Case study: Skills Finder

Ismaila Jatta graduated from Leeds Met in 2006 with a 2:1 degree in Computing – Computer Communications. He is currently completing his Masters Degree in Mobile and Distributed Computer Networks and is due to graduate in November 2009. The knowledge gained from his time at university plus over 5 years of industrial experience working in IT has contributed considerably towards the development and launch of his online business ‘Skills Finder™’, which went live on the 1st of June 2009.

Skills Finder™ is an online service marketplace where businesses of all sizes find cost-effective and flexible ways to hire, manage and securely pay fully rated independent professionals, freelancers and contractors in an environment of mutual trust. It’s completely free to register and post/bid for projects with no obligation to accept bids.

Skills Finder™ is not a recruitment agency, the website simply provides an online medium where businesses find and hire skilled professionals to work on their projects remotely or on-site, plus the tools needed to manage online work from hiring, to collaboration, to making payment. It’s a bit like eBay but for businesses and freelance professionals working and collaborating online.

With the current financial climate more people are out of work, many are choosing to find freelance work by using sites like SkillsFinder.com to find projects that match their skill set.

Many small and start-up businesses are also diversifying by outsourcing projects to the skilled professionals from around the world as they can’t afford to hire full time staff. A win-win situation for all.

In October 2006, Ismaila was awarded the Business Start-Up Proof of Concept grant of £1000 to test the feasibility of his ideas. This financial assistance helped with market research and also funded some workshop attendance.

Ismaila benefited from several meetings with a business advisor at Business Start-Up, having numerous hour-long appointments to talk through his ideas and get some information on how to move the business forward. Ismaila said;

“Working with the advisor at Business Start-up helped me to improve and develop a full business plan that helped me with the transition from concept to trading business”.


For more information on Skills Finder™, have a look at the website – www.skillsfinder.com.

For more information on the Proof of Concept grant, or to book an appointment with a business advisor, please call 0113 812 1752.

Updated June 2009