Markets of the year 2013 awards winners announced
Communities Minister Don Foster and Apprentice finalist and market trader Adam Corbally presented awards to a host of UK towns for having the country’s best markets.
A stall at Brixton market. CC image courtesy of :)gab(: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ gabinete/8139568675
The award winners were chosen by the National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) and presented at their conference today (31 January 2013) in Birmingham.
The winners are:
Best private market: Brixton Village Market Row, London.
Best speciality market: Walsall Night Market.
Best small speciality market: Mr Big, Market Rasen (a Portas pilot town).
Best outdoor market: Portobello and Golborne Road Market, London.
Best small outdoor market: Swadlincotes Market and Farmers Market.
Best indoor market: Queen’s Gate Market, Huddersfield (Kirklees).
Best small indoor market: Southport.
Best local council market: Oswestry.
Best wholesale market: New Spitalfields, London.
Best market attraction: Birmingham Christmas Market.
Britain’s favourite market: Darlington.
Don Foster said:
“I congratulate all the winners on their work providing outstanding markets for local people to shop at, supporting the local economy and creating jobs. High streets are facing a tough time at the moment with household name shops closing and strong competition from internet sales – yet many markets across the country are thriving. All today’s award winners and nominees are playing a vital role in keeping their local high street flourishing.”
Rejuvenating high streets
Speaking at the event the minister highlighted the critical role markets can play in encouraging people to revisit their high streets and making them the beating hearts of their communities.
And today, he confirmed £25,000 funding to help support the industry’s Love Your Local Market campaign in May, offering opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to try their business ideas at events across the country.
Other government measures to regenerate the country’s high streets include:
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27 towns named as ‘Portas pilots’, benefiting jointly from government and Mary Portas’s advice on how to improve their high street
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the creation of 340 ‘town team partners’ within councils across the country receiving government funding to come up with plans to regenerate town centres
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the relaxation of planning red tape making it easier for councils to grant planning permission for ‘pop up shops’
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providing rates relief to support small businesses
Mr Foster added:
“I want to do everything possible to support our markets and high streets as a vital place where people from all backgrounds meet as well as shop, and tomorrow’s entrepreneurs cut their teeth.
“This is why I have today announced government is supporting the Love Your Local Market campaign this summer, helping councils promote local markets and encouraging young people in particular to become market traders.”
UK markets in facts and figures
Retail Markets Association research shows the UK has:
- 1,124 traditional retail markets and 605 farmers’ markets
- over 45,700 retail traders, and an estimated 95,000 people directly employed on retail markets
- 1,000 wholesale businesses and an estimated 10,000 people directly employed on wholesale markets
- a total retail market turnover of over £3.5 billion a year, and a wholesale market turnover of £4.1 billion a year
Don Foster and Adam Corbally were accompanied at the awards presentation by Jeremy Bradin of KPR Midlink who sponsor the competition and NABMA President Councillor Geraldine Carter.