Realising that, like him, many talented local trades people and business owners have unexpected time on their hands he started to explore an idea for a new venture and tested it on friends, clients and social media. Generating a lot of interest on the first day he created the innovative idea of “Skills & Trade Swap Cambs” a Facebook page that introduces local people with different skills and talents that can be swapped.
“The idea came to me in the garden”, said Paul, who has owned his own creative design business “Savvy Design” since 2001, “ looking at my old decking that needed replacing, I thought wouldn’t it be great if I could offer my website design services to a local carpenter?”.
The idea gained further traction when Sue Walden, a freelance business development consultant, contacted him after seeing his idea on social media as she had started to swap her services with friends. She needed a website designed for her business, so the first swap was crystallised, and she is helping Paul build awareness for his new project.
“With the recent dramatic change to everyone’s lives, the free time currently being experienced and the loss of earnings affecting many self-employed workers, we can now use our time at home on projects that assist others or planning swaps for when businesses are operational”, says Paul, who has had projects put on hold.
One of the local businesses considering getting involved is Chloe Ambrose, a creative consultant from Cambridge who is planning to swap her skills with a therapist. The Skills & Trade Swap website is now live where you can find more information, so you can then post your need or skill on the Facebook page.
Paul concludes: “My hope is that we can all pull together. Despite the terrible situation we find ourselves in, we are noticing incredibly generous acts from the local community. This is the time to start thinking of others more, rather than what’s in it for me.”
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