Build Your Free Student Tech Profile
— Get Hired in the UK.
Create your free verified profile on TechLocal and let UK employers discover you. Whether you study Computer Science, AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science, or Software Engineering — your skills, projects, and story become visible to the businesses that need exactly what you can do.
TechLocal is a free platform for UK university tech students to create verified profiles and be discovered by employers. Currently serving Teesside University students in Tees Valley — Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar. Students upload skills, projects, and a CV. Employers browse and contact them directly. No job applications required.
Alex K. Verified
BSc Computer ScienceTeesside University
The graduate job market in 2026 is harder than it looks.
You've spent years building real skills. Python, React, machine learning, Figma — skills that Tees Valley businesses genuinely need right now.
But the traditional route is broken. Graduate schemes are increasingly competitive — application volumes are up 44% while large-employer hiring is forecast to fall. The average applicant sends 25 applications to get one interview. Most CVs disappear into an ATS and are never read by a human.
And that's before you factor in the geography problem. London dominates the job board algorithms. Tees Valley roles are buried. The businesses five miles from campus don't know you exist.
TechLocal exists for exactly this moment.
My CV goes nowhere
Your profile is always live and searchable
Local roles are invisible
TechLocal is built for Tees Valley employers specifically
ATS filters me out
Employers browse your actual work, not keyword matches
Your profile works for you 24 hours a day.
Teesside University tech students who create a TechLocal profile are discoverable by Tees Valley employers at any time. Profiles include skills, projects, CV, availability, and work type preference. Employers search and filter by skill. Students receive contact requests directly — no job applications required.
University-verified profile
Your Teesside University status is confirmed when you register with your university email. Employers see a 'Verified' badge on your profile — a trust signal that separates you from unverified platforms.
Verified = employers know you're enrolled or recently graduated. Not a LinkedIn claim. Not a self-declaration.
Show your actual work
Upload up to 10 projects. Link your GitHub. Add images, descriptions, and tech stacks. Your profile is a living portfolio — not a static CV.
Projects, not job titles. Skills, not buzzwords.
Be found for what you actually know
Select your skills from 10 categories and hundreds of specific tags. Employers filter by skill — Python, React, cybersecurity, Figma, SQL, Unity. When an employer searches for what you know, you appear.
10 categories. 100+ searchable skills. 3 custom tags.
Set your own terms
Tell employers exactly what you're looking for: full-time, part-time, internship, freelance, or contract. Remote, hybrid, or in-person. Update your availability status any time. Hide your profile whenever you need to.
You're always in control. No unwanted contact.
Questions we hear from students — answered honestly.
Does it cost anything?
Never. TechLocal is permanently free for students. We charge employers — not you. There are no premium tiers, no "featured profile" upsells, no email list you get sold to. The platform is free because the employers fund it.
What if I'm only in my first or second year?
Perfect time to start. Building your profile early means you appear in search results before your final year. Employers look for students at all stages — for placements, part-time freelance work, and internship opportunities. You don't need to be job-ready to be on TechLocal.
What if I don't have much to show yet?
Then show what you have. A half-finished project that demonstrates real learning is more interesting to a Tees Valley employer than a blank page. Add it, describe what you built and what you learned, and update it as it grows.
What if I'm an international student?
You can create a profile. You control your availability settings — set your work type and note any restrictions. We do not verify work eligibility; that is between you and any employer you connect with.
Do employers contact me directly?
Yes — and you decide whether to respond. When an employer sends a contact request, you receive a notification. You can accept (which shares your contact details), decline, or simply ignore the request. You are never obligated to engage.
Is my CV shared publicly?
No. Your CV (PDF) is private by default. It is only shared with an employer after you accept their contact request. Your public profile shows your skills, projects, bio, and photo — not your CV or personal contact details.
Set up your profile in under 10 minutes.
Students create a TechLocal profile in four steps: register with a Teesside University email, build a profile with skills and a bio, upload at least one project, and set availability. Profiles go live after a brief verification check. The whole process takes under 10 minutes.
Register (2 mins)
Register with your Teesside University email address. Verify your email. That's your account.
Need: Uni email & password
Build profile (5 mins)
Add your photo, short bio, course, and select up to 10 skills from our directory.
Tip: Mention what you build
Add project (2 mins)
Upload at least one project — assign a description, image, and tech stack.
Tip: Uni assignments count
Set availability
Choose availability (full-time, part-time) and get verified. Then you go live.
Status: Live on search
The skills Tees Valley employers are searching for right now.
These are the 10 categories and most-searched skills on TechLocal. If you have any of these, add them. If you're studying them, add them with a note about your current level.
Software Development
Data & AI
Cybersecurity
Digital Marketing
UX & Design
Business & Entrepreneurship
Networking & Infrastructure
Games Development
Film, Media & Content
Accounting & Finance
Not sure which category fits? Choose the one that best describes your primary focus. You can add skills from multiple categories using the skills tags.
What students say about TechLocal.
"I'd been applying to grad schemes for months with no response. Within three weeks of building my TechLocal profile, a Middlesbrough digital agency messaged me about a junior dev role. I didn't apply — they came to me."
Priya S.
BSc Software Engineering
Teesside University
"I'm only in my second year but I added my dissertation project and two personal projects. I've already had two internship enquiries. I didn't think I had enough to show — turns out I did."
Connor M.
BSc Computer Science with AI
Teesside University
"As a postgrad student, I was worried I'd be overqualified for local roles. Two of the employers who contacted me were specifically looking for MSc-level data skills. The filtering works both ways."
Aisha T.
MSc Data Science
Teesside University
How to get hired as a tech student in the UK
TechLocal offers the easiest way for UK tech students to get hired. Instead of applying for jobs, students create a free profile and let employers come to them. Step 1: Register with your university email. Step 2: Build your profile with skills, bio, and projects. Step 3: Add at least one project. Step 4: Set your availability and go live. The whole process takes under 10 minutes.
Courses represented on TechLocal
Students on TechLocal study Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Games Design, Digital Media, Digital Marketing, Business Management, Accounting and Finance, UX Design, and Networking at Teesside University in Middlesbrough, Tees Valley.
Why TechLocal is free for students
TechLocal is permanently free for students because employers fund the platform through contact credits. There are no premium tiers, no featured profile upsells, and no hidden charges. Students never pay to use any TechLocal feature.
Teesside University tech jobs and placements
TechLocal connects Teesside University tech students with employers in Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar, and the wider Tees Valley. Opportunities include full-time graduate roles, part-time positions, internships, freelance contracts, and industrial placements.
Your profile could be live by tonight.
10 minutes. Your university email. One project to start with. That's all it takes to be visible to every Tees Valley employer looking for someone with your skills.
Free forever. No credit card. No catch.