The new app that empowers people in Gloucestershire to get the skills and services they need at no financial cost, TradeOff, is celebrating its first few months of successful skills trading this November 2026, with more than 255 people signed up so far.
The app is completely free to join and adoption is growing in the Gloucestershire community, with a variety of skills from beauty treatments to professional services on offer.
Founder and Cheltenham businesswoman, Marie King, says whether you’re a student, parent, tradesperson, beauty therapist, professional, are retired or simply have a few hours to spare, 'there’s a place for you' on TradeOff, and is urging more people to sign up and discover how they can swap their skills for something they need, without exchanging any money.
Matching users to their perfect trade partners in a similar way to a dating app, with users then negotiating deals on their own terms, the app has seen more than 55 successful trades completed since its launch, with a huge range of skills being offered by its users.
They include domestic services like babysitting, dog walking, elderly care and cleaning; and trades in the home from carpentry, decorating and tiling, to gardening and window, roof and gutter cleaning.
Users can also find a range of beauty treatments, from nails and lash lifts, to massage and facials; seamstress services like clothing alterations and sewing lessons; food skills include baking and baking lessons, homemade desserts and food and drink hampers; and tutoring in English, German, French and Spanish.
Business services offered range from admin help and HR advice, to finance coaching, accounting and taxation, and social media marketing; while creative skills include photography, graphic design, and website design.
And in sport, leisure and lifestyle, skills and services have included kids' parties, a photo booth for hire, hotel accommodation, golf lessons, guided woodland walks, forest bathing and more.
Marie King said: 'I came up with the idea for TradeOff after realising how much easier life could be if we helped each other using the skills we already have.
'TradeOff isn’t just about saving money. It’s about bringing communities together, building confidence, creating opportunities and helping people make connections they might never have made otherwise.
'We’ve already built and tested the app, and now we’re looking for people across Gloucestershire to join us. The more people who sign up and share their skills, the more opportunities there are for everyone.'
To download the app for free from the Google and Apple stores, search TradeOff or visit tradeoff.uk.
