Find a list below of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) to our Membership Department. These questions relate to membership of the NMTF. You are welcome to contact us if you would like further information.
Membership of the NMTF includes:
- Public, Product and Employer’s Liability Protection – trade anywhere in the EU, claims up to £10 million, unlimited stalls, zero excess
- HMRC Investigations Protection – full, aspect and intervention enquiries
- Password-protected online Members Area – business support guides, community forum
- Legal and financial helplines – staffed by expert solicitors and accountants
- Expert Advice – guidance on any small business matters
- Monthly e-bulletins – keeping you in the know
- Market Near Me – list your business in our markets database
- Supplier discounts – special deals from companies you can trust
- Lobbying – fighting for your interests at the national level
- NMTF Groups – join or form a local traders’ association backed by the NMTF
You can renew your membership of NMTF here or over the phone by calling 01226 749 021 and speaking to the Membership Department (office hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Founded in 1899 as the National Market Traders Federation, the NMTF incorporated in July 2016 to become NMTF Ltd. Our Articles of Association state that market and street traders, events retailers and mobile caterers that trade in market-type businesses will be admitted to membership of the NMTF.
What’s important for us is how you get your products in front of customers – your trading model, if you like.
If the main way you do business is by selling direct to customers, person to person, over a table, stall or through a serving hatch; and you do this on an itinerant basis, traveling from place to place – you’re welcome to join the NMTF.
If the main way you do business is by selling direct to customers, person to person, from a fixed unit in an indoor or outdoor market – you too, are welcome to join the NMTF.
We are unable to admit applications to join the NMTF from businesses trading from shop units.
NMTF membership is personal, but covers the business you’re involved in and the annual fee is based on the legal structure of your business. Most people register as a sole trader, a partnership of a limited company. You need the correct membership for your business.
If you want to join the NMTF but you’re struggling to class your main trading activity as that of of a market or street trader, events retailer or mobile caterer, contact us on 01226 749 021 or [email protected] (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
It’s always worth asking and we’re happy to talk with you about your business. After speaking with you, we may ask you to send us some photos of your stall or unit to help us to decide your eligibility to join the NMTF.
The subscription rates for membership of the NMTF are decided annually by the directors of NMTF Ltd.
From July 2024, membership of the NMTF costs:
- £150 for a sole trader – a single membership
- £225 for two people in partnership – a dual membership
- £300 for three people in partnership – a triple membership
- £375 for four people in partnership – a quadruple membership
Business partners must be added to the same membership. This allows complete access to the range of services provided by the NMTF.
All business partners must be named to ensure that the business is covered under the public, product and employer’s liability protection for members.
We define a business partnership as:
In a business partnership, you and your business partner (or partners) personally share responsibility for your business. You can share all your business’ profits between the partners. Each partner pays tax on their share of the profits.
In the case of a limited company or limited liability partnership, every director of the business must be a member of NMTF.
Payment of the appropriate subscription fee is a request for immediate access to membership. Therefore, subscription fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
For more information, contact the Membership Department by telephone on 01226 749 021 or email at [email protected] (office hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
You can pay for membership of the NMTF by the following methods:
- ONLINE via debit or credit card
- TELEPHONE via debit or credit card
- POST via cheque, postal order or registered cash
- IN PERSON via debit, credit card, cheque, postal order or cash
- BACS via internet banking or at your local bank
NMTF accepts Visa, Visa Debit, Visa Electron, MasterCard and Solo. American Express cards are not accepted. Maestro is not accepted online but can be used to pay over the phone.
Members can renew their membership annually by DIRECT DEBIT.
Members who pay by Direct Debit receive a discount of £5 from their subscription rate! Two weeks’ notice is required before a member’s expiry date to set up a Direct Debit.
For more information, contact the Membership Department by telephone on 01226 749 021 or email at [email protected] (office hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
No, membership of the NMTF cannot be paid for in instalments. This is to ensure that all members of the NMTF receive the same level of service.
Crucially, this avoids potential fraudulent use of the NMTF’s public, product and employer’s liability protection for members.
No, membership of the NMTF is personal but covers the business you’re involved in.
In the case of a limited company or limited liability partnership, every director of the business must be a member of NMTF.
If business partners are not members, they will be refused access to services provided by NMTF, which includes public, product and employer’s liability protection.
Membership of the NMTF is annual and runs for 12 months. However, you may notice your expiry date is slightly different than this.
Expiry dates are brought forward roughly a couple of weeks so we can remind you in enough time to renew your membership (delays for the post, etc.)
On your expiry date, your inclusion under the liability protection for members of NMTF is temporarily lifted – it is in your best interest to renew before your expiry date.
If you do not renew your membership within 28 days you will become lapsed. Renewal after this period means there is a break in membership from your date of expiry to your date of re-joining.
When you renew before you become lapsed, 12 months are added to your original expiry date so in another year, we can remind you in enough time to renew your membership.
You don’t have one. Public, product and employer’s liability protection is a blanket policy for all members and individuals are covered as long as their membership has not expired.
If an operator is demanding a letter of indemnity, these can be supplied on request through the Membership Department.
The Membership Department can be contacted by telephone on 01226 749 021 or email at [email protected] (office hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
We hope members will never have to cancel their membership of the NMTF.
However, we understand that in some cases, such as retirement or bereavement, that membership of the NMTF needs to be stopped.
To speak with us about cancelling your membership of NMTF, contact the Membership Department by telephone on 01226 749 021 or email at [email protected]
Please note that the subscription fees for membership of NMTF are non-transferable and non-refundable.
The NMTF has a strict policy about handling complaints from our members. To make a complaint, please follow the procedure below:
Write to Joe Harrison, Chief Executive, either by email to [email protected] or by post to: NMTF Ltd, Hampton House, Hawshaw Lane, Hoyland, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S74 0HA.
Supply the following details: Your membership number, date(s) the incident occurred, person(s) and/or organisation(s) involved and a brief description of the complaint.
Complaints will then be distributed to appropriate senior management and you will be contacted within five working days to discuss your complaint and reach a resolution.