eBay UK has launched the second year of its Up & Running Grants programme, putting up to £200,000 behind young entrepreneurs and businesses that create jobs for young people. Applications opened today and close at 5pm on 30 October 2026.

The online marketplace said up to 20 grants of £10,000 each would be awarded, with successful businesses announced in January 2027.

This year’s programme, branded the Up & Running Grants: Young Entrepreneur Edition, is aimed at two groups. The first is entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 who are building a business on eBay. The second is eBay business sellers of any age who want to take on young talent through employment, apprenticeships or placements.

Who can apply

According to the eligibility criteria published on eBay’s seller centre, applicants in the young entrepreneur category must be aged 18 to 30 at the time of entry, already registered as a seller on eBay UK and have had active listings for the last three months.

Applicants in the second category must be a UK registered company with a business seller account and active listings for the last six months. eBay says they must intend to employ someone aged 18 to 24 based in the UK, and their application must show how that young person will contribute to the company’s growth plans.

Previous grant recipients and eBay Business Award winners cannot apply, according to the seller centre page.

Alongside the £10,000 cash grant, winners will receive up to six months of dedicated account management and premium customer service. They will also gain access to eBay’s new Young Entrepreneur community and selected events throughout 2027.

The company has previously used cash awards to back sellers on its platform. Its 2025 Top Seller Awards gave £10,000 in funding and mentoring support to each of eight UK small businesses.

The launch comes after the Office for National Statistics reported that 981,000 people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were not in education, employment or training in April to June 2026. That is 13 per cent of the age group.

The ONS figures, published on 27 August, show the total was up 30,000 on a year earlier but down 30,000 on the previous quarter.

Eve Williams, general manager of eBay UK, said: “The UK has no shortage of entrepreneurial ambition, and I’m constantly inspired by the young entrepreneurs I see building businesses on eBay across everything from sneakers and watches to electronics and trading cards. But turning an idea or side hustle into a thriving business takes the right backing.”

She added: “This year’s eBay Up & Running Grants are about giving young British entrepreneurs the funding, tools and support they need to take the next step, while helping established businesses create opportunities for the next generation.”

JustSeed, which received a grant in the programme’s first year, said it had used the money to invest in digital tools and to hire an apprentice.

Nick Penglelly and Sue Black, the company’s owners, said: “The Up & Running grant has helped us further future-proof our business while creating an opportunity for a young person. By using the funding to invest in new digital tools and bring a new apprentice into our team, we’ve enhanced our customer service and made efficiencies across the business.”

They added: “It’s been a game changer for us, and we’re delighted to see how our newest recruit has been able to bloom.”

eBay UK has made other changes aimed at people selling on the platform in recent years, including removing selling fees for private sellers across most categories in 2024.

Applications for this year’s grants are made through eBay’s seller centre.

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