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Freelancing support

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about starting a business...

Have you ever thought about making money from your skills and working as a freelancer? More and more people are choosing to work for themselves but knowing where to start can be daunting. The Entrepreneur Hub can help you on your way with guidance and practical advice.

Examples of Freelancing

Freelancing Ex Physio

Physiotherapy

Freelancing Ex Photography

Photography

Freelancing Ex Games Design

Games Design

Freelancing Ex Bookeeper

Bookkeeping

Interested in becoming a freelancer?

Explore some of the support we can provide you with below.

Book a one-to-one meeting with your hub consultant 

  • Book a one-to-one meeting with our hub consultants to discuss your idea and explore what support the team can provide you with throughout your journey. 


Attend workshops and events 

We run events and workshops throughout the academic year.

You’ll be able to develop your transferable and entrepreneurial skills through training, be inspired by our alumni entrepreneurial journeys or come on our annual Venture Crawl where we team up with 10+ London universities to explore the London entrepreneurial eco-system.

Check here for our upcoming freelancer specific events and workshops.

Want to be notified of upcoming events and workshops? Follow us on Eventbrite or sign up to our monthly newsletter

Brunel Freelance Incubator 

Benefit from our recently launched Brunel Incubator programme and take your freelance idea to the next level! 

Our Brunel Freelance Incubator consists of free in-depth tailored and personalised support from external specialists who will work with you on an individual basis, designed to fast track your success and get you ready for the next stage of your freelancer journey.

The programme is collaborative and will help you as a freelancer, solve arising problems relating to your business, understand and develop all elements of your freelance idea whilst developing your transferable skillset throughout.

The programme has been designed so that you can drive the speed and progress yourself. Our highly professional team of specialist mentors will be available to you at your request – you get their help when you want it. 

To register your interest, you will need to have a 1-1 consultation with your Entrepreneur Hub business consultant. 

Your business consultant will assess your readiness and suitability for the programme. At the end of the meeting with your business consultant, you will either be invited to apply or be given advice on what you need to do to be considered. Request a 30-minute meeting with your consultant by completing this form.

IPSE Incubator 

IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed, is the largest association of independent professionals in the EU, representing freelancers, contractors, consultants and self-employed people from every sector of the UK economy. 

The IPSE Incubator is for anyone within the early stages of their self-employed career or for those seriously considering self-employment as their next move.

This 12-month programme provides you with the knowledge, support and protection you need to get going – you are provided with dedicated helplines and IPSE staff to turn to if you have any questions.

Find out more here

Interested in a place on the IPSE Incubator? the Entrepreneur Hub will fund up to 10 places for our Brunel students and recent graduates! Contact hub@brunel.ac.uk to discuss this further. 

Brunel pop up shops 

Have a product or service you want to sell or promote on campus? Register interest in running a pop-up shop on campus in the foyer of the Bannerman centre here!

Our pop-up shops are great for freelancers wanting to test the market, practice and improve their selling skills and make money! You will be able to interact with your customers face-to-face, understand the questions your customers may have and ask them questions and even test new products. 

Before registering to take part in our pop-up shops, ask yourself… 

  • Does the campus at Brunel have the right audience for me? Most people around campus are students or staff. If these are not your target market, you may not benefit as much as you hope. 
  • Am I prepared? ensure you bring along the necessary kit to best display your products and promote sales. We will provide the table; however, you may want to bring business cards, banners and other marketing materials alongside your products to make the space more welcoming. Contact hub@brunel.ac.uk if you need any support with this. 
  • Be knowledgeable about your business and ready to answer any questions! 

Promote yourself on campus 

Have a product or service you want to advertise on campus? Register interest in displaying an A4 poster on our Brunel freelancer board on campus and through our digital outlets here

We will be highlighting our top Brunel freelancers quarterly, so if you want to share a message and promote your products and services at Brunel in a simple way, get in touch. Posters are a credible yet effective form of traditional marketing that will increase your brand awareness. 

Get support from our Marketing and Finance specialists 

We provide entrepreneurial students like yourself, the opportunity to receive free advice from professionals in Marketing and Finance/ Accounting to help you with your journey. We also have an Intellectual Property attorney that can help if you need guidance on copyright and other protections.

You can choose to meet and discuss with these professionals over the Phone, Skype or by Email.

To book a 30-minute appointment with one of our specialists, please complete this form and we will get back to you with further details. 

Freelancer Awards 

Currently freelancing or have a side hustle? Be crowned 'Brunel Freelancer of the Year' and win up to £5,000 funding!   

This academic year (2021-22), we will be searching for the most talented self-employed people at Brunel university London to enter our Entrepreneur Hub Freelancer Award. This award is designed to recognise and celebrate the excellence of freelancers at Brunel. 

To find out more, click here