Young entrepreneurs to showcase their talent at Birmingham’s Bull Ring Markets

Young traders, aged between 16 and 30, will be showcasing their skills, craft or business ideas on Edgbaston Street, in the city centre, between 10am and 4.30pm.

Birmingham City Council organised the event, the first of its kind in the city, as part of the National Market Traders Federation’s annual Young Traders Market campaign, aimed at attracting young people into the retail market industry.

Over the years, many young people who have participated in the campaign have gone on to become full-time market traders.

Shoppers will be able to experience the next generation of market traders, who will be trading outside the city’s Rag Market and Indoor Market.

Cllr John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said “Markets across the country are a great place for young people to showcase their talent and business, so I am glad to see Birmingham’s next generation of entrepreneurs are getting this opportunity to do just that at the city’s Bull Ring Markets.

“This event will also help inspire and identify a new generation of traders, who could go on in future to take up a stall in the new Bull Ring Market which will form part of the £1.9bn Smithfield Birmingham development.”

The Young Traders Market will take place along Edgbaston Street, a boundary of the Smithfield development.

Lendlease, an international real estate group, which is delivering the Smithfield development in partnership with Birmingham City Council has provided pop-up market stalls to accommodate the young traders, and a year’s free NMFT membership for the competition winner.

Colin Murphy, Project Lead for Lendlease at Smithfield said: “The Young Traders Market is a fantastic way to help young people develop their entrepreneurial skills in a safe environment.

“In a place like Birmingham, where the culture and heritage of the markets are so vital, it is great to see our traders welcoming new talent into the sector and passing down the skills they need to thrive”.

The event will also coincide with the Birmingham Jazz Festival with performances between 11am and 3pm.

Across the country, more than 300 entrepreneurs have applied to take part in this year’s Young Traders Market campaign.

The young traders will be judged against a set of criteria including quality, customer engagement and creative promotion. The winner will get a place at the regional final, which will take place in Wolverhampton on 12 August.

Regional finalists will then go forward to the national final, due to be held over the August bank holiday weekend (26-28 August) at Stratford-upon-Avon’s Waterside.

Joe Harrison, CEO of the National Market Traders Federation, said: “Whilst the final is the main event we also believe that local young traders markets are just as important, and that is why we are grateful for the support from so many market operators.

“After all the purpose behind our YTM initiative has been to encourage young entrepreneurs to try retail markets for size.

“And many of those who have taken part have never looked back.”

As well as a prestigious trophy the overall winner will receive £500 cash and a mobile credit card terminal from NMTF sponsors MultiPay.