Get Freelancing
Turn your skills into freelance success. Freelancing means using your skills to work on paid projects for clients – giving you flexibility, real-world experience and the opportunity to earn while you study or after you graduate.
Got skills you could offer but not sure how to turn them into freelance work?
Get Freelancing is a practical programme from the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre (MEC), designed to help you build confidence, develop a clear freelance offer and take your first steps towards finding clients and getting paid.
You don’t need previous freelance experience or a fully formed business idea. You just need a skill, interest or area of expertise you want to explore.
Get the Benefits
- Gain hands-on experience through workshops and real-world exercises that give you a competitive edge
- Receive personalised guidance from industry professionals and experienced freelancers
- Join a supportive community of like-minded students and graduates to network, collaborate, and share insights
- Hear inspiring success stories from Manchester’s best freelancers who have turned their passions into thriving careers
- Develop practical freelancing skills – from setting up your business to managing clients and projects
- Access up to £1000 funding to kickstart your freelance journey
Get Involved
Get Freelancing is your fast-track to launching and growing a successful freelance career. Through four practical sessions, you’ll gain hands-on experience, insider knowledge, and actionable strategies to help you thrive.
What will you do?
Across four practical workshops, you’ll learn how to turn your skills into a service, build your profile, find potential clients and work professionally.
GET READY
Turn your skills, interests and experience into a clear freelance offer.
You’ll explore what you can offer, who might pay for your skills and how to describe your service clearly.
GET SEEN
Build your profile and start creating opportunities.
You’ll learn how to improve your personal brand, show people what you can do, find potential clients and confidently talk about your work.
GET PAID
Build confidence around the commercial side of freelancing.
You’ll explore pricing, quoting, talking about money with clients and getting paid professionally.
GET WORKING
Learn how to deliver great freelance work.
You’ll explore managing client projects, communicating professionally, building repeat business and using practical tools, including AI, to save time and work smarter.
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Learn from working freelancers
Each workshop includes an experienced guest speaker sharing the realities of freelance life – how they got started, found clients, built their profile and developed their career.
You’ll also take part in practical activities and challenges designed to help you put what you learn into action.
What you’ll get
As a participant, you’ll also have access to:
- A free copy of The Freelance Bible
- Get Freelancing challenges and leaderboard activities
- Advice from experienced freelancers
- A certificate of completion
- Get Freelancing merchandise
- Opportunities to meet other freelancers and founders
- Access to the wider MEC entrepreneurship community
What happens next?
Get Freelancing is designed to help you move from exploring freelancing to building something real.
By the end of the programme, you could be ready to register as a freelancer, secure your first paying client or take an existing freelance service to the next level.
Participants are also encouraged to progress towards opportunities including the Venture Further Awards – Freelancer Award.
Who can join?
Get Freelancing is open to current University of Manchester undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students, plus graduates from within the last two years.
You don’t need to study business and you don’t need previous freelance experience.
Ready to turn your skills into freelance success?
Register for the next Get Freelancing cohort:
- Get Certified: You’ll gain a certificate of completion to recognise your achievement and showcase your skills. The opportunity to take your freelance business further, including eligibility to enter the Venture Further Awards.
- Get Connected: You’ll also take part in the Community Mixer – an inclusive networking event open to students from across the University and all backgrounds. Meet fellow freelancers, connect with students looking for support on projects, and build your network within the wider freelance community.
If you are formally registered as self-employed, you can also access MEC's Software Perks, worth £150k+.
Don’t wait to take the next step in your freelance journey. Join our workshops, connect with industry professionals, and gain the tools, insights, and funding to kickstart your career with confidence.
Get Freelancing now and take the first step towards your freelance future. Apply here
It is a great programme as it brings students and alumni of various experiences and background to work towards a common goal, freelancing!
Dilashini / School of Medical Sciences student
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