Please help me career plan!

[allegretto]

I am in an unusual (I think) situation and would love some UK insight on how to proceed.

I have worked at a European university for the past twenty years in a non-research role. I have no intention of giving up this job because it is part-time, not badly paid and I (usually) enjoy it. Last year I successfully completed a PhD but haven't published anything. At the moment there is not chance of me moving officially into a research role at work but who knows in the future? I would like to keep my options open - for possible future work both here and in the UK. Is there anyone here who does research and publishes "freelance"? (And am I freelance if I work for a university??) Is there even any point or am I deluding myself? (I am in the humanities btw). Thanks.

One of my acquaintance / colleague does this - she has a healthcare degree (her title is an "official" one) and is self-employed. She consults for several public and private bodies and also gets involved in group projects and student supervision helping her to publish. She is a well known non-academic academic in our field.

I don't see what should stop you from publishing, even if you're in a non-research post. And you'll have the advantage of having access to journals and other resources via your institution's website.