Are NHS workers allowed to do side hustles?

Generally yes — but your contract usually requires you to disclose secondary employment to your line manager. Trusts will typically refuse only if the secondary role creates a conflict of interest (e.g. locum work at a competing Trust in the same speciality) or breaches Working Time Directive limits. Always confirm with HR.

What's the best paid side hustle for an NHS nurse?

For most nurses, internal NHS Professionals bank shifts are the highest-net hourly because they keep your pension. External agency apps like Florence offer flexibility but classify you as self-employed. Tutoring science subjects via MyTutor or Tutorful is a non-clinical alternative.

Do I have to declare side-hustle income to my NHS Trust?

Many Trusts require formal declaration of secondary employment for governance reasons. This is separate from tax declaration to HMRC. Check your contract and Trust policy. It is general guidance, not legal advice.

Can junior doctors do locum work outside their training programme?

Yes, in many cases, but each deanery and Trust has different rules. Some training programmes restrict external locums during certain rotations. The BMA guidance and your training programme director are the right sources. Always check first.

Will side-hustle income affect my NHS pension?

Internal bank work via NHSP contributes to your NHS pension. External self-employed work does not — you would need a separate pension (e.g. personal pension or LISA). Speak to NHS Pensions or an independent financial adviser.

HustleHub.ai

Editorially reviewed · February 2026

Best Side Hustles for NHS Workers (2026)

Short answer

The best UK NHS-worker side hustles in 2026 protect your downtime and respect long-shift fatigue. NHS Professionals offers internal bank shifts with the highest hourly rates and continuity of pension. Locum agencies (BMJ Locums, Florence) cover external bank work. M3 Global Research pays clinicians for healthcare-targeted surveys. Tutorful and MyTutor are strong for biology/chemistry tutoring. Earnings vary by speciality, banding, and shift availability — and your contract may restrict secondary employment.

Best internal bank shifts

NHS Professionals

Best locum agency app

Florence

Best clinician paid research

M3 Global Research

Best for medical tutoring

MyTutor

Best flexible writing income

Upwork

At a glance

5 editorial picks

Platform	Category	Typical earnings *	Eligibility	NHS compatibility
NHS Professionals	Internal NHS bank	Band-rate + uplift	NHS-employed	Pension-eligible
Florence	Care home / NHS bank shifts	£12 – £35 / hr est.	NMC / HCPC registered	External — check contract
BMJ Locums	Doctor locum bookings	£40 – £100+ / hr est.	GMC registered	External — check contract
M3 Global Research	Clinician paid research	£15 – £150 per survey	GMC / NMC / HCPC	Generally permitted
Tutorful	1-to-1 tutoring	£20 – £40 / hr est.	18+, subject expert	No conflict for non-clinical subjects
MyTutor	1-to-1 tutoring	£15 – £30 / hr est.	University student / grad	No conflict for non-clinical subjects
Upwork	Freelance writing / consulting	£20 – £80 / hr est.	18+	External — confirm contract
Prolific	Paid surveys	£6 – £12 / hr est.	18+	Non-conflicting

* NHS contracts often require you to disclose secondary employment to your line manager. Some Trusts restrict locum work at other Trusts in the same speciality. Earnings vary by banding, speciality and shift availability — always confirm with your employer first.

Our editorial picks

NHS Professionals

Best internal NHS bank work

NHS Professionals (NHSP) is the in-house bank agency for many Trusts. Booking internal bank shifts keeps your NHS pension, sick-pay protections, and contract continuity intact — and pay typically beats external agency rates after on-costs.

Pros

+Continued NHS pension accrual
+Higher net rate than many external agencies
+Familiar Trust systems and policies

Cons

−Available shifts depend on your Trust's demand
−Working too many bank hours can lead to fatigue and IR35 questions

Eligibility

Must be employed by a participating NHS Trust.

Country availability

UK (England, with similar internal banks in Wales/Scotland/NI).

Payout

Paid via the same Trust payroll system as your substantive role.

Trust note: Check your substantive contract for maximum weekly hours under the Working Time Directive. Persistent fatigue affects patient safety.

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Florence

Best app for external bank shifts

Florence is a UK app that lists nursing, HCA, and allied-health shifts at care homes and (in some regions) NHS Trusts. You browse shifts, accept one that fits your downtime, and the app handles invoicing.

Pros

+Pick shifts on your own terms
+Daily pay option (small fee)
+Transparent hourly rate before you accept

Cons

−Self-employed via Florence — you handle tax
−Care-home shifts can be lower-paid than NHS bank
−Some Trusts restrict external bank work in conflict-of-interest terms

Eligibility

NMC or HCPC registration where applicable. Right to work in UK.

Country availability

UK.

Payout

Daily or weekly bank transfer.

Trust note: Self-employment via Florence may affect your tax status — register with HMRC if you exceed the £1,000 Trading Allowance.

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M3 Global Research

Best paid research for verified clinicians

M3 Global Research recruits GMC/NMC/HCPC-registered clinicians for paid medical surveys, often commissioned by pharma or device companies. Per-survey rates are far higher than general consumer panels.

Pros

+Per-survey rates from £15 to £150 depending on length and speciality
+Studies relevant to your clinical experience
+PayPal / bank transfer cash-out

Cons

−Survey volume depends on your speciality being in demand
−Some surveys require recent prescribing data — you must answer accurately

Eligibility

GMC, NMC, HCPC or equivalent verified registration.

Country availability

UK + 70+ global markets.

Payout

PayPal, bank transfer or charity donation. Minimum varies.

Trust note: Always answer truthfully — fabricated survey responses corrupt clinical research and can damage future participation.

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MyTutor

Best for tutoring GCSE / A-Level science

MyTutor recruits university students and graduates to tutor school-age students online. NHS workers with a biology, chemistry or science background often find demand from GCSE/A-Level students.

Pros

+Online sessions — no commute
+Pay typically £15–£30/hour
+Demand spikes around exam season

Cons

−Initial profile approval is selective
−Cancellations affect your search ranking

Eligibility

University degree or current undergraduate study.

Country availability

UK.

Payout

Weekly bank transfer.

Trust note: Tutoring is generally permitted as secondary employment, but confirm with your Trust HR if you're on a confidentiality-sensitive contract.

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Upwork

Best for freelance medical writing & consulting

Upwork is a global freelance marketplace. NHS clinicians and allied-health professionals can take on medical writing, content review, patient-education material design, and clinical research consulting at premium rates.

Pros

+10% flat platform fee (since 2023)
+Set your own £/hour rate
+Milestone-based payment protection

Cons

−Profile approval is selective
−Proposals cost "Connects" tokens to send

Eligibility

18+, polished profile, government ID for payouts.

Country availability

Global.

Payout

PayPal, Payoneer, direct deposit.

Trust note: Confidentiality matters — never write content that names or could identify any NHS patient. Disclose secondary employment to your line manager per Trust policy.

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HustleHub AI is an editorial comparison platform. Sponsored placements and affiliate relationships do not influence the ranking or selection of platforms on this page. Earnings figures are estimates from publicly available platform documentation and reasonable observation — actual income varies significantly by location, demand, time invested, eligibility, and platform approval. Read our editorial policy · Affiliate disclosure · Earnings disclaimer.