Britain’s next generation of market traders head to Greenwich this Saturday

People walking through an outdoor market near the Cutty Sark, with a pink vintage food truck, market stalls, and a stroller in the foreground.

The best market traders from London and the South East head to Greenwich this Saturday to showcase their talents in Cutty Sark Gardens. 

Young entrepreneurs, including traders from Royal Greenwich hoping to impress on home turf, will set up their stall to compete in the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) Young Market Traders regional final, an annual competition to find the best in the business aged between 16 and 30.    

Shoppers have the chance to browse over 70 stalls offering a range of unique goods from luxury gifts, food and drink to arts and crafts.   

Markets have long been a launchpad for successful businesses. Many well-known high street retailers - including Tesco, Marks & Spencer and Morrisons - started life as a market stall, meaning visitors on Saturday could even be buying from a future household name.  

Winners of the regional heats will enter the national final at a two-day market in Stratford-upon-Avon on 28 and 29 August, where 96 traders from across the UK will be in the running for Young Trader of the Year 2026.    

Councillor Asli Mohammed, Cabinet Member for Economy, Town Centres and Co-operatives, said: "Every successful business starts from somewhere. Markets are so much 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. I wish everyone taking part the best of luck."  

Rachid Ghailane, Market Operations Manager at Greenwich Market, stated: "Greenwich Market is proud to support the NMTF Young Traders Market and provide a platform for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Every year, we are delighted to support the Young Traders Market competition in collaboration with our local stakeholders and partners, helping young entrepreneurs gain valuable experience, exposure and confidence as they develop their brands. We are thrilled to welcome these talented traders to Greenwich and look forward to seeing residents and visitors discover the creativity, innovation and passion that make our markets such vibrant places to visit." 

Joe Harrison, Chief Executive of National Market Traders Federation, added: "It is with great thanks to Greenwich Market and the Royal Borough of Greenwich that we here at the NMFT are absolutely thrilled to bring this prestigious market event to the area around the famous Cutty Sark. The event is now in its fourteenth year and has been held in many other London boroughs but none of them next to such an iconic landmark. We wish every one of the young traders great successes and welcome the winners and highly commended traders from this event at the national final." 

Judging will take place throughout the afternoon with prizes given at 4pm. The judges are David Catterall, CEO of the National Association of British Market Authorities; Dr Les Johnson, Chair of the Windrush Museum; and Thomas Magill, Presenter and Reporter, BBC. 

NMTF was founded in 1899 and is a national trade association for market and street traders, event retailers and mobile caterers in the UK. The Young Traders Market was established over a decade ago to encourage younger people into the profession.   

The Young Traders Market is open for trading between 10am and 6:30pm on 18 July. The event has been organised in partnership with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Greenwich Market.  

Traders at the event will include: