STOCKPORT BROTHERS URGE TEENAGERS TO CASH IN ON MARKETS

Teenagers across the country are hitting back at a reputation for lie-ins and laziness by launching businesses, thanks to a scheme masterminded by two brothers from Stockport.

The Teenage Market, a free initiative that enables youngsters to showcase their talents, has been given the go-ahead to roll out in cities nationwide after Joe, 20, and Tom Barratt, 18, put their plans for expansion forward to UK town and city trading managers at a recent local markets conference.

      The duo are already responsible for a
      vibrant market in Stockport, which
      provides a platform for young
      creatives, painters, fashion designers,
      jewellery makers, graffiti artists,
      photographers, graphic designers,
      bakers, poets, comedians,
      musicians, singers, dancers and
      performers, to sell or display their
      skills for free.

      Teenage Market events, now a regular
      occurrence in Stockport, have become
      a big hit with young people in the
      North West – the very first event in April
      2012 attracted more than 70 traders
      and 20 performers.

Now, thanks to Joe and Tom’s efforts at the annual NAMBA local markets conference, they have been approached by authorities in Leeds, Stoke, Marlborough, Wolverhampton and London who want to replicate the programme.

Joe explains: ‘Our hometown of Stockport had recently been through some tough times, with the market area particularly struggling to adapt to the rise in big brands in shopping centres and the invention of online shopping.

We wanted to find a way to make the market area the heart of the town again, while also actively involving the town’s incredibly large population of creative young people by giving them something they could connect with and feel proud about.’