Exploring the Benefits of a Self-Employed Placement Year at the University of Portsmouth
Careers and Employability Service - University of Portsmouth
Providing tailored and professional support to our students and graduate employers to assist in the recruitment process
Did you know you can run your own business or freelance during your placement year? The University of Portsmouth is one of the leading universities offering this unique opportunity. We encourage students to dedicate time to developing their startup with support from the Student StartUp Team.
But what are the benefits of doing a Self-Employed Placement (SEP)?
During the SEP year you are your own boss.
The placement is about you creating your own employment rather than being employed by an organisation.?
You get to set your own schedule and dedicate time to developing your business.
It allows for flexibility – you choose where you want to be based and the hours you work. You get out what you put in!
It is a great opportunity to understand if working for yourself is something you want to do in the future.
You'll also get a wide range of support and access to startup networks.?
And let's talk about the skills you develop.
The SEP allows you the chance to develop your enterprising mindset, to understand more about yourself and your strengths and weaknesses. It can help you improve your skills, behaviours and competencies, including commercial awareness, initiative, leadership, teamwork and so much more. Not to mention increased confidence and self-belief.?
A SEP allows you to test your idea and see if working for yourself is for you.
If it is, fantastic, hopefully you will have a business you can continue to grow or the skills to start something new.?
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If it turns out being your own boss is not for you, what have you lost?
Let’s flip that and talk about what you will have gained; you will have still developed a portfolio, gained real-life experience, widened your network, made decisions about your future and demonstrated resilience.?
What our students say
It sounds pretty good, but don’t just take our word for it - this is what some of our previous SEP students had to say:
“While taking part in the self-employed placement year, I was given more support and opportunities than I could ever have imagined. I started the year with an idea, no confidence and not knowing where to start, but the support was amazing from start to finish.”
“From the beginning of my studies, I knew I wanted to pursue a career as a freelance photographer, writer and videographer. When looking at options for my placement year, the self-employed option made the most sense to me as I wanted to try out working abroad and freelancing to see if it suited me.”?
?“Now is the perfect time to start a business and a SEP is an ideal opportunity to give it a go with minimal risk”
“I wish I had known how much I would learn and grow as a person, I was sort of hesitant to take a SEP year but if I had known I would be certain.”
?“There was so much support available from a great network of people.”
Come and chat to a member of the Student StartUp Team at the Careers & Employability Centre, find out if it is for you and get the ball rolling.?