Side-hustle success: Man earns £30,000 by building sheds in his spare time | Personal Finance | Finance
A man from Maidstone has earned over £30,000 in two years by building sheds in his spare time.
Paul Prebble, 36, used to work in railway construction before taking on additional building projects on the weekend through the app Airtasker.
Mr Prebble’s weekend side hustle has now become his main source of income, earning at least £500 a week in his craft assembling sheds, summer houses, outbuildings, log cabins, and more.
Mr Prebble told Express.co.uk: “Airtasker has given me the flexibility to spend more time with my kids and financially, be able to do more fun things with them.
“It’s not a side hustle to me, it’s a labour of love. I enjoy being outside and giving people an amazing finished product. Seeing clients happy from something I’ve created is a great feeling.”
Mr Prebble’s tasks can take anywhere from four hours to two days depending on the size and technicality, but the results are rewarding. According to Mr Prebble, one task alone earned him £550.
He said: “I’ve been actively using Airtasker for around two years completing an average of four jobs a week to earn £34,000.
“The tasks I enjoy doing most are log cabin installs as I like being outside and seeing a big, finished product that looks amazing. I take such pride in my work.”
The venture has enabled the father of two to spend more time with his children doing what he “loves”.
He added: “It definitely relieves some financial pressures and has helped with the rising cost of living. I can take on extra jobs if needed, but it also has great emotional effects.
“I’m now my own boss, working outside, doing something I love and enjoy which is great – especially when it’s not raining.”
Airtasker is a skills marketplace app designed to assist Britons in outsourcing the tasks they need to get done within their budget, by connecting them with their local community.
Additionally, it serves as a platform for individuals to use their skills to earn extra income.
Based on Airtasker data, the most productive month in 2023 was May, with the highest number of tasks posted to the app.
June followed closely behind, with increased bookings for handypersons, cleaners, removalists, gardeners, and furniture assembly experts compared to other months.
Tim Fung, founder and CEO of Airtasker said: “The challenges faced by the UK economy in 2023 require innovative solutions, and investing in skills development is proving to be a resilient and adaptive strategy.
“Individuals are recognising the need to upskill or reskill to remain competitive and relevant in the evolving job market.”
He added: “Our mission is to empower people to realise the full value of their skills.
“Each of our Top Taskers has won over their clients with their craftsmanship, positive attitude and excellent customer service and we can’t wait to see what lies ahead for them all.”