Young at heart approach earns Swadlincote Markets a national accolade

Swadlincote Markets has won national recognition for its work in promoting young entrepreneurship.

Earlier this year, as part of the annual Love Your Local Market scheme, the town welcomed Year 7 pupils from Newhall’s William Allitt School to develop their enterprise skills by running a market stall selling handmade crafts, cakes, upcycled books and lemonade, alongside activities to raise money for the charity Book Aid International.

The South Derbyshire Business Advice Service helped the pupils develop their business ideas, with youngsters pitching these ideas to the service’s advisers.

Now the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA), which leads the Love Your Local Market initiative, has bestowed a ‘Special Recognition’ award on Swadlincote Markets for its work.

Councillor Bob Wheeler, leader of South Derbyshire District Council, said: “Our excellent markets play a key role in making South Derbyshire a vibrant place for shoppers and tourists and this official recognition is well deserved.

“Markets are an excellent platform for new businesses and the William Allitt pupils certainly impressed everyone with their entrepreneurial skills.”

Love Your Local Market started in 2012 amid fears around the sustainability of the nation’s high streets and, to date, participants have staged more than 11,000 events.

In Swadlincote, free market pitches designed to attract new businesses were made available as part of the national celebration of Britain’s markets.

NABMA now plans to publish a booklet of all the recipients of ‘Special Recognition’ awards and showcase this to the markets sector at an annual conference in September.

More information about local trading is available on the Swadlincote Markets Facebook page or by following @SwadMarkets on Twitter, with anyone interested in hosting a stall urged to contact Market Manager Simon Wardle tel: 07879 276243 or email: simonwardle1@gmail.com

The free South Derbyshire Business Advice Service offers help and guidance with everything from creating a business plan and researching the market to finding finance and recruiting staff – they can be contacted on tel: 01283 595791.

26 July 2017