Small Business Britain and eBay have launched a free six-week digital skills programme designed to help UK side-hustlers formalise and scale their ventures into full-time businesses.
The initiative, called the Side-Hustle Lab, launched on June 4 and will support up to 500 early-stage entrepreneurs. It includes online modules on launching and growing a business, managing time and finances, selling through platforms like eBay, customer service, and sustainability.
The programme responds to a five-year decline in UK small business numbers, which fell from 6 million in 2020 to 5.45 million in 2024. Despite the downturn, new research suggests side-hustling is now the most common entry point into entrepreneurship, accounting for 39% of small business launches. Nearly half of those eventually become full-time operations.
Participants will receive guidance from industry experts and gain access to a peer network of fellow entrepreneurs. The training also focuses on e-commerce, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence, areas of increasing relevance in today’s small business landscape.
The move is part of a broader call for more tailored support for micro-enterprises and emerging founders, particularly those launching businesses alongside other work.
