The Royal Borough of Greenwich will welcome the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) regional final for young market traders this Saturday in Cutty Sark Gardens, offering a showcase of local and regional small businesses and a platform for entrepreneurial talent.
Young traders on home turf
Organisers say the event will feature more than 70 stalls from the best market traders across London and the South East, with competitors aged between 16 and 30 taking part. Traders will display a wide range of goods, from luxury gifts and arts and crafts to food and drink, giving shoppers the chance to buy directly from makers and meet potential future high-street names.
- Event: NMTF Young Market Traders regional final
- Date: Saturday (event announcement published 16 July 2026)
- Location: Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich
- Stalls: Over 70
- Age range of competitors: 16–30
Path to the national final
Winners of the regional heats will progress to the national final, a two-day market in Stratford-upon-Avon on 28–29 August, where 96 traders from across the UK will compete for the title of Young Trader of the Year 2026. The competition has a track record of promoting businesses that later expand beyond market stalls, reflecting the role markets play in the retail ecosystem.
| Stage | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Regional final | Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich | This Saturday |
| National final | Stratford-upon-Avon | 28–29 August 2026 |
"Markets are so much more than just shopping. They offer the chance for artisans to show off their ingenuity, for young entrepreneurs to gain exposure and for you to find one-of-a-kind items and speak to the people who make them," said Councillor Asli Mohammed, Cabinet Member for Economy, Town Centres and Co-operatives.
The council and Greenwich Market have offered public support to the NMTF event. Rachid Ghailane, Market Operations Manager at Greenwich Market, reiterated the market's role in supporting new traders and providing a visible platform for retail development. Local residents and visitors are expected to be able to browse the stalls and judge for themselves the quality and variety on offer.
For Greenwich, the event reinforces the borough's long-standing association with markets as incubators for small businesses and community hubs. Shoppers attending on Saturday will be supporting both local traders and the broader objective of nurturing a new generation of market entrepreneurs.
