Not even the might of Storm Lilian could put a dampener on the NMTF’s Young Traders Market National Final which saw scores of talented young people vying for the title of the UK’s top young market trader of 2024 over the two-day event at Stratford-upon-Avon.

The 12th annual final, held over the August bank holiday weekend, was another thronged event with around 90 young traders who had impressed the judges in 10 regional finals across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In the end the accolade of Young Trader of the Year 2024 went to map maker and illustrator Alice Smith, 30, who began drawing every home in the Leicestershire village during lockdown and now has a flourishing business selling her unique and original artwork.

Joe Harrison, the NMTF’s CEO, said the event for 16 to 30-year-olds aimed to nurture and showcase young talent and encourage more young entrepreneurs to start their journeys on markets.

“Once again the initiative has been a phenomenal success, with enterprising young people taking part in heats on markets up and down the country, followed by regional finals across England, Wales and Northern Ireland,” he said.

The final took place for the seventh successive year on the Waterside in Stratford-upon-Avon, against the backdrop of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the River Avon.

As Storm Lilian took its toll on markets and events elsewhere, LSD Promotions, the Stourbridge-based markets and events operator that helps stage the final, pulled out all the stops to ensure it went ahead.

Over two days of busy trading, the young entrepreneurs sold their products in one of four categories: Food and Drink; Arts and Crafts; General Retail; and Grocery. In addition, there were four Young Traders of the Future, all under the age of 16 but already making waves selling their original products on markets.

Products sold covered everything from dog treats to artwork, bakery goods, delicious street Food and Drink, not to mention Jessica Tucker’s hand-sculpted candles of dogs and bottoms. Jessica’s claim to fame is that she was a mould maker for a TV and film company and helped to sculpt the hands and feet of the Star Wars character Chewbacca.

Announcing the winners, Joe said the standard and quality was so high that all the young traders should consider themselves winners, and he thanked the chairman of Stratford-on-Avon District Council Coun Jenny Fradgley and the Town Mayor Coun Jason Fojtik.

Coun Fradgley said she hoped that people beyond the town of Stratford had been inspired by the quality and entrepreneurship of so many young people.

And Coun Fojtik said: “This has to be the best market I have ever been to in my life. The quality of the traders and the efforts and the work that has gone into it is amazing. You are the future of market trading.”

The winner of the Food and Drink category was Sophie Thornton who runs Fizz Origin selling cocktails and sparkling wine. Fred Harman of The Selfish Spirits Company and Wen Fong of Cloud Nine Candy Floss were highly commended.

The Arts and Crafts category was won by Alice Smith, with Lai Ting Kwan of So Blossom and Sam Gill of Behaviour Change Cornwall highly commended.

The Grocery section was won by Lydia Dunn of Bites Baking Company. Daniel Cook of Dan And The Bees and Sin Hang Ho of The Teapot Bakery were highly commended.

And Libby Ramsden of Herd and Hive triumphed in the General Retail category. Abigail Proctor who runs Abi Through The Ears and Jessica Tucker of Tuckers FX Candles were highly commended in the same category.

This year the judges were successful candidates from previous finals. They were Frankie Farrar of Stirring Silver, Sophie Mann of Sophie Mann Textiles Design and Ben Staves of Ben Staves Art.

The People’s Choice, which was voted on by members of the public, went to Zak Boffey for his fashion brand Without A Cause.

Alice Smith said she was over the moon to be named the NMTF Young Trader of 2024.

“I began in lockdown when I started drawing every house in my village,” she said. Her business has progressed to maps of England and National Parks and she is now a successful and award-winning entrepreneur with her art business AVMS Art.

Libby Ramsden, 24, explained that she started her business selling honey from the bees on her partner’s Yorkshire farm to diversify from farming. She then bought a herd of goats and sells goats’ milk soap alongside her bee products on markets in “God’s Own County”.

Sophie Thornton, 28, from Coventry, said her business has started in a somewhat random fashion. After working in hospitality for many years she longed to be her own boss. When her stepfather spotted a drinks trailer for sale online, she jumped at the opportunity.

“Now I trade on a lot of LSD events and I have travelled as far as Wales to sell,” she said.

Lydia Dunn, 25 and from Durham, said she had always loved baking so began selling her baked goods on markets.

“Customers told me that they would like to try a lot of my different baked goods rather than just one large slice, so I rebranded as Bites selling a selection of small bites,” she said.

Zak Boffey, 18, of Nantwich, said he reassessed what he wanted to do after suffering several footballing injuries.

“I love fashion and I felt there was a gap in the market for the kind of fashion I like at an affordable price.”

He is now selling fashion from his own brand, Without A Cause, online and at markets in the Nantwich and Crewe area.

As overall winner, Alice received £700 (£500 as overall winner and £200 as a category winner), a year’s free membership of the NMTF, free membership of online events and traders’ directory Pedddle and a mobile credit terminal provided by Multipay.

The other category winners each received £200 in cash.

A collection from young traders at the event raised £444 for the Mayor’s charities, The Shakespeare Hospice and The Sepsis Trust, which the NMTF pledged to match the fund.

Category Winners

Highly Commended Winners

The 2024 People Choice Award

The Judges

Special Thank You

A further thank you to: