Justin Tomlinson MP with trader Aaron, who is running a music/DVD stall
whilst studying at college
From the beginning, this Government has recognised that if we are to have long-term sustainable growth in the future, we need more than ever a burgeoning culture of self-employment and business ownership. As a former small business owner myself, this is something that I too recognise, whole heartedly support and am actively working to encourage.
In Swindon, I regularly visit our local businesses, have set up a retail forum, and am working with our two excellent local colleges to help inspire the next generation of business owners. Whilst unemployment is falling, it is still high, especially amongst the young. For young people, the retail sector is crucial. 11% of jobs are in the retail sector, but this is even higher amongst 18-24 year olds as many young people start out in retail with their first jobs. Here too is a fantastic opportunity for young people to not just have their first job, but also their first shot at running a business.
With the Mary Portas High Street Review, much of the recent focus has been on falling footfall across our national High Streets, although Swindon is bucking the trend with a 13% increase last year. Rightly so, as our High Streets are at the very heart of our towns. However, when it comes to new businesses, the High Street is a relatively hard nut to crack, especially at a time when even the larger retailers are finding life tough.
What we forget is that even our High Street giants started life somewhere. Big retailers like Marks and Spencer, brands like Superdry, they didn’t begin on the High Street, but instead on a market stall. Our markets present a huge opportunity for our budding entrepreneurs as an easy way to start a low-cost retail business. That is why I have secured a deal between New College and the Blunsdon Market to see their young enterprise students given a free pitch to test out their entrepreneurial skills. That is also why this week I visited the Market to talk to the traders about their experience as stall holders.
The Blunsdon Market has been running now for 12 years, and speaking to some of the traders who have been there since the beginning, it is clear that the Market is not immune to problems. Footfall is down, and the supply of traders sparse. Touring the stalls, the message was mixed. Some said that good customer service was not necessarily enough to compete with the large retailers, shoppers are interested in price alone. Others reported that whilst times were tough, they were finding ways to push through.
Justin Tomlinson MP talks to butcher Ian Read
Key to the success of the traders is something of a critical mass of stalls needed to attract the customers to drive the sales. In this the current management headed by Maurice Mapson have done a fantastic job attracting new traders, partly through their facebook page and also through their reputation. I met a number of traders who have followed Maurice from market to market for over 30 years, including one gentleman who lives in Birmingham and travels to Blunsdon to trade and a lady, now 81, running a wool stall.
Maurice has also succeeded in beginning to attract the next generation of stall holders. I met Aaron who, whilst studying at college for his health and social care qualification, has set up a market stall selling second hand DVDs, games and vinyl. Local business SP Computers has set up a stall and one of the pet stalls has just been bought by a young girl who chose the Market to have her first experience of running a business.
Whilst undoubtedly times are tough for the traders, the signs are promising with younger traders grasping the business opportunities that market stalls bring. This is rightly being supported nationally by Government support, funding apprenticeship and work experience places for young people with market traders. Our very own young entrepreneurs from New College will be trying their trading skills in the autumn at Blunsdon Market. Hopefully one or two of them will go on to take advantage of Maurice’s offer of a reduced price pitch over the holidays and get their first shot at running their own businesses.
I am delighted that the National Market Traders’ Federation has agreed to offer a similar scheme to colleges across all their market sites up and down the country. If we can encourage the next generation of market traders, we will encourage the next generation of High Street retailers and global brands. From small beginnings, the possibilities have proven limitless. It is through the imagination, determination and entrepreneurial flair of our young generation that future growth will be secured. We need to make sure that we are doing all we can to identify, harness and nurture these qualities, and our markets are the perfect place to put them into practice.
Justin Tomlinson MP speaks to the oldest stall holder, at 81, she has traded in Maurice's
markets for nearly 40 years
Justin Tomlinson MP chats to the shoppers
Justin Tomlinson and Maurice Mapson speak with a trader who travels from Birmingham,
he has been trading at Maurice's markets for 30 years
All pictures by Richard Wintle - Calyx Picture Agency www.calyxpix.com