There is a great deal of confusion over the term “Freelance Groom”. We know, because it is demonstrated to us frequently. Understandably, many Yards (and Grooms) require flexibility within a work contract and so the term “Freelance” crops up. However, the status of “Freelance Groom”, or “Self-Employed Groom”, is not purely set by the label you place on it. If a worker looks like an employee then they are ARE an employee, regardless of what the contract (which you should have) says. Getting this wrong can lead to a huge legal and tax headache, with HMRC demanding backdated tax, plus fines and penalties – a very expensive outcome…