Dutch freelance jobs platform YoungOnes has launched in the U.K.
The platform connects young workers with temporary jobs in industries like logistics, retail, events and hospitality. It will initially operate only in London. It is used by companies including Ikea, Decathlon, H&M and Papa John’s to recruit temporary staff to fill staff shortages.
The launch comes as London and the U.K. is experiencing acute staff shortages, record high employment vacancies and Brexit-related skill shortages. Last year, 18,000 freelancers worked over 1.8 million hours via its platform, which made 500,000 matches between freelancers and clients. The service is mainly used by students aged 18-25.
Jobseekers who sign up using the app are vetted and verified by YoungOnes and offered insurance products through provider Collective Benefits, so freelancers are insured against liability and accidents. Freelancers can decide when and where they work and the hourly rate they are prepared to accept. The service is pitched to employers as a way to hire staff on flexible terms.
“With the U.K. economy bouncing back following the pandemic and with a lot of people leaving the U.K. due to Brexit, YoungOnes is offering the young people a new way of working and helping to attract them into the jobs that are now underserviced,” said co-founder Pim Graafmans.
YoungOnes is a subsidiary of Netherlands agency YoungCapital and was founded in 2017 by Pim Graafmans and Margot Roubos and has been successful in the Netherlands. This year YoungOnes plans to introduce training to the platform allowing freelancers to learn more skills so they can qualify for a wider range of jobs at higher rates of pay. Freelancers can be paid within one minute if they are prepared to pay a fee.