Do I stay or do I go?

[TooStressyForMyOwnGood]

Hi all, I need to be vague or I will out myself. I work in a specialist field but have a professional qualification which is quite generic. I am pretty experienced (10+ years) in my field. I have what should be the perfect job, and it would be if it fitted in with my life. However, I am really struggling to manage the hours with two children to pick up from two breakfast and after school clubs. I am already part time. In addition, management are making changes which I will really struggle with in terms of hours I need to work and childcare opening times. I have put in a flexible working request but even if it is approved I will struggle with childcare (DH around but can only help once a month or so - no flaming please, my post is not to discuss equal parenting). No grandparents available to help.

There is a colleague who I get on brilliantly with. We are flirting with the idea of freelancing together. Freelance work is not uncommon in my field but I am feeling really unsure of taking the plunge. Has anyone ever done this? I know that logically I am possibly wrong to consider leaving a secure job but I do not think it will stay secure with the current management and with the current government (I am public sector). In addition if I could choose my hours I could use less childcare so would need to make less money to get by. DH main breadwinner but I need to bring in some money too.

Is working with a friend a terrible idea? I fear it is the kiss of death for a friendship and have personal experience of this in an unrelated field. Is this just something I have to weigh up for myself or does anyone have any advice?! Thanks

Are you allowed to do this under the terms of your contract?

Can you do it on your own or do you have to do it with a friend?

Hello thanks for your reply. Should point out I am new to mumsnet and posted a shorter version of this in chat too then realised posting in two different places probably bad idea . Think you replied on my other thread.

No, I can do it on my own and in fact could freelance now on my own without breaching terms but might be in same position of struggling with the hours. I am seriously looking down that route too as the safer option though. In terms of setting up a business on my own, realistically no, too much kit to buy (friend already has some plus much more experience than me) and I would be delivering teaching sessions which are much easier with two trainers. My field is a small world and everyone I know who runs a business on their own buys in additional teaching help.

If I set up on my own then I would be breaching the terms yes, I would have to leave.

Sorry, to clarify, I could set up on my own as long as I left my current employment. Not breaching any terms then. I think I could probably do it and stay in the job without breaching terms but it would be poor professional suicide as would be frowned upon so not an option really.