We've know that "a job for life" has long been a thing of the past for the majority of students, however, attitudes towards traditional employment have become so acute, they've caught most universities off guard. Enter Gen Z, with a list of aspirations that includes flexibility, job satisfaction, diversity and control. A longing to work with companies that align with their values and share their beliefs. It's refreshing to see such endeavour but without the required training and support, are we setting students up for failure and disappointment? 

In our latest 'Next Gen' series, the insightful Zsofia Kunvari, a professional in the realm of Enterprise Education, Well-Being, and Organisational Behaviour, delves into the current mental health challenges faced by students who aspire to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey while juggling academics. From the pressure of launching a freelance business, side hustle or startup, to finding that perfect balance between work, life and study.

In a candid conversation, our Founder, Matt Dowling, sat down with the erudite Cerys Jayne Murray, a scholarly Master's student at the University of Nottingham, who simultaneously assumes the roles of a part-time barista and a freelance content creator. Together, they delved into the intricate realms of university support, or rather the lack thereof, that confronts ambitious freelancers like Cerys. They also discussed the delicate balance between work, life, and education that she valiantly strives to maintain, the challenge faced by students when asking to be paid for their services, and the profound psychological hurdles plaguing students, including imposter syndrome, inhibiting them from confidently valuing the worth of their skills.

The sixth annual IAN conference, run by the Centre for Entrepreneurs and hosted, took place this June at Sheffield Hallam University. This flagship annual event convened incubator managers from across the UK for best-practice sharing, networking and collaboration. The Founder of Freelancer Club, Matt Dowling, was invited to provide insights into the freelance journey and share some data on the challenges faced by students and universities.  Among the distinguished presenters was James Ker-Reid, co-founder of Revenue Academy. Following the presentations, Matt and James struck up a conversation over a cup of coffee, wherein they discovered a shared vision for nurturing the upcoming generation of entrepreneurs as well as a sense of frustration regarding the challenges faced by founders and freelancers in their pursuit of success. Recognising the potential significance of their chat, they made a decision to convene, unpack these issues, and record their conversation in order to offer their insights to universities, students, and stakeholders alike.

The joy that Sabrina exudes when she talks about her craft is absolutely infectious.  With a voracious desire to constantly up-skill and collaborate with other freelancers, it’s no surprise that this London based photographer has built such a solid portfolio to date.

Are you an aspiring videographer or photographer looking for a blueprint on how to develop and progress your freelance career?

Meet Mathias Falcone, a professional photographer and film director who has built an exciting career over many years date.  Born in Italy and based in London, Mathias creates ‘event photostories’ for corporate, entertainment, tech, luxury, and private clients. Photostories are a series of photographs used to narrate a story. Clients use them to give people a clear insight into events or campaigns that they run.

Freelancer Rachel Vogeleisen is a breath of fresh air.  A professional portrait photographer specialising in female portraiture, black and white boudoir photography and professional headshot photography, Rachel uses her conceptual portraiture as a tool to help women feel empowered and confident.