Contributed article in our entrepreneurial series. Enjoy! – Kimberly
There are now five million UK self-employed workers and recent rises in their numbers account for more than half of the nation’s growth in employment. Some of these workers operate in the ‘gig economy’ where they perform services like food delivery. But the new wave of British self-employment also includes entrepreneurs in sectors as different as traditional trades, education and advertising. So if you’re thinking of being your own boss, take a look at these three UK startup hacks from diverse sectors.
Image Ref: Collins Primary Atlases
Joinery
Most Brits call carpenters joiners — and if you’re time-served in this trade, creating your own company is a natural next step. Working for a larger firm might not give you the opportunity to spend time in your favourite woodworking niche — but your own company can specialise in cabinet-making or carving. And there’s something really satisfying about using your trade to solve practical problems creatively. You might already have client contacts from your previous role — but accreditation with the British Woodworking Federation assures potential new customers of your standards and professionalism. Working for yourself can also be more lucrative because there’s no middleman to take a cut of your fees.
Websites
Any company that’s not online is missing out on the chance to expand its customer base considerably. And as competition becomes fiercer, web development services that can build websites which stand out and drive sales are highly sought-after. So if you’ve got the requisite technical savvy and experience to create commercial websites that are optimised to climb search engine rankings and look stunning, you could earn serious cash. To narrow your target clientele you might offer affordable websites to new SME firms or focus on firms operating in selected sectors. You can sustain this type of firm with a couple of partners who’ve got expertise in other digital spheres — so the initial outlay is low and profits can be high if you secure a few substantial contracts.
Educational Technology (EdTech)
Technology and education have been intertwined for some time, but exponents of EdTech use ingenious games, toys and apps to teach the next generation of computer coders and robotics specialists. And it’s big business — EdTech could be worth £129 billion globally by 2020. Immersing education in technology isn’t all about teaching technological skills— advanced apps can help students learn core subjects like Maths and English more effectively and automated learning reduces paperwork for teachers. If you’ve got an eye for cutting-edge innovation perhaps you can channel these skills towards creating the classrooms of the future.
Becoming your own boss doesn’t have to be a dream — these three UK startup hacks from diverse sectors should help you spring into action.
Have you started your own company? Share your stories in the comments section.
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