When Paloma Gardiner couldn’t find a job after graduating this summer, she took matters into her own hands. She and her friend Alastair Milne both wanted to work in creative advertising but felt like they were hitting a wall — every company said they had hiring freezes. They knew they were not alone, so after a dispiriting summer, they set up Give Us A Placement Pretty Please (GUAPPP) Creative Studios to take action.

They used it to connect with companies needing advertising and social media strategy. It is now an official company, and cost them £12 to start and register with the Government. Their initial clients ranged from their local butcher to a nearby newsagent and a pub. They advertised for clients by designing signage and advising on strategy.

Within a week, Gardiner and Milne were being contacted by creatives in London, New York, Singapore and Dubai, all impressed by their get up and go spirit. What started as a side hustle served its purpose and more, explains Gardiner. The pair have now secured placements at an independent creative agency in London, Isobel, and have relocated to Wimbledon.