The headline numbers
| Figure | What it measures | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Over 20 million | UK adults with a second income (“Multi-Income Individuals”), more than 1 in 3 adults | UW and Cebr, June 2023 |
| About £780 a month | average extra income reported by Multi-Income Individuals (almost £10,000 a year) | UW and Cebr, June 2023 |
| 1 in 4 | employed adults with a second source of income in 2021 | UW research, October 2021 |
| £530 a month | average second income reported in the 2021 research | UW research, October 2021 |
| 47% | of UK adults projected to have an extra income by 2025, up from under 10% in 2017 | UW and Cebr, June 2023 |
| 23% | of Multi-Income Individuals don’t talk about their extra income with family or friends | UW and Cebr, June 2023 |
Results vary and depend on effort; figures reported in the press are not typical earnings and are not a promise of income. Averages cover every kind of second income in the surveys, not only UW Partners.
Why people start a side hustle
Money pressure is the big driver. In the 2023 report, these were the reasons people gave for earning an extra income:
| Reason | Share |
|---|---|
| Cost of living crisis | 35% |
| Rising household bills | 34% |
| The Covid-19 pandemic | 18% |
| Fear of a recession | 15% |
| Brexit | 8% |
Where in the UK people have a second income
London leads, with more than 40% of adults earning an extra income, followed by the West Midlands (37.8%) and the South West (36.9%). Side hustles are now normal right across the country, which is why we keep local side hustle guides for towns across the UK.
Who has a second income
The 2023 study surveyed 10,000 people who earn a second income, from Airbnb hosts, bartenders and eBay sellers to film extras and UW Partners. 54% were men and 46% women. Almost a quarter said they keep it quiet in case friends or family assume they’re struggling. I’d love that to change: building something beside a salary is a sensible thing to do. If you’re a parent, our guide to extra income for mums is a good next read.
What second incomes add to the UK economy
The report estimated that Multi-Income Individuals spent £55 billion of their extra income with UK businesses in a year, supporting more than 364,000 jobs and adding about £30 billion to the economy.
2021 to 2023: a fast-growing trend
In October 2021, UW research reported by The Sun and The Mirror found one in four employed adults had a second income, averaging £530 a month. By 2023 the UW and Cebr study put the number above 20 million adults. The full story of that coverage is in our write-up, second incomes in the UK press.
What this means if you’re thinking about a side hustle
The trend is clear: millions of people are building another income around the job they already have. The Utility Warehouse Partner role is one way to do it. You help households with bills they already pay, such as energy, broadband and mobile, with UW’s training and systems behind you and no stock or premises. In November 2026 The Sun told the story of Eden Lee Murray, an NHS mum who built a UW side hustle. If you’re wondering whether UW is a company you can trust, read is Utility Warehouse legit?
Results vary and depend on effort; figures reported in the press are not typical earnings and are not a promise of income.