Young Trader Competition heats up: talent showcases skills in Newmarket local heat

Young Trader Competition heats up: talent showcases skills in Newmarket local heat

17 Jul 2024

Excitement and anticipation filled the air over the weekend as the last of the Young Trader Competition local heats in West Suffolk came to a close.

The final local heat for West Suffolk was held in Newmarket and showcased exceptional talent of young aspiring traders aged 16 to 30 years. Traders were scored by a team of local judges on their customer service skills, interaction with other market traders and professionalism, as well as their products. The judging panel consisted of Natalie Robinson from Love Newmarket, Sarah Howard from the British Chambers of Commerce, and Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, the Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council.

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka said: "Once again, the level of talent and enthusiasm displayed by these young traders is truly remarkable. Their performance in this competition showcases their incredible creative abilities as well as strong entrepreneurial skills. The competition is a testament to the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and indicates a bright future of our markets. We look forward to seeing our brilliant traders flourish at the regional final in Bury St Edmunds later this month."

The young traders who won their category in the local heats are:

• Arts and Crafts: Izzy Alexander from Peaches Valley Crochet
• General Retail: Georgina Kiff from Moo's Melts
• Food and Drink: Becky Bridges from B.B's Bakery
• Grocery: Alex Brentnall from ABCakes

The following traders achieved highly commended awards in the local heat:

• Arts and Crafts: Heidi Prior from WitchCrafting
• Arts and Crafts: Joanne Fernando from Jsjewelerycrafts
• General Retail: Emily Fish from Emily Waller Norfolk

The winners from each local heat will then progress to the regional heat in Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 31 July then advance to the national final in Stratford-upon-Avon to compete over the August bank holiday weekend.

The National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) Young Traders Market is a national campaign to encourage young people to trade at local markets. West Suffolk Council supports the event by supplying tables and gazebos, as well as covering insurance costs.

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