Women Who Contract: A Community for Women Who Contract, Freelance and Consult
Hello, you! I’m so glad you found us.
Women Who Contract is a community built by women who contract, for women who contract. We’re here to help women start, grow and succeed in contracting, freelancing and independent consulting, with the knowledge, confidence, connections and opportunities to build careers on their own terms.
Whether you’re thinking about leaving permanent employment, exploring your first contract, looking for better-paid opportunities or growing an established contracting business, you’re in the right place.
Because contracting isn’t just a career choice.
It’s confidence.
It’s freedom.
It’s knowing your value and charging for it.
And it’s understanding how the world of contracting really works, so you can make informed decisions about your career, your money and your future.
Through our community, weekly newsletter, practical resources and member opportunities, we’re making contracting more accessible to women who want to take control of their working lives.
Welcome to Women Who Contract. Let’s make contracting work for you.
Meet the Founder: Lucy Hornsby
Hi, I’m Lucy Hornsby, founder of Women Who Contract.
I started Women Who Contract because I was frustrated by the wealth and opportunity gap in technology. I’d seen how access to information, networks and opportunities could influence someone’s career and earning potential.
But the more women I spoke to, the more I realised this wasn’t just a problem in IT and digital. It was happening across industries.
From project managers working on facilities programmes to business analysts in pharmaceuticals and branding directors working independently with multiple clients, women across the professional world were navigating the same questions.
How do you find good contracts? How do you negotiate your day rate? How do you build a sustainable business? And why does so much of the knowledge about contracting seem to be shared behind closed doors?
As a contractor working in change and communications, I’ve experienced first-hand how the contracting market operates. I understand the importance of knowing your worth, building relationships, accessing opportunities and understanding the commercial side of working independently.
I wanted to create a space where women could share that knowledge, learn from one another and access opportunities that might otherwise be difficult to find.
That’s how Women Who Contract grew.
My mission is simple: to help more women take control of their careers, increase their earning potential and build working lives that suit them.
Whether you call yourself a contractor, freelancer, consultant or independent professional, I want you to have access to the information, connections and support you need to make contracting work for you.
When women have the knowledge and confidence to navigate the contracting market, they can make different choices about their careers, their finances and their futures.
I live it. I love it.
And I’m here to help you own it.
Who Is Women Who Contract For?
Women Who Contract is for women who are contracting already, women considering a move into contracting, and women who want to build or grow an independent business.
We’re industry agnostic. That means you don’t have to work in technology, IT or digital to belong here.
You might be a project manager delivering major programmes, a business analyst working in pharmaceuticals, a change or communications consultant, a marketing specialist, a branding director, an HR professional or an independent expert in another field entirely.
If you work with clients on a contract, freelance or consultancy basis, or you’re seriously considering making the move, there’s a place for you here.
We originally launched as Women in IT Contracting. However, it quickly became clear that the challenges women face when working independently extend far beyond the technology industry.
We didn’t want our name or focus to create a barrier for women who shared our ambitions but worked in different sectors. So, in September 2026, nine months after our official launch, we opened our doors wider.
Because the movement was never just about one industry.
It’s about women having the knowledge, confidence and opportunities to build successful independent careers.
Why Consider Contracting?
The traditional corporate career path doesn’t suit everyone. You might be tired of waiting for your next promotion, frustrated by limited earning potential or ready for more control over the work you do.
Contracting offers another route.
Know your worth. Learn how to position your expertise, negotiate your day rate and understand the commercial value you bring to clients.
Take greater control. Explore opportunities to choose your projects, shape your working arrangements and make decisions that reflect your priorities.
Build your earning potential. Understand how rates, contracts, client relationships and business decisions can influence your income.
Create new opportunities. Expand your professional network, connect with potential clients and discover opportunities beyond your existing workplace.
Build a business around your expertise. Develop the skills and knowledge to manage your independent career, from finding work and managing finances to building a recognisable personal brand.
Contracting isn’t the right choice for everyone, and it comes with its own challenges. But with the right information and support, you can make a more informed decision about whether it could work for you.
The business world needs your expertise and experience.
It’s time to understand how to make that expertise work for you.
What’s in It for You?
A Community That Gets Contracting
Working independently can be brilliant. It can also be lonely.
When you’re a contractor, you’re often responsible for everything. You’re the consultant, the salesperson, the business developer, the administrator and the person who has to make sure the invoices get paid.
And when a challenge comes along, you might not have colleagues to turn to for advice.
Women Who Contract brings together women who understand the realities of working independently.
It’s a place to ask questions, share experiences, learn from other contractors and build relationships with women who understand the opportunities and challenges of this way of working.
Whether you’re trying to work out what to charge, looking for your next contract or figuring out how to grow your business, you don’t have to navigate it all alone.
Practical Advice for Women Who Contract
Our weekly content explores the subjects that matter when you’re building a career outside permanent employment.
From knowing your worth and negotiating your day rate to finding contract opportunities, managing your finances and developing your business, we’re here to make the world of contracting easier to understand.
You’ll find straight-talking insights, practical guidance and shared experiences to help you make better decisions about your independent career.
We also explore the questions that can feel complicated when you’re working for yourself, including understanding IR35 in the UK, navigating relevant tax obligations and knowing when to seek professional advice.
Because you shouldn’t have to learn everything the hard way.
Opportunities to Grow Your Career and Business
Building a successful contracting career isn’t just about being good at what you do.
It’s also about who you know, how you communicate your value and whether you can access the right opportunities.
Women Who Contract helps you build connections, develop your professional profile and discover opportunities to take your career further.
Depending on your membership, you can access a dedicated job board, connect with other members, take part in community events and benefit from opportunities to increase the visibility of your expertise and business.
We’re here to help you move beyond simply finding your next contract and towards building a sustainable, rewarding independent career.
Welcome to Your New Professional Community
Women Who Contract is building a supportive community to help women find contract opportunities, increase their earning potential and develop sustainable businesses.
When you subscribe, you become part of a network of women who are sharing knowledge, celebrating wins and helping one another navigate the world of contracting.
You can learn from women who’ve already made the move, ask questions without feeling you should know all the answers and discover practical ways to develop your career.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been contracting for years, there’s always something new to learn and someone new to meet.
Ready to find your people?
Subscribe to Women Who Contract and start building your next chapter.
We can’t wait to meet you.
From the Women Who Contract Community
Women Who Contract is about more than information. It’s about the women behind the businesses, the careers they’re building and the experiences they’re willing to share.
Our community brings together women with different backgrounds, skills, industries and levels of contracting experience.
We’re here to learn from one another, celebrate progress and make it easier for more women to access the knowledge and opportunities that can help them succeed.
Because when women share what they know, we all have more opportunities to grow.
Join Women Who Contract
From 1 February 2027, Women Who Contract will introduce paid memberships, giving you more ways to access practical resources, professional connections and opportunities to grow your contracting career.
Whether you’d like to stay connected through our free weekly newsletter or become more involved in the community, there’s an option for you.
Free Subscriber
Stay informed. Keep learning. Discover what’s possible.
Our free subscription gives you access to the Weekly Wednesday Digest, delivered through Substack.
It’s a regular dose of insights, practical advice and information for women who contract or are considering making the move.
You’ll discover content covering everything from knowing your worth and understanding day rates to finding opportunities and growing your independent business.
It’s a great place to start if you’re exploring contracting or want to keep developing your knowledge.
Paid Member
More knowledge. More connections. More opportunities to grow.
Investment: £15 per month or £100 per year.
Your paid membership includes:
Subscriber-only content, the Weekly Wednesday Digest and access to the full content archive.
Quarterly coaching calls, including sessions with guest experts.
Monthly community roundtables where you can connect with other women, exchange ideas and learn from shared experiences.
It’s designed for women who want to go beyond reading about contracting and actively invest in their professional development.
Founding Member
Get closer to the community and help shape what comes next.
Investment: £250 per year.
Founding membership includes everything in the paid membership, plus additional opportunities to connect, learn and raise your profile.
You’ll receive:
Access to a private WhatsApp group for the community.
Discounts or complimentary attendance at selected in-person events.
Discounts on courses to support your learning and professional development.
Access to Lucy’s network and the wider FM Network.
An interview opportunity on the Women Who Contract YouTube channel and promotion across our social media channels, including LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
Access to a dedicated job board where members and trusted recruiters can share contract opportunities.
The interview and promotional opportunities give you a chance to showcase your expertise, tell your professional story and introduce your business to new audiences and potential clients.
The job board is another way to discover opportunities, including roles that may be shared within the community before they’re advertised more widely.
Founding membership is for women who want to be actively involved in the community, build meaningful professional relationships and make the most of the opportunities available.
Ready to Take Your Contracting Career Further?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you get started.
You just need somewhere to begin.
Whether you’re exploring contracting for the first time, looking for your next opportunity or ready to take your independent business to the next level, Women Who Contract is here to help you learn, connect and grow.
Subscribe today and become part of a community that believes women deserve access to the knowledge, connections and opportunities to build successful careers on their own terms.
Women Who Contract. Your expertise. Your career. Your terms.
We can’t wait to welcome you.
1-2-1 Mentoring & Coaching with Lucy Hornsby!
Have you been thinking about leaving corporate life and doing something different? Perhaps you’ve spent years building your career, developing your skills and delivering great work, but you’re starting to wonder whether there’s another way to work.
Contracting could be that next step. More autonomy, greater flexibility, the opportunity to choose who you work with and the freedom to build a career around what matters to you.
But knowing you want a different way of working and knowing how to make it happen are two very different things.
That’s where I can help.
Through one-to-one coaching and mentoring with Women Who Contract, I’ll help you turn your experience into an independent career. We’ll explore your skills, identify your value, shape your contractor proposition, understand how to find opportunities and build a practical plan to secure your first contract.
Whether you’re just exploring the idea or ready to make the move, you’ll have a dedicated sounding board, practical guidance and someone in your corner who understands the world of contracting.
My qualifications include: ICF Coaching Diploma, NLP Diploma, ICF Career Coaching Accreditations, Branding and Communications Certifications and experience of launching my own successful contracting career.
This isn’t about starting your career again. It’s about recognising the value of everything you’ve already built and learning how to make it work for you.
Your next chapter starts here.
Choose from a one-off Contracting Clarity Session, a three-session Corporate to Contract package or our six-session Contracting Career Accelerator.
Because you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. You just need to know what’s possible and have the right support to get there.
Ready to explore what’s next? Let’s make contracting work for you.
01. The Contracting Clarity Session
£150
90-minute one-to-one session
For women exploring whether contracting is right for them.
Understand their motivations and concerns.
Identify transferable skills and opportunities.
Explore what contracting could look like.
Leave with a personal action plan.
02. Corporate to Contract
£450
Three one-to-one sessions over 4 to 6 weeks
For women who are serious about making the move.
Session 1: Your skills, experience and positioning.
Session 2: Your contracting business and proposition.
Session 3: Finding opportunities and securing work.
Includes practical exercises and a personalised transition plan.
03. The Contracting Career Accelerator
£795
Six one-to-one sessions over 8 to 10 weeks
For women who want more hands-on support throughout their transition.
Everything in the three-session package.
Developing their personal brand and value proposition.
Building a networking and opportunity pipeline.
Pricing, pitching and selling their services.
Reviewing progress and overcoming obstacles.
Accountability and ongoing action planning.
Includes email support between sessions.
Contact: community@womenwhocontract.com to book into a free 15 minute discovery call with me.
