A Design Week trawl found that:

*Middle-sized consultancies tend to have a higher percentage of freelance staff, although larger consultancies such as Landor and Sampson Tyrrell also use a significant number;

*The consultancies that use freelances tend to work in a few specialist areas, with graphics and interiors consultancies using more freelances than other disciplines;

*The use of freelances has steadied, with consultancies employing roughly the same numbers as last year, chosen from a roster the consultancy keeps. All of the consultancies approached by Design Week say that freelances are now an integral part of their business.