Has anyone successfully changed their career after 40 and is now working in a trade for example and is doing well? Or knows about services, resources, support in the UK?

No, still in a low paid, unskilled job, but the hours work well for me. I am doing my own Etsy shop though, which makes me feel better given that I haven’t got a well paying job or a trade. Maybe start a side hustle and see where it goes? 

but with the HMRC crackdown one is limited to less than 1k a year, though? Or how does it work? I mean I don't have the time or space to craft things myself, it would be more like a reseller thing, right?

but with the HMRC crackdown one is limited to less than 1k a year, though? Or how does it work? I mean I don't have the time or space to craft things myself, it would be more like a reseller thing, right?

Yes, you can earn 1k or under tax free, but once you pass that you have to start paying tax, so you need to register as a sole trader with HMRC and fill out your tax return once a year, it’s pretty straightforward, and unless you’re earning a lot of money, a lot of the questions don’t apply. Being a reseller business you’d still have to register with HMRC once you’re earning past the 1k threshold.