Freelancers: Next Gen with Matt Dowling

In this episode, the roles are reversed. The interviewer becomes the interviewee. Liz Barclay, co-founder of Business 111 takes Freelancer Club's CEO, Matt Dowling, through his paces. They get into some meaty topics that include how the freelance revolution is reshaping Britain's workforce, why companies are rebuilding around freelance talent and AI Agents, the boom in young freelancers and the gr...

Reacting to the news that there are to be changes in the way we measure graduate outcomes in the entrepreneurial space, we dusted off the podcast kit and reached out to Marcus Simmons who runs MSc Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management at Falmouth University, to record an emergency bonus pod. Marcus is someone who lives at the cutting edge of enterprise education and entrepreneurial development;...

In today's episode, we spend time with a true disruptor in the education space. Ed Fidoe is the Chief Executive of the London Interdisciplinary School, a new kind of university that breaks down traditional academic barriers, focusing on real-world, problem-based learning. Before founding LIS, Ed co-founded School 21, a pioneering school in East London that's transforming how young people learn by...

Here at Freelancer Club, we frequently have conversations with universities, and a common theme has emerged—the growing challenge of student engagement. Whether it's low attendance at extracurricular activities, a feeling of disconnect from the academic environment, or a general lack of enthusiasm for the university experience, this issue is becoming more prevalent. While some attribute it to COVI...

In today's episode, we share the journeys of two emerging freelancers, Manaz Javaid and Elijah McDonnell, whom we had the pleasure of working with during separate programmes at Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Westminster respectively.  We explore what motivated them to join a freelance programme, their initial expectations, and the key insights they've gained from the experience. We...

In this episode of Freelancers: Next Gen, we sit down with the formidable Director of Careers and Enterprise for the School of Arts and Creative Industries at the University of East London, a renowned educator, and an influential force in the world of creative business, Alison Lowe MBE. We explore the challenges faced by creative freelancers, the role of educators in the creative field, the value...

Recorded live at the IEEC (International Enterprise Educators Conference) in Belfast as part of our Education mini-series, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Francesca Morelli. Francesca is an Enterprise Support Officer at Queens University Belfast and the co-founder of VAVA, an influencer marketing agency making waves in the industry. In this episode, we delve into the value of attending eve...

Dan Ariely is a three-time New York Times Bestselling Author and a leading figure in the fields of Psychology and Behavioral Economics. One of his great strengths is how he unravels the complexities of human behaviour, explaining why we make the decisions we do and how we can make better ones. With a rich background that includes collaborations with global giants like Google and Apple, TED and the...

I stumbled across the Freelancer Magazine in highly unusual circumstances but when I did, I was absolutely thrilled to see that someone had decided to celebrate the works of solopreneurs and spotlight self-employed stories.  Sophie Cross launched Freelancer Magazine three years ago and the publication continues to thrive. They boast growing community of readers, online and offline (yes, there's a...

I first met Louise when she reached out for a meeting and laid bare her story.  At just 20 years old, she co-founded BreatheUni with her brother, an initiative that creates non-judgemental spaces for students looking to learn about mental health, equality, diversity and inclusion. Sessions were held with peers who are Mental Health First Aiders who can signpost relevant information and resources....

Rafael Espinal is the Executive Director of the Freelancers Union, a non-profit organisation serving as a support system for independents, based in New York. Rafael oversees the organisation's umbrella and brings his wealth of experience and dedication to advocacy to support and champion the rights of freelancers and independent workers. Before joining Freelancers Union, Rafael played a pivotal ro...

It's rare to sit down with a person who is equally as obsessed with freelancing and delve deep into topics that have consumed you for years. This is one of those moments. Our conversation traversed from the teachability of business to the significance of language, the pros and cons of AI, and the future landscape of freelancing. Although we aim to keep each episode consice, there were too many jui...

On this episode, I had the opportunity to sit down with Helen Hill, a remarkable individual whose journey is a testament to resilience, resourcefulness, and a touch of unexpected brilliance.  Battling two chronic health conditions, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, my guest's mornings often started with tears at the foot of her bed and physical and emotional exhaustion so acute that it led t...

Students Are Unprepared For Today's World Of Work was the provacation we put to Victoria Fabbri, an Enterprise Manager at the University of the Arts London for this episode of Freelancers: Next Gen . UAL is known for its work nurturing freelancers and small businesses in the creative industries and Vicky's 15+ years of experience came to the fore in this fascinating conversation.  We explore the c...

As the Associate Director of Careers and Employability at Goldsmiths University in London, my guest is faced with a rapidly changing world of work and adapting to the way students are engaging with their university experience. We discuss the challenges faced by universities when it comes to engagement, whether or not the current system of measuring success is fit for purpose and how Goldsmiths int...

Welcome to Freelancers: Next Gen podcast. In this episoide I had the pleasure of speaking with an actor turned academic who, after many years imparting his entrepreneurial wisdom, is planning a return to the world of freelancing. We delve into the intricacies of teaching entrepreneurship, explore the impact of politics on budding freelancers, and propose innovative ways for universities to align w...

Join me as I host a true trailblazer in the world of freelancing and entrepreneurship.  My guest today not only champions diversity and inclusion, she lives and breathes it in every aspect of her remarkable journey. As a business owner, freelancer, consultant, devoted mother, mentor, and presently a lecturer in Enterprise Education at Cardiff Met University, she's exemplified what it means to walk...

Welcome to our latest episode where we embark on a journey into the realm of higher education strategy and the challenges faced by the next generation of freelancers. Our guest of honour is the accomplished Pro Vice Chancellor Student Enterprise & Entrepreneurship at Anglia Ruskin University, Gary Packham. Join us as we uncover the intricacies of his pivotal role, exploring his key responsibilitie...

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...

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 p...

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 cha...