Budding entrepreneurs from across Leicestershire are being given the chance to win six month’s rent-free trading space in their local market, as part of the annual Make Your Mark in the Markets competition, run by Enterprise UK.
Now in its second year, the competition aims to provide fledgling traders with first hand experience of the markets to help turn their business ideas into reality, with minimal start up costs.
Eighty markets from across the UK have already signed up and committed free space to the 2010 competition, including Leicester and Beaumont Leys markets in Leicestershire.
Commenting on the competition Nick Rhodes, Head of markets for Leicester City Council said: “Make Your Mark in the Markets is a great opportunity for local entrepreneurs to test their business ideas and benefit from a host of expert advice and support. Markets are a popular choice for people looking for great value local products so they make the ideal launch-pad for new businesses. We are calling on people with fresh ideas, products or services that they feel would benefit the local market and attract customers to enter this exciting competition.”
The 2010 competition has grown to include two categories – one for entrepreneurs who have just started out and the other for those who have been trading for six months or more.
Anyone interested in applying must complete the online application form by 22 March, where they will have to submit their business proposal, as well as information on the products and services they provide, to a panel of judges.
One shortlisted applicant per market will then win up to 10 days free trading to showcase their products in a real trading environment. Judges will visit each stall to assess sales, customer feedback and trading skills before selecting two national winners, who will each receive the six month’s free trading, £1,000 towards stock, free National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) membership and a business starter pack to help them set up on their own.
Graham Wilson CEO, NABMA said: “The markets industry desperately needs to recruit new traders, so the Make Your Mark in the Markets initiative is an excellent way of raising the profile of markets, while attracting new entrepreneurs as market traders. Last year’s competition was incredibly successful and we are hoping that this year we will attract even more applicants, and make the markets an attractive place to start new businesses.”
Chris Shaw, Regional Manager for Unleashing Enterprise (the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) supported enterprise programme), said: “Whether you’re just starting out or running an existing small business, markets offer the ideal start-up environment. Lord Alan Sugar’s business empire and London-based handbag designers Radley & Co, both started out on market stalls. We hope Make Your Mark in the Markets will unearth the next generation of enterprising talent from right across Leicestershire.”
Make Your Mark in Markets is run by Enterprise UK in partnership with the National Market Traders Federation, the Retail Markets Alliance, Association of Town Centre Management and the National Association of British Market Authorities.
It is part of Make Your Mark in Business, a wider programme of proven initiatives by Enterprise UK to tip people into self employment.
Please visit http://www.enterpriseuk.org/markets for further information and to apply online.
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Issued on behalf of Enterprise UK by Lava. For further information please contact Louise or Steph at Lava on 01522 842 800 or louise@lavapr.co.uk / steph@lavapr.co.uk
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