What started out as a university project has turned into a fully-fledged business for two former University of Hertfordshire music technology students.

The Industry Hotspot is a new, innovative web-based recruitment platform where musicians and employers can interact directly, in a move away from the current, dated recruitment techniques which rely on word-of-mouth and third parties.

It is the brainchild of Sean Sweeney and Charles Dixon, both from Watford. Sean came up with the idea as part of his university course and soon realised there was a place for his idea in the music market.

“When I finished my degree, I was one of only a few of my classmates to go into full-time employment,“ remembers Sean, “and that was after a lengthy stint where I was working for free.“ Sean had been a volunteer at the EMI Group Archive Trust for a long time before he was finally offered a full-time role as digital media archivist.

Research showed Sean that it wasn’t only his peers that struggled to find work straight out of university – 60 per cent of musicians had worked for free in 2012, according to a report by the Musicians’ Union.

With more than 120,000 music professionals currently registered in the UK, Sean saw an opportunity to provide a service that could help increase their workflow.

“I’d watched my peers endlessly pursue employment,“ he says, “so I decided to build a platform where graduates and freelancers could not only seek out employment opportunities, but also create their own.“ Sean left the EMI group in 2013 and now focuses his energies entirely on The Industry Hotspot.

Charles, a former classmate of Sean’s and a fellow graduate, joined the company last year, using his training in production and sound design on the website and its social media channels.

“I witnessed incredibly talented individuals suffer from a lack of employment opportunities within the music industry,“ Charles says, “and came to a realisation I could help make a difference, if the right platform existed.“ Members can create a free, unique Hotspot profile and receive ratings based on endorsements, references, experience and qualifications. Industry types can then search for musicians that exactly match their requirements.

“We hope we can build a greater music industry with superior professionals,“ says Sean.