University of Sheffield Freelancers Guild
As the University’s Freelance Talent Directory, we are here to help students and staff live the portfolio life by elevating their creative practice and connecting them with a network of collaborators.
There is a massive, invisible economy running across our campus.
The Freelancers Guild will operate as a member-led collective built on the principles of autonomy, collective power, and economic agency.
Emerge: Be enterprising aims to empower the University of Sheffield community to own their craft, build their portfolio, and connect with the city's economy. We aim to work towards a guild directory which gains portfolio leads and promotes emerging freelancers and side-hustles.
As the University’s Talent Directory, we are here to help students and staff live the portfolio life by elevating their creative practice and connecting them with a network of collaborators.
Join us to ensure your work gets the recognition it deserves while building a career on your own terms.
Own your craft. Build your wealth. Join the Guild.
Our Mission is to showcase the collective talent of side-hustles from across the University community.
Our Vision is to promote a portfolio career path building a Creative Agency and Digital Directory that legitimises the "side-hustle" and prepares students for a Portfolio Life.
Do I count as a freelancer?
A freelancer is a self-employed professional who provides services to various clients on a per-project or contractual basis, rather than being a permanent, salaried employee of one company, enjoying flexibility in choosing work but bearing responsibility for their own taxes and benefits. They typically work in creative, technical, or consulting fields (like writing, design, programming) and are paid hourly, daily, or by the job, setting their own rates and schedules.
How does a side-hustle differ from freelance work?
A side hustle is something you do in addition to a primary commitment (like a job or degree), whereas freelancing is a specific business model where you are an independent service provider.
It is very common for the two to overlap. For example, if you are a University student who takes on two logo design projects a month, you are freelancing as a side hustle.
- Side Hustle describes the time and priority you give the work.
Freelancing describes the type of work and the way you are paid.
Who's the guild for?
Emerging freelancers, established hustlers and local clients, all of which are also current students and staff from the University of Sheffield. Alumni who are keen to get involved are also welcome.
Sheffield is home to more than 2,000 cultural and creative businesses as well as 16,000 creative and cultural freelancers.
Register your talent:
The first step is to capture the freelance activity of individuals from across the University community to build a talent directory. Discover the creativity across campus.
The benefits:
Receive a personalised portfolio review with recommendations for improvements
Be entered into our Freelance Guild awards as part of our wider Emerge funding programme.
Join a vetted network of peers and access support.
Access our Emerge Resources Hub and learn business frameworks to develop your portfolio.
Be featured on our Creators Wall and gain traffic from University guild campaigns.
Share your story.
Promote your side-hustle.
Live the portfolio life.
"Remember, the whole concept of “employment” was invented as a way of preventing us from getting wealthy" (Rushkoff)
If you have any further questions or are interested in providing support, please email enterprise@sheffield.ac.uk.
Join us for the launch of our Guild.
Find out how best to manage your freelance journey from Vic Hancock Fell.
Protecting your business
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