At eBay Open 2025, there were three key announcements that you’ll want to be aware of to help you grow your business on eBay – AI Activate, INR Protections and Up & Running Grants!
1) AI Activate
eBay announced ‘AI Activate’ – a new programme worth over £3 million to skill-up small UK businesses with fully funded access to the latest custom AI productivity tools and training to free up time and boost growth. Developed in collaboration with OpenAI, the programme is open to all businesses which sell on eBay with up to 10,000 to be onboarded this year.
You can register your interest HERE with the programme going live in November.
2) Protection from INR where the product is delivered
A frustration for many sellers has been an INR (Item Not Received) claim, where once the refund has taken place the product is then successfully delivered. Moving forward, starting in November, eBay will reimburse the seller where tracking shows the product was delivered after and INR refund had been processed.
Before: Seller issues a refund to close an INR case. If the parcel is delivered later, the seller will not recover their refund and it will be lost.
From November 2025: If tracking shows delivered within 30 days after a seller has refunded, eBay will reimburse the item cost and remove any negative or neutral feedback directly linked to the claim and regarding delivery.
3) eBay Up & Running Grants
eBay UK’s General Manager Eve Williams announced the launch of Up & Running Grants in the UK. These have run for several years in the US and now, for the first time, UK businesses can apply. This is your chance to receive a £10,000 cash grant, £1,000 in ad credits and one-to-one account management support from eBay to guide your business into the future.
Applications close on the 21st of November with 25 successful applicants due to be announced by the 20th of December.
