at their heart.
• MazumaminorOthersAccountancy services provider helping start-ups, sole traders, small businesses, freelancers and Limited companies. IPSE members receive free accountancy healthcheck and 15% off for the first 6 months.
• AndCocoreOthersCo-working space provider offering free, unlimited co-working space to IPSE members for the duration of their membership. Members also receive discounted rates for meeting room bookings. 2-week waiting period applies.
• BHSFminorOthersThird-party provider of the IPSE Rewards platform. IPSE Rewards provides cashback and discounts from major UK brands including weekly shop, tech, holidays and more. 2-week waiting period applies.
• Integro AccountingminorOthers5-star rated accountancy service for Limited Company Contractors, Freelancers and SME's. IPSE members receive the first month FREE when signing up.
• The CV & Interview AdvisorsminorOthersCV and interview preparation service working with independent professionals for nearly 20 years. IPSE members receive 15% discount on range of services.
• Bright Ideas AccountancyminorOthersAccounting services tailored for contractors, freelancers, and small business owners operating through limited companies or as self-employed. IPSE members get the first month completely free.
• English HeritageminorOthersHistorical sites and experiences organization. IPSE members receive 25% discount on membership/experiences.
• CaroolaminorOthersAccountancy services from tax returns and bookkeeping to payroll processing and strategic sessions. Certified accountants on staff. IPSE members get 2 months free accountancy.
• ParasolminorOthersUK's leading employment and payroll provider specializing in umbrella, CIS, and global payroll solutions. IPSE members receive £50 Amazon voucher when becoming a Parasol employee.
• TaxdminorOthersDigital accounting platform simplifying compliance, MTD, and day-to-day bookkeeping. IPSE members receive 10% discount on the first year.
• Freelancer MagazineminorOthersMagazine for freelancers providing inspiration and community. IPSE members receive the first issue for free.
• WandsworthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing support for students considering self-employment careers. Part of IPSE University Partners Programme.
• Cardiff UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partner providing support for students considering self-employment careers. Part of IPSE University Partners Programme.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teamIPSE
• Facebookfacebook.com/teamIPSE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pcg-the-voice-of-freelancing

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IPSE