Millions of British workers have a ‘side hustle’ evening job, poll claims

Evening work can provide a significant top-up to a daily wage if enterprisers can manage to mould it around their day job, researchers say

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Millions in Britain have a "side hustle" so they can lucratively pursue talents and passions in the evenings without compromising their main work, a poll has found.

One quarter of those polled were found to be working a 9am to 5pm day and then working an additional "5 to 9" evening to take their minds off the day job.

The study of 2,000 adults also found those who do so boost their income with an average of £6,604-a-year after tax, while 15 per cent make £12,000 annually through their evening work.

Two thirds of entrepreneurs also said they treat their enterprise as a "5 to 9", focusing on running and growing their side-business in the evenings so it can mould around their main career.

Beauty and wellness were found to be the most industries for those working on the side, including hairdressers, personal trainers and dieticians roles.

Arts and entertainment such as artists, DJs and designers and home improvement, including self-employed decorators and gardeners, also made the list.

Generating extra money on top of a normal salary was found to be the top reason the British workforce either have, or would like to have, a business on the side.

But one in three started a part-time venture to pursue a passion, and more than one third did so to spend more time doing what they enjoy.

Simon Braier, of Vistaprint, which commissioned the research, said: “Britain’s side business economy is booming, as employees increasingly look for financial, professional and personal fulfilment that may not be present in their main job."