Network N operates a range of gaming websites, including PCGamesN, the world’s most-viewed gaming publication with over 110 million users and 6 billion monthly ad impressions. It also runs a creative agency specialising in niche gaming video and editorial content, including Publisher Collective.
Before Worksome: Manual Processes and Compliance Risks
Network N’s previous setup relied on a project management task tracker to organise freelance invoices and project progress, often leading to invoicing delays, manual errors, and missed payments. As the number of freelancers grew, these issues compounded, causing operational headaches. Their finance team faced repetitive manual data entry tasks to process payments, with a high risk of missed invoices due to a lack of central visibility.
Additionally, Network N’s compliance with IR35 regulations was a challenge. Managers often tried to onboard freelancers as short-term employees, which created compliance risks and stretched the finance and HR teams thin on monitoring. Without a streamlined platform in place, there were administrative delays and higher operational costs.
A Lightning-Fast Rollout That Transformed Operations
Network N and Worksome embarked on a rapid, two-week rollout to bring all freelance hiring, invoicing, and compliance functions under one system. Key Worksome features, including automated compliance checks, bulk invoicing, and a central dashboard for real-time freelance activity tracking, were instrumental in transforming Network N’s workflow. This quick turnaround allowed Network N to immediately stabilise freelance operations during a significant restructuring phase.
“The speed at which we got Worksome up and running was amazing. Our freelance process went from weeks of paperwork to mere hours.” Mary Jo Cabanes-Book, HR Director at Network N
Compliance Management with Built-in IR35 Features
“I was tearing my hair out because the compliance piece was like a moving target. People would come to me with freelancers or contractors, and I had to step in to make sure we were compliant every time. Worksome really changed that.” - Mary Jo Cabanes-Book, HR Director at Network N
Worksome’s compliance module was a game-changer for Network N, automatically handling IR35 assessments and ensuring proper classification for each freelancer. This relieved the HR team of much of their administrative burden, allowing managers to seamlessly engage freelancers while ensuring compliant engagements and cutting out the need for external IR35 assessments and lengthy onboarding checks.
“There is a powerful sense of relief in terms of compliance now that we use Worksome.” Ben Maxwell, Publishing Director at Network N
Project Visibility and Financial Tracking
With Worksome’s centralised platform, Network N could easily view active projects, budget utilisation, and payment statuses. This transparency reduced internal friction and improved finance tracking, giving Network N more confidence in its freelance operations. The finance team now had monthly data exports available on demand, minimising manual tracking in spreadsheets and reducing the likelihood of payment delays.
“Worksome has given us full visibility over all freelance projects and payments in one place. Now we’re not chasing down invoices or playing catch-up—everything is right there.” Jessica Parry, Accounting at Network N
Impact & Results
75% Faster Contract Processing time
With Worksome, it takes 15 minutes for Network N to contract a new worker, compared to the 4 hours it took prior to Worksome. For 175 workers, Network N £32,813 saved in time spent on admin tasks.
80% Reduction in Onboarding Time
The compliance integration meant that Network N could onboard freelancers in a matter of days, down from a previous average of 5 to 7 days, which often delayed projects.
90% Improvement in tracking and error reduction
With a consolidated platform, Network N saw improved tracking of freelance spending, meeting their new target of better budget alignment across departments, thanks to real-time insights available directly within the Worksome dashboard.
Workforce Flexibility and a Trusted Talent Pool
Network N now has a framework to build a trusted freelance talent pool. This allows them to flex up or down depending on project demand, reducing the overhead costs associated with full-time hires during slow periods and maximising resource allocation during peak project seasons.
Learn more about this customer story and how Worksome can be your freelance management solution.
