The Freelance Worker

Caleb Johnson, 21

When the first lockdown hit in March, I was laid off from my apprenticeship job as a painter and decorator without any notice. Luckily, I’d finished my training – if I hadn’t, I would have been unqualified, which would have made being self-employed far more difficult. I found work in a restaurant while it was closed over lockdown. It was a great opportunity, as we could work safely. This was the first step for me lining up other jobs, which I’ve secured through word of mouth. I took on an apprentice, who had also been laid off. That allowed him to complete his training, which had paused when the colleges closed in March. We didn’t go back into houses until mid-September: wearing masks, sanitising and, where possible, avoiding going through the building. I also had to ensure that my apprentice and I were protected and that the houses themselves were keeping to guidelines. I haven’t been trading long enough to be eligible for a government grant. I was only able to do exterior work in the first lockdown because of the dry weather. In the winter, the rain makes it impossible to complete any work outside and, as a result of lockdowns, we can’t go inside homes. The only thing I can work on is building sites. But that comes with its own risks: we would be exposed to more people.