eBay has chosen the UK to launch the latest phase of its plans to diversify outside of its role as a marketplace for purely physical goods.

Secretguru is a website which brings together professionals offering their services in a range of trades and specialities.

Business sectors featured so far include teaching and business mentoring.

The Secretguru homepage tells users: "Since it is a very early pilot, you might notice some things that need improving."

Tech news website Techcrunch contacted eBay to try to find out whether it yet had plans to roll out the site further, but got no response.

But it noted that people who register on the site got their own page to describe their work, which included details to enable anyone interested in hiring those featured to make direct contact.

Ingrid Lunden of Techcrunch noted: "The focus for Secretguru, at least for now, appears to be on a curated list of professional people rather than creating a listing of thousands who can offer services for a job for the lowest rate possible."

As the site itself puts it: "Our Gurus span a variety of industries, so you’ll find professional chefs you can hire to cook at your dinner party, artists who’ll paint a bespoke mural in your home, and even shoe designers who’ll teach you how to make your own shoes!"