Side Hustle of the Year: Could it be you?

Why have we got a Side Hustle of the Year category?

The UK’s side hustle economy is booming; more and more people are supplementing their salary with a part-time business on the side.

According to internet domain registrar GoDaddy, one in five British workers have plans to start a side hustle over the next two years.

Whether it’s freelance writing, tutoring, baking, or selling online, budding entrepreneurs are pursuing their hobbies and interest to create a side hustle and earn extra income.

And many UK employers are actively encouraging workers to indulge their entrepreneurial aspirations, with companies including Google, Amazon and LinkedIn all embracing policies to allow their staff to spend 20% of their working time on their own projects.

These part time passion projects  can help people test a concept and build a customer base before taking the plunge.

With that in mind, Startups.co.uk and GoDaddy have introduced a Side Hustle of the Year category for the Startups Awards 2018 because we feel that your part time endeavours deserve our support.

Enter your side hustle business here and be in with a chance of becoming a Startups Awards winner!

Holding down a day job while simultaneously running a business is no mean feat and requires a serious investment of time and energy. We think that you side hustlers deserve to be recognised for your contribution to the economy.

And if your side hustle eventually blossoms into a fully-fledged business then all the better but, by celebrating your achievements, we hope to encourage more UK workers to consider starting a part-time business.

Kate Cox, vice president chief marketing officer of GoDaddy EMEA, said: “Side hustle is the name for the growing trend of kick-starting a personal enterprise or micro-business during spare time or away from the day job. GoDaddy survey results have revealed that a side hustle typically provides £500 to £5,000 in extra income per year.

“The side hustle trend is rapidly increasing in popularity. According to GoDaddy, research carried out by Enterprise Nation last year, 48% of those who have started their side hustle are doing it to develop a passion or hobby. Supporting workers’ side hustle ambitions can be a step in creating a career that truly nurtures personal and professional development, helps to retain highly motivated and engaged workers and helps bring us closer to the customers we serve.”

What are we looking for in a great Side Hustle of the Year?

Startups.co.uk and category sponsor GoDaddy are looking for exciting and innovative part-time businesses run by individuals who are currently in full-time employment.

Your side hustle will be judged on whether it has a unique and compelling proposition and how successfully you’re juggling your two work commitments. Is it profitable and does your side hustle have the potential to one day be a growing business?

To be eligible for Side Hustle of the Year, your side hustle business must be UK-based, privately-owned, and have started trading no earlier than 1 August 2014 and no later than 31 July 2017.

You can find out more about how to enter the Startups Awards here.

Why you should enter the Side Hustle of the Year

Winning a Startups Award gives you the chance to receive industry recognition, a major PR boost and national exposure.

Not to mention the opportunity to get your company in front of a prestigious panel of judges that includes Sahar Hashemi OBE, best-selling author and founder of Coffee Republic and Skinny Candy; Alex Chesterman OBE, founder of Zoopla Property Group; and Jon Wright, co-founder of innocent drinks, JamJar Investments and the Wright Family Foundation.

Additionally, winners and finalists receive a template press release to boost media coverage, a logo for marketing and have video interviews displayed on the Startups Awards website.

Think you’ve got what it takes to win Side Hustle of the Year? Submit your entry for the Startups Awards 2018 now.