• 35% of people in North East England are Miis (Multi-income individuals), equating to 759,822 of adults

• People in North East England make up 4% of the national Mii population of 20 million

• Miis are helping to power UK growth and delivered a £30bn boost to the economy last year thanks to extra earnings. But 13% of Miis in the North East think there’s a stigma attached to having more than one income and 24% don’t want to talk it about with family or friends

• Utility Warehouse (UW) collaborated with the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) on a major new report exploring the economic impact of Miis

24% of Miis in the North East said they don’t talk about their additional income with family or friends, with 15% believing people will assume they are struggling with money.

Despite this, Miis are helping to power the UK economy and last year spent £55 billion of their extra income on UK businesses - supporting more than 364,000 jobs to deliver a £30 billion boost to the nation’s coffers.

Reasons for people in the North East earning an additional source of income vary, but the cost of living crisis and rising household bills are the main factors, 37% and 33% respectively, while 17% of people cited the Covid-19 pandemic, 14% fear of a recession and 7% Brexit. 

UW wants to increase people’s understanding of why people become a Mii and help break down the barriers that prevent more people from earning an extra income. It has 60,000 Partners in all corners of the country and its word-of-mouth opportunity has enabled tens of thousands of people over the last 25 years to earn an extra income around their main job or other commitments.

Andrew Lindsay, Co-CEO of Utility Warehouse, said: “Millions of people across the UK are turning to side-hustles or second jobs to make ends meet in the current cost of living crisis. We think these people - Miis - deserve greater recognition. They contribute billions of pounds to the economy through their extra work, but despite this, there’s a stigma attached to having more than one income and people don't want to talk about it - even with family or friends. We want to challenge these preconceptions so people with multiple incomes can continue to help power growth and opportunity across the UK.”

Rosanne Kinghorn, a UW Partner based in Newcastle, said: “I’d had other secondary incomes but when the cost of living pressures started to rise, I decided to help people save money with UW instead. I was already a customer and I love the way the company works so it felt like a natural fit. My secondary job needs to fit around my current commitments. I have three kids so I need to fit my work around the nooks and crannies of my everyday life and school runs. I love the freedom my secondary income gives me!”

Owen Good, Head of Economic Advisory, Cebr, said: “To our knowledge, this is the first and most detailed report of its kind, and provides significant insight into people who earn an extra income. Our research demonstrates the breadth and scale of these individuals across the UK, along with the associated economic contribution of this group. Over 20 million people across the UK have a secondary income and this figure is set to grow even further in the coming years. This provides a very significant boost for UK businesses, supporting  jobs and increasing economic activity as Miis spend their additional income.”

The report is based on a detailed survey of 10,000 people who earn a second income from a wide range of sources from Airbnb hosts and bartenders to Ebay sellers and film extras, as well as UW Partners.