SUPPORT TO BRING NEW PRODUCTS TO STOCKPORT MARKET

Five free pitches are available on Stockport Market for budding small business owners who want to make their mark and bring a new product to the borough’s shoppers.

Stockport Council has teamed up with the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to start up a business on the market.

Through a scheme called First Pitch, small businesses owners of the future can trade on Stockport Market for up to 12 months at discounted rent and are given personalised support from the NMTF.

                                                             Stockport’s Covered Market Hall

Councillor Iain Roberts, Economic Development and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “Markets have an increasingly important role in the changing nature of the high street. In Stockport, we’ve seen how fresh ideas and new traders can attract large numbers of visitors back to their local market. Market stalls are also a great way for new businesses to get up and running, with low start-up costs and flexible terms.

“I’d encourage anyone with a great idea to apply for First Pitch – we’d love to see them trading on Stockport Market.”

Joe Harrison, Chief Executive of the NMTF, added: “Many of our well-known brands started life on the markets and we know many people want to take that leap into starting their own business – First Pitch will give you the support you need to bring a product or service to the market.

“If you’re selected as a finalist, you are given free membership of the NMTF, a free copy of a market trader training guide and a mentor, someone who has a wealth of business and market trading experience. Interested applicants need to apply by 15th March via www.nmtf.co.uk”

First Pitch is open to UK residents over 16 with less than six months experience of market trading.

For more information about Stockport Market visit www.stockport.gov.uk/stockportmarket

More About First Pitch and How to Apply:

• Candidates are asked to submit an idea for a product or service that they think they can sell at their local market. Closing date for entries is 15th March 2013. To submit entry please visit www.nmtf.co.uk

• There are three stages to First Pitch scheme:

Stage 1: Successful applicants will be offered up to five free days of market trading on a local market, during ‘Love Your Local Market’ (from 15th to 29th May), during which time, one of the judges from the national panel will visit and assess the trader on sales, customer feedback and stall presentation.

Stage 2: Shortly after the free period of trading, the judges will draw up a shortlist of up to 100 traders all over the UK. These 100 traders will then be given the opportunity to trade on a market stall for a further 12 months with full support from the NMTF. They will start out at a reduced rent — 50% of the full rent to start with, gradually increasing on a sliding scale to 100% by the end of the year.  The traders will also be appointed a mentor who will work with the finalists throughout the year, keeping in regular contact with them, offering support and checking progress.

Stage 3: A Markets Master Class and Award Ceremony will be held in May 2014. One trader will be awarded £2,000 in cash to grow their business due to outstanding achievement over the 12 months.

• The mentor will be someone who knows marketing trading inside-out, such as a market trader, market operator or small business coach.

• Shortlisted candidates receive a year’s full NMTF membership (worth £102), including business insurance, and a complimentary copy of ‘NMTF First’ (worth £100), which is filled with practical advice and training on how to set up a market stall.

• First Pitch is judged on a points system, awarded for certain criteria including quality of product, its suitability to the area and market type, the visual display known as ‘the flash’ and the general attitude of the trader.

• #FirstPitchUK

More About The NMTF

• The National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) is the leading trade body for the markets industry in the UK. Representing about 30,000 market traders in Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the NMTF provides unrivalled business insurance, political representation and training programmes to market traders throughout the UK. The NMTF is headquartered in Hoyland, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

www.nmtf.co.uk  @marketsmatter