Go Freelance Series 2025

Student Enterprise's “Go Freelance Series" Empowers Students to Explore Freelancing as a Career Path

The Student Enterprise team is thrilled to celebrate the success of their recent Go Freelance Series, two events designed to help students explore freelancing as a viable and rewarding career option. Hosted at the Sir James Matthews Building and Student Enterprise Junction, part of the City Centre Campus, the series featured a creative and multi-industry event, offering a broad introduction to freelancing across various sectors, and a dedicated Music event, tailored for those looking to build a career the music industry.

The first event provided a practical roadmap for aspiring freelancers, covering how to start and secure clients, and build a sustainable business across industries including design, writing, engineering, marketing, tutoring, software development – and beyond. A diverse panel shared first-hand experiences, including Grace Burton, James Hamstead (also of Student Enterprise), current student Rebecca Hamilton, and alumni Britannio Jarrett and Emily Ralph. Students gained valuable insights into freelancing’s flexibility, challenges, and potential to turn passions into profitable businesses—whether full-time or as a side income.

The second session, dedicated to the Music Industry, took place on 6 March as part of the two-day Parallel Music Conference, run in collaboration with Neil Simpson from the Department of Music. This focused session provided insights into freelancing opportunities in music, covering roles such as producers, musicians, sound engineers, managers, and label promoters. The panel featured Megan Gillett and Monique Duarte-Forbes, a current Southampton student and graduate, respectively, who shared their experiences of navigating the freelance music world.

Live music performer and recording artist Monique Duarte-Forbes, a Southampton graduate, shared:

“As a graduate, it was so fulfilling to come back and share what I’ve learned for the benefit of others and hear from so many talented creatives. It was also inspiring to see students taking such a determined interest in their careers alongside their studies.”

Following the panel sessions, students had the chance to forge connections in a lively networking session over refreshments. This part of the event was integral to the student experience, with networking being a key tool to building a successful freelancing career.

The strong turnout highlighted students’ keen interest in freelancing, with enthusiastic feedback and a desire to explore it further. The Go Freelance Series reinforced Student Enterprise’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship. Students and recent graduates can access support through the Freelance pathway of the Student Enterprise Fund, which provides grants of up to £500 to help kickstart their careers. Additionally, students can access ‘Freelancer Club’, a dedicated platform offering online lessons, resources, and mentoring, along with one-to-one mentoring from the Student Enterprise team.

In addition to hosting their own events, Student Enterprise is keen to offer The Student Enterprise Junction as a dynamic venue for collaboration with academic departments, facilitating the connection between theory and entrepreneurial practice. For further details, please reach out to the Student Enterprise team directly at studententerprise@soton.ac.uk