Some very nice people have called me brave for handing in my notice and deciding to become freelance. They're wrong though. I've just not let myself think about it too much. If I had, then I would have talked myself out of it. They also seem convinced that I will be really successful and have no problems. I'm hoping they're right about that, the confident part of me thinks they are.

I've worked in government communications for five years in the web team of The Department for Work and Pensions. I sort of got the job by accident, while I wasn't really looking for a job. After the software company I'd been working for went bust, I decided to temp to pay the bills while I looked for a new job. I found myself at DWP doing the filing for a print production team.

There was a small team next to us that were responsible for the department's website. Every so often I'd overhear them stuck on some problem and I would go over and sort it out for them. It wasn't too long till they offered me a job.

I think I've been very lucky and found a lot of opportunities here. I've done a lot of exciting projects and met some great people. I occasionally like to drop into conversation that I got to work at Downing Street for a while on secondment. It was only for six weeks, but it's a fascinating place.

I've been promoted four times in the last five years and have been the lead developer of the team for the last year and a half. I have my own team of people to do my bidding. I was worried about managing people, but they made it really easy. They're a good team and didn't need much managing. I just tried to make sure I was there to help them out when they got stuck or things were difficult.

The great thing about working for government is that occasionally you get to work on a project that feels important, and that might actually help people and make a difference. I think the Internet could really offer government some fantastic ways to communicate with and understand the public they're serving. We're just feeling our way at the moment, but they'll get there.

Part of me would like to stay and be part of that, but it's time to move on. I've got so many ideas and things in government just move too slowly for me. There's a lot of exciting stuff happening and I'd like to be at the cutting edge of it. I'm hoping that being freelance will give me that chance. I'm also hoping it will pay the bills.

I'm really going to miss everyone and it's sad and scary to leave somewhere that is so comfortable and familiar. It doesn't really feel real yet. I've still got four more weeks of work and that seems like ages. I'm gradually becoming more excited. I'm doing something I've wanted to do for ages. Even if I don't make a fortune, I'm doing what I want to do, and that's fantastic.