The role of space and place on independent worker skills development and productivity.

技能培训和发展是整个国民经济生产力和增长的重要组成部分（Keep，Mayhew & Payne，2006年），但与传统就业相比，独立工作者（没有雇员的自营职业者）的技能培训和发展得不到补贴（Kalleberg，2000年; Ekinsmyth，2002年），这就把跟上技能和网络快速发展的责任完全交给了他们。为了学习技能，独立工作者与其他独立工作者在伦敦和东南部等密集的劳动力市场进行合作（休斯顿和Reuschke，2017），其中工人可以合作，分享知识（Gertler，2008）。然而，许多人也在农村地区和其他地方获得成功，而其他人则由于当地经济资源贫乏、就业冗余、为人父母、财力不足和缺乏以往的商业经验而难以学习技能。通过探索地理环境，技能要求以及独立工作者如何与周围资源合作，我希望解决两个研究问题：不同地区如何容纳或抑制独立工作者的技能发展;以及独立工作者如何在不同经济条件的地区管理其工作的个性化性质？现有的数据集和定量方法可能不足以涵盖独立工人的生活方式或技能发展领域。因此，我最初的研究建议打算采用定性方法来跟踪独立工作者的案例研究，可能侧重于两个特定部门。在更远的地方，博士学位可能会转向英格兰北部和苏格兰的更多农村生态系统或共同城市化。

Skills training and development represent a large part of productivity and growth throughout the national economy (Keep, Mayhew & Payne, 2006), but compared to traditional employment, independent workers (self-employed without employees) are not subsidized for their skills training and development (Kalleberg, 2000; Ekinsmyth, 2002), which leaves the responsibility to keep up with the fast moving nature of skills and networks entirely to them. To learn skills, independent workers engage with other independent workers in thick labour markets such as London and the South East (Houston & Reuschke, 2017), wherein workers can collaborate, and share knowledge (Gertler, 2008). However, many also find success in rural areas, and other, whereas other struggle to learn skills as a result of poor local economic resources, employment redundancy, parenthood, poor financial means, and lack of previous business experience. By exploring geographical context, skills requirements and how independent workers work with their surrounding resources, I hope to address two research questions: How do different areas accommodate or inhibit skills development for independent workers; And how do independent workers manage the individualized nature of their work in areas with different economic conditions? Existing datasets and quantitative methodologies may not sufficiently capture the sphere of independent worker lifestyle or skills development. Therefore, my initial research proposal intends to follow a qualitative methodology to follow case studies of independent worker, likely with a focus on two certain sectors. Further afield, the PhD, could potentially steer toward more rural ecosystems or co-urbanisation in the North of England and Scotland.