Entrants have the opportunity to win £15,000 in Grand Prize

Winners of 11 categories will each receive £5,000 cash to boost their business

Awards launch as eBay UK reveals June saw the biggest year-on-year spike in new businesses joining the platform during lockdown, up 335% compared with June 2019

eBay has today opened entries for this year’s eBay for Business Awards, offering eBay entrepreneurs the chance to win up to £20,000. The eBay for Business Awards is eBay UK’s fourth annual nationwide competition to find and celebrate the most successful, innovative, and inspiring entrepreneurs from the platform’s 300,000-strong community of small businesses. Following an incredibly challenging start to the year for many small businesses, each of the 11 category prize winners will receive a £5,000 prize. They will also be given a free one-year eBay Anchor Store Subscription and access to eBay’s Concierge, the gold-plated customer service team, together valued at over £15,000, to support them in navigating the effects of the crisis. This year’s Grand Prize winner will receive an extra £15,000, totalling £20,000, as well as a unique marketing bundle worth over £100,000, in recognition of their entrepreneurial success. The launch of this year’s Awards comes as eBay reveals the trend of setting up a start-up has become more mainstream in lockdown, as the number of new businesses joining eBay surged 335% in June. This figure represents the biggest year-on-year spike in new businesses joining eBay UK since the pandemic began. The data also shows the number of new start-ups joining eBay UK grew consistently each month during lockdown, as the number of new businesses joining the platform in June was almost 40% greater than in April when the impact of lockdown was first felt.

Rob Hattrell, VP, eBay UK, commented:

“This year has been an undoubtedly tough one for many small businesses, as SMEs up and down the country have fought to continue trading throughout the pandemic. Our sellers have shown real agility and resilience in dealing with the disruption to keep their businesses moving, which is why we want to celebrate the achievements of our valued sellers with bigger prizes than ever for the 2020 Awards.

“I’m looking forward to finding out about the unique stories behind the brightest and best of our small business community on eBay. Whether you’re a kitchen table side hustle, a family-run business or a lockdown start-up, we want to hear from you!”

Jake Harris, owner of Into Music and winner of last year’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award commented:

“Working closely with the eBay team over the past year has been one of the best parts about winning my award. As a Young Entrepreneur, to receive this recognition has given me the confidence to take my small business to the next level. I used the prize money to help secure a lease on a new premises, in order to increase our online capacity and also open a physical store. Even though this had to close during lockdown, I could never have expected that sales would be up by 120% on the first six months of this year compared to 2019!”

Winners will be chosen by a panel of expert judges, including eBay UK VP Rob Hattrell and a selection of last year’s award winners, and will be announced on social media at the end of October. Entrants should submit their entry on the eBay for Business awards websitewww.ebayawards.com.

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