Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds celebrate success of the local heats of the young Traders Market
Monday 26 June 2023
Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds proudly hosted the local heats for the Young Traders Market, marking the third consecutive year of hosting both the local heats and the highly anticipated regional competition.
This exciting event has provided an exceptional platform for young people under the age of 30 to showcase their talents, build confidence, and develop essential business skills.
The Young Traders Market has proven to be a brilliant opportunity for budding entrepreneurs to promote their passion and innovative ideas. From transforming hobbies into successful ventures to developing kitchen tabletop businesses into promising careers, participants have seized the chance to explore their entrepreneurial spirit while gaining valuable experience.
Over the past three years the Young Traders Market has produced remarkable success stories for local traders, further highlighting the significance of this event. In 2021, Sophie Clarke achieved national recognition by winning her category for her exceptional home furnishings business. Furthermore, last year's competition saw Sophie Mann, emerge as the Young Market Trader of the Year in the thrilling finals held at Stratford Upon Avon.
Congratulations to all the participants of the local heats in Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds. In Haverhill, Olivia Washington of Olivia’s Curiosities won the General Retail category; Marnie Bevan and Helen Costello of The Bottle Bank Co won the Sustainability category; and Logan Chittock-Giles of The Pencil Smith won the Craft category. In Bury St Edmunds Jordan Warne of Boxaball Limited won the General Retail category; Amanda Hodgett of Meadow & Woodland Livestock won the Grocery category; Jessica Pratt of Morsi’s won the Food and Drink category; and Hannah Evans of Lavender & Lilac Candle Co won the Craft category.
The highly commended awards across both markets went to Moody Cow Crafts, Dessert Den Ely Ltd, SJP Nail Creations, Olivia’s Curiosities, Orphic Adornments, Jessica Sian Illustrations, Emily & Louise, Hannah Handmakes, Charlotte Emily Artist, Cinders Macrame, Tiffs Tempting Treats, Bad Boi Burritos, Licenced to Grill, DearLove Limited, Handmade Galore and Preloved, Reloaded Kids.
Cllr Donna Higgins, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council attended the Bury St Edmunds heat.
The regional final will be taking place on Wednesday 26 July in Bury St Edmunds where all the winners and highly commended traders will be back trading and competing for a place in the national final.
Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet Member for Growth, West Suffolk Council said: “It is fantastic to have the Young Traders Market back in West Suffolk with over 30 stalls taking part. The events have a strong focus on nurturing local talent; encouraging young people to establish and expand their businesses within West Suffolk. By providing them with a supportive environment and a platform to showcase their skills, we are nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. They are the leading lights in shaping the future of our society and opportunities like the Young Traders Market highlight the importance of creating a fairer more equal society. It is encouraging to see so many of the stalls offering locally sourced products; reducing the supply chain helps the fight against the climate change emergency. The Young Traders Market also contributes to the growth and vibrancy of our local markets, town centres, and the overall economy.”
The NMTF (National Market Trader Federation) Young Traders Market is a national campaign to attract young people to support and trade on the markets. West Suffolk Council proudly supports the NMTF campaign and assisted competitors by supplying tables and gazebos, plus covering insurance costs.