YOUNG entrepreneurs will be battling it out to be the best in Stratford later this month.
The National Youth Market, which celebrates young traders aged 16 to 30 who run businesses at markets, festivals, and fairs, will be on Waterside from Friday August 31 to Sunday September 1.
More than 40 stallholders will be selling a range of street food, artisan treats, arts and crafts, and handmade gifts.
And all will be competing to be crowned the UK’s Young Trader of the Year.
They have sold their way to win a stall in Stratford. Markets across the country held youth markets and selected champions to represent their towns and cities at the National Youth Market.
Markets industry experts will be judging the competition.
The winner will receive £500 in cash, a year’s membership of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF), and a mobile payment terminal for 12 months from Chip & PIN Solutions. Four highly commended awards, each including £100 in cash, will also be up for grabs.
Stratford District Council business spokesman Maurice Howse said: “As a proud market town since 1196, we’re overjoyed to host this year’s National Youth Market in Stratford. We are pleased to see that young people are inheriting an entrepreneurial spirit.”
The event is run by the NMTF, the only national trade association for market and street traders in the UK, and is hosted by LSD Promotions with the support of the district and town councils respectively.
Joe Harrison, chief executive of the NMTF, said: “Youth markets aim to support young people to test out, launch, and grow a business – they’re ideal platforms as you can stay lean and flexible.
“Now in its sixth year and at a new venue in Stratford, the National Youth Market is a real demonstration of the fantastic young talent we have in the UK trading on markets.”
Rose Dyson, who runs all-natural and vegan-friendly lip care company Pura Cosmetics, is the reigning champion and trades on markets across Yorkshire.
The 19-year-old said: “Markets are great places to interact with people and find out what works and what doesn’t – there’s nothing like getting face-to-face with customers. Markets have been the launchpad for Pura.”
The market, open 10am to 5pm daily, will also feature music, and family-friendly fun and games.
Visit www.nmtf.co.uk/national-youth-market for a list of the traders and further information.
