Clocking off from work used to signal the start of an evening of nothing but rest and relaxation. However, according to Henley Business School, this has become far less common, particularly for the 25% of Brits with a side hustle. This term refers to any role that constitutes an additional job on top of a regular means of income. The notion of taking on even more work clearly doesn’t appeal to everyone, yet the school estimates that 50% of the UK population could be forced to adopt the practice themselves by 2030.
Here, we explore some of the ways in which people are subsidising their pay packets and try to understand the reasons behind the UK’s boom in side hustle culture.
What are examples of common side hustles in the UK?
One of the most common side hustles in Britain is taking up work for ride-sharing apps like Uber, which allows drivers to choose their own hours, only needing a licence and a clean background check to get started. Drivers don’t even need to own their own vehicle, with companies like Hirebrid enabling drivers to hire a car which complies with all Public Carriage Office (PCO) rules and regulations for a reasonable weekly fee. It’s estimated that Uber drivers earn about £565 during a 35-45 hour week, so as a side-hustle, this can easily net workers an extra grand each month. Food delivery and couriering are also common side hustles, offering flexibility and, often, a vehicle provided by the company. Deliveroo employees can make up to £120 a day, keeping all of their tips, and get bonuses for referring other riders to the company.
Aside from driving, some of the best side hustles include listing a spare room or entire property on Airbnb — with the platform offering an earnings calculator to help predict the potential worth of your home — or offering your services as an in-person or online tutor. Creative minds often find that setting up a blog or YouTube channel can also be lucrative ventures, with the potential to make significant sums from advertising, sponsorship and affiliate marketing, if their projects take off. Other common side hustles include pet sitting, cleaning, and offering childcare.
How many hours are side hustlers working?
According to a survey by insurance providers Hiscox, the average Brit works on their side hustle for six to 15 hours in addition to their regular working schedule, though this increases to 16-20 hours for 20% of those surveyed. Those between the ages of 35-44 are twice as likely to spend more than 16 hours on their extra endeavour than the 16-24 demographic. Hiscox hypothesises that this is because the older group are most likely to be motivated by raising additional income than anything else. Interestingly, the time committed to a side hustle also varies depending on the profession in question. For example, those in marketing and HR were found to work the longest, and 50% of those surveyed will put in 11-15 hours a week.
However, Henley Business School’s research shows that many British side hustlers are working extraordinarily long hours. Almost half of those surveyed reported spending more than 40 hours a week on an additional job, with a quarter working over 50. The paper notes that, as employees typically commit 30-40 hours a week to their standard jobs, this data means that many people are adding an entire extra day of their working week to their hustle.
Why are Brits turning to side hustles?
A survey by CV-Library revealed that the five top reasons to start a side hustle in the UK are:
- To earn more money (60%)
- For fun (14%)
- To build on a hobby (10%)
- For extra job security (9%)
- To begin a new career path (6%)
The site’s founder Lee Biggins was concerned to see that increasing income is by far the most common incentive. “Not very many [Brits] seem to have [a side hustle] out of their own choice,” he said. “Rather than taking up a side hustle because of personal interests or for fun, people are being forced to find other ways to top up their monthly income.”
Biggins also suggested that the increase in side hustling has come in response to the decreasing quality of available jobs, especially in relation to salary. It’s telling that, while one-third of individuals plan to eventually turn their venture into a full-time role, two-thirds would happily give it up if their employer offered them a pay rise.
However, that doesn’t detract from the fact that many people remain extremely fulfilled by their side hustles, as evidenced in this feature from inews. Interviewee Amy Key, who paints pictures of people’s pets, said that she enjoys doing something new to help her forget her day-to-day worries. Meanwhile, Caroline Sims expressed her delight over the valuable business skills she’s gained by launching a plant-based skincare product. As such, seeing so many people embracing side hustle culture to follow their passions and explore new avenues can only be a positive development of the UK’s working habits.