An app designed to help cash-strapped students support themselves has scooped a £35,000 "pitch award" for its creators.

Joseph Black and Oliver Jacobs, both 21, and former pupils oft Aldenham School in Elstree, launched UniDosh last month.

Downloaded more than 3,000 times so far, the app enables students to buy and sell services to their peers. Services can include cleaning, music lessons, language tutoring, CV writing and transportation.

The scheme, currently only operational in Manchester, won a pitching event run by Accelerate Places, a company providing co-working office spaces.

Mr Jacobs recently graduated with a degree in architecture from Nottingham Trent University.He is based in London, while Mr Black has taken a year out from studying animal genetics to work on the app full-time in Manchester.

“Throughout my time at university, I witnessed first hand the struggles students succumb to on a daily basis mostly due to the constant struggle with money,” Mr Black told the JC.

“We spotted a gap in the market for a way for students to trade and share skills and services to earn money. Part-time jobs are not always possible or convenient around studies, Parents can’t always provide financial support and banks aren’t offering student loans so UniDosh gives students an alternative way of earning and saving money.

“Whether it’s a one-off such as speaker hire or even something as large as learning a new language, there is no limit.”

The prize includes £5,000 cash and six months' desk space at Accelerate Places Manchester.