• 35% of people in Scotland are Miis (multi-income individuals) 

• Scots make up 8% of the national Mii population

• Report reveals £30bn boost to UK economy thanks to extra earnings from Multi-income individuals (Miis)

• But 23% of Miis in Edinburgh think there’s a stigma attached to having more than one income and 22% 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

On average, Miis earn an extra £780 per month through their secondary income stream. However, the report from UW and Cebr found that 22% of those in Edinburgh said they don’t talk about their additional income with family or friends, with 35% worrying they’ll assume they are struggling with money.  A further 23% believe there is a stigma attached to having more than one income. 

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 locals of Edinburgh earning an additional source of income vary, but the cost of living crisis and rising household bills are the main factors, 38% and 43% respectively, while 20% of people cited the Covid-19 pandemic, 16% fear of a recession and 10% Brexit. 

The report also finds that men in Edinburgh are more likely to have multiple incomes than women (52% of Miis are men, compared to 47% of women).

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. In Edinburgh alone, there are more than 850 UW Partners. 

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.”

Mark Whelan, a UW Partner based in Edinburgh, said: “I was facing redundancy in my day job and an ex-colleague told me about UW last August. I took the opportunity with both hands and in hindsight, I wish I’d taken the opportunity earlier. With the cost of living going up, I now don’t need to worry about covering my bills and the money I earn from my secondary income means I don’t need to do overtime in my main job. The residual income - an ongoing income from my UW customers - is the holy grail for me and my family. There’s no other job that offers this level of financial security.”

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.