VIDEO: More than 40 budding entrepreneurs aged 16-30 took part in a Young Traders Market at Warrington Market at the weekend, bidding to be crowned Young Trader of the Year
Former Warrington winner Rob Leicester was one of the judging panel alongside Christine Ditchfield from 3 Pugs Gin, market operations manager Paul Blaney and Cllr Tom Jennings.
The multi-award-winning Warrington Market joined several markets across the country to offer trading opportunities and business support to budding entrepreneurs.
The Young Traders Market is a countrywide initiative run by the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF), which aims to nurture young talent by encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs to trade at traditional markets.
More than 40 young people took part in the event, mainly from Warrington as the market team partnered with Warrington Music to host a young talent live music stage as part of the event.
Warrington Market trader, Rob Leicester, who runs Warrington Fruit and Veg, and is a previous Young Trader of the Year champion after winning the competition in 2018.
He said: “Since becoming an ambassador for young market traders across the UK, I’ve found myself driven with the responsibility to help, encourage, and hopefully inspire young people like myself in their early years of trading. It’s great that I can continue my Young Traders journey by taking on the role of judge at this year’s event.”
Christine who set up her own 3 Pugs Gin business just over five years ago said she was amazed by how much talent was on show.
Warrington Market has also been asked by the NMTF to be the host of the North West Regional Final on Saturday, July 3, which will see a collection of winners from both the Warrington heat and from across the region come together for the chance to win a spot at the national finals which take place in Stratford-upon-Avon in August.
The four category winners at the Young Traders Market were:
Arts & Crafts – URURA
General Retail – Geearte_makes
Grocery – Rub & Roll
Street Food – Archchi’s
The winners along with the Highly Commended winners have now secured their spot at the North West Regional Final. The standard and quality of all the businesses was so high and made history as the biggest local heat to ever take place in the nine years the contest has been running!
Judge Christine Ditchfield with one of the young traders
