Up & Running Grants are back for 2026

The Competition will be open from 10:00:00 16 September 2026 and will end on 11:59:59 30 October 2026 GMT (“Competition Period”).

Entrants must be aged 18 or over, be a seller registered on ebay.co.uk prior to entry and have active listings on ebay.co.uk over the last three months for Category A or six months for Category B. Entrants must be in Category A or B to be eligible. 

You will not be considered for the grant if you are a previous Up & Running grant recipient, or winner of an eBay Business Award.

Category A: 

• A business seller registered on www.ebay.co.uk prior to entry; 
• Have active listings on ebay.co.uk over the last three months prior to entry; and be aged between 18 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of entry. 

Category B: 

• A UK registered company with a business seller account on www.ebay.co.uk prior to entry; 
• Have active listings on ebay.co.uk over the last six months prior to entry; and intend to use the grant to employ a young person aged 18 to 24, with a role based in the UK. 

For Category B, the application must clearly explain how the young person will contribute to the business growth plans and how the grant will support that objective. Employees (and their families) of eBay, affiliates, subsidiary companies, representatives or agents of those companies and anyone else who may have been professionally involved with the competition are not eligible to enter.

Entrants must submit their entry following the guidelines stipulated on this website.

Entries should include the entrant’s (a) business name; (b) full name; (c) eBay user ID; (d) link to store; (d) address; (e) telephone and email contact details; (g) completion of the application questions provided. Entrants may also include a link to a video of no longer than two minutes long with the same information.

eBay sellers who are able to demonstrate: 

• Clear explanation of your business objectives on eBay
• A sensible use of the grant to support this planned business growth
• A considered plan that articulates how the grant will be spent over the following 12 months
• Standout ambition, innovation and articulation of the vision for your business

Entrants will be shortlisted by a panel of judges for each of the grants. This shortlist of entrants will be reviewed and the final winners selected by the judging panel. Winners will be chosen within 8 weeks of the end of the Competition Period. The winners will be announced in January 2027.

Candidates may be contacted ahead of the winner selection by eBay to discuss their entry.

There will be up to 20 prize winners (“Prize Winner” or “Prize Winners”). Each Prize Winner will receive:

• A £10,000 cash grant; 
• Up to six months of dedicated account management and premium customer services; and 
• Access to our new Young Entrepreneur community and selected events throughout 2027

The prizes are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative. Marketplace Advisor support will be provided to the user ID submitted on registration and begin on a date determined between eBay and the winners.

All winners will be notified within 28 days of the panel’s decision. Contact details used will be those provided upon entry. If a potential winner cannot be reached within this time, they will lose any entitlement to the grant and a new winner will be selected.

We reserve the right to request reasonable information and supporting documentation to verify how the grant has been spent.

Entrants’ submissions may be used as part of media communication to promote the eBay UK - Up and Running Grants programme. Entrants will be contacted should their story be chosen to communicate with media prior to its release and further details provided. The Prize Winners also consent to their name and county being published on social media, and agree to participate in eBay’s ‘Seller Stories’ marketing campaign.

In accordance with the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP Code), the Prize Winners’ names and countries of residence will be made available upon request to anyone who wishes to verify that a valid award took place. Such information will be made available within 7 days of eBay successfully contacting the winner. In order to receive this information, please contact Customer Service. For information on how to contact Customer Service, please visit: https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/home

The prize winners have the opportunity to object to this information being published or made available, or to reduce the amount of information being made available. In order to object, please contact Customer Service.

Any attempt to manipulate the Competition is prohibited and will result in exclusion from participation. If eBay has suspicions or knowledge that any entrant has been involved in any fraudulent or illegal activity, eBay reserves the right to disqualify that entrant and any related entrants. eBay may also disqualify any entrant that does not act in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, eBay’s User Agreement, and/or any policies that eBay may communicate to you.

Entrants whose eBay account is suspended, closed or restricted or becomes suspended, closed or restricted for any reason during the Competition Period are or will be excluded from participating in the Competition.

Entrants’ personal data will be processed in accordance with the eBay User Privacy Notice. This personal data will be used by eBay in connection with, and in order to determine the winner of, the Competition (including making available on request the Prize Winners’ names and counties of residence, to anyone who wishes to obtain it). eBay will do this on the basis of its legitimate interests in enabling eBay users to participate in this competition. You may contact eBay’s Data Protection Officer by submitting a web form at the eBay Privacy Centre or by post at 1 More London Place, London, SE1 2AF.

eBay makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding any product or service provided by any third party in connection with any Competition.

eBay shall not be liable, in contract or tort (including negligence) or the breach of statutory duty or in any other way, for the loss or damage whatsoever suffered by the entrant resulting directly or indirectly from entry to this Competition.

eBay will not be responsible for any third party’s performance or failure to perform any services related to any Competition, or for any costs, damages, accident, delay, injury, loss, expense, or inconvenience that may arise in connection with the use of the Competition.

Nothing in these terms shall limit eBay’s liability for death, personal injury or fraud.

eBay does not accept, and is not responsible for, any lost or delayed entries. eBay reminds entrants of the nature and limitations of the Internet and is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of any communications network, online system or computer hardware or software that may affect entry to the Competition.

Although eBay will use reasonable efforts to ensure that all information relating to the Competition is accurate, eBay is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of any communications network, online system or computer hardware or software failure that may affect eBay’s operation of the Competition or the site, including without limitation the accuracy of any material relating to the Competition.

The prize winners remain solely responsible for ensuring that grant funds are used in accordance with these Terms and all applicable laws. The award of a grant does not constitute approval, endorsement or supervision by eBay of any employment or engagement arrangements entered into by the recipient.

eBay reserves the right to suspend, change or cancel this Application process and Grant programme at any time, in the event of circumstances arising which in eBay’s opinion make it necessary for it to do so. eBay reserves the right to add additional terms and conditions for certain parts of this Competition. This includes the ability to substitute a prize, which is, in eBay’s reasonable opinion, of equivalent value or change the specification of the prize if circumstances require it.

eBay reserves the right to verify the eligibility and identity of any of the entrants. The decision of the adjudicator regarding any aspect of this Competition is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

eBay may use third parties to facilitate one or more elements of the Competition. See the Privacy Policy for further information.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the law of England and Wales. Each party irrevocably agrees to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts over any claim or matter arising under these terms and conditions.

The Competition is organised by eBay (UK) Limited. It may carry out this organisation through its local subsidiaries or group companies.