Launching at the University of Greenwich · February 2027
Real work. Real pay. Before you graduate.
Foothold connects students with small, paid projects from local businesses, in the field you actually want to work in. Every project you finish becomes verified experience on your profile.
- Always free for students
- At least minimum wage
- Fits around your timetable
Get early access
Answer a few quick questions about how you find work, then leave your email to join the waitlist. It takes about 3 minutes, and everyone who takes part gets early access to the pilot.
Take the 3-minute surveyOpens a Microsoft Form in a new tab. We only use your email to invite you to Foothold.
We're launching with a small group of founding businesses around Greenwich. Tell us a little about you and we'll be in touch.
The kind of projects
Get paid for what you're studying.
Small, one-off jobs from real businesses near campus. Pick the ones that match your course and the career you want.
A month of Instagram captions for a local gym
Research 10 competitors for a new startup
Photos of a new menu for a restaurant
The About page for a small shop's new website
Tidy up a sales spreadsheet and chart the results
Examples of the projects we're lining up for the pilot. Every project pays at least minimum wage for the time it takes.
How it works
From first pitch to first payment.
- 1
Find a project
Browse paid projects in your field, sized to fit around lectures and shifts.
- 2
Send a short pitch
Answer one question about how you'd do it. Businesses read your pitch before your name.
- 3
Do the work, get paid
Your pay is held safely from the moment you're hired and released when the work is approved.
- 4
Build your proof
Every finished project is verified on your profile with the business's endorsement. Graduate with proof, not just a degree.
Fair Shot
Not first come, first served.
Your first project shouldn't be a race, or go to whoever already has the most experience.
Open for 1 to 3 days
Every project takes pitches for a set window, so you don't miss out because you were in a lecture.
Your pitch comes first
Businesses read what you'd do before they see your profile, so ideas count more than CVs.
Spots for first-timers
Shortlists keep places for students on their first project. You don't need experience to get experience.
Always paid fairly
No unpaid "exposure" work. Every project pays at least minimum wage for its estimated time.
For businesses
Got a job that never gets done?
Posters, social posts, research, website copy, product photos. A Greenwich student who's studying that exact area can do it.
- 1
Post your job
Pick a template, describe what you need and set a fixed fee. It takes about two minutes.
- 2
Students pitch
Motivated students send a short pitch saying how they'd do it.
- 3
Pick and pay
Choose the student you like. You pay when you hire, and approve the work before they're paid.
- 4
Get it done
Receive the finished work, with two rounds of changes included.
What it costs
You set a fixed fee for the job, at least minimum wage for the time it takes. A small service fee is added only when you hire. No subscription, no posting fee.
Questions
Good to know
Who can join?
The pilot runs at the University of Greenwich from February 2027, for students with a Greenwich email. Studying somewhere else? Take the survey anyway and we'll let you know when Foothold reaches your university.
Does it cost students anything?
No. Foothold is always free for students, and you keep everything the project pays.
How do I get paid?
When a business hires you, they pay upfront and Foothold holds the money safely. It's released to you when they approve your work, or automatically after 7 days if they don't respond.
Will it fit around my studies?
Yes. You choose which projects to pitch for, and you can only have a couple on the go at once, so it never piles up.
I run a business. What does it cost?
Posting a project is free. When you hire a student, a small service fee is added on top of their fee. There's no subscription and nothing to pay if you don't hire.
Is Foothold part of the University of Greenwich?
No. Foothold is an independent startup founded by a Greenwich student. We're starting at Greenwich because it's where we study.
Your experience starts now.
Take the 3-minute survey and get early access to the pilot.