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Mission for Markets

Issue Three — New Skills for Market Managers Place Making FROM CUSTODIANS TO CURATORS “The job has moved on from a regulatory role. Now it has aspects of a business development, marketing and events management.” Market Manager, Newcastle-under-Lyme Roadshow There are 1,225 retail markets in the UK made up of 20 334 indoor markets, 373 street markets, 98 covered markets and 385 outdoor markets. Sixty-five per cent of the sector is in public ownership with 796 markets run by local government (predominantly principal authorities). This is because the power to control the buying and selling of goods was once controlled by rich landowners, the rights to which were subsequently bought by councils. Many have adopted legislation which enabled them to establish markets within their areas. These powers grant local authorities the right to operate markets and control the franchise of markets (including market-type events, eg fairs and festivals) within their jurisdictions, although there are some landowners who continue to enjoy the privileges. Others also run markets, including commercial companies, community interest groups, schools, colleges and enterprising individuals. There has been a surge in the number of non-public markets over the past five years and NABMA and the NMTF expect this trend to continue. During times of economic recession it is common for traditional retail markets to receive a boost. In the eighties and nineties, some market operators had a constant queue of casual traders turning up to trade on their markets. The role of the market manager was focused on regulation. Fast forward to 2015 and the retail industry has experienced seismic change. Ninety-four per cent of the UK population has access to at least three brands of supermarket within 15 minutes of home14. One pound in every seven is spent at Tesco15. Discounters, such as Aldi, are eroding the Big Four16. Internet retail has sustained a year-on-year growth since 2008. Average weekly spending online in May 2015 was £791.3 million and accounted for 12 per cent of all retail spending17. Led by an increase in smartphone use, experts forecast this will increase to 21.5 per cent by 201818. Retail markets are not the only ones struggling to compete. Since 2008 footfall across town centres has declined year on year and many continue to suffer with high vacancy rates. High streets are being encouraged to look “beyond retail”19. Traditionally markets have been a cash cow for many local authorities with profits syphoned off to bolster other services. But for 66 per cent of retail markets in the UK, the profitability of the markets service has either decreased or stayed the same since 2014. The retail markets sector is facing a period of renewal and it is clear that the traditional roles have changed. Working with and alongside market traders, NABMA and the NMTF are advocating that market officers move beyond custodianship to become curators of a market place. NUTS AND BOLTS “To run a markets service, you have to have a team with a diverse range of skills: accountancy, health and safety, business management, human resources – to name just a few.” Market Manager, Cambridge Roadshow Markets occupy varying positions within the portfolio of services provided by local authorities. Due to the squeeze on local government since 2008, many experienced market managers have left the sector. New entrants are increasingly being repositioned from other council departments. Officers therefore have diverse backgrounds and varying knowledge about market operations. It is common to have a division within a team between officers who are desk-based, often senior managers, and officers who are market-based, such as junior officers and rent collectors. In-house training is crucial to developing confidence, competence and skills. Consultation with the sector revealed that officers develop personal networks across markets authorities for support and guidance on a range of issues. Some are beginning to formalise these networks. A priority for NABMA is to provide training opportunities to professionalise market managers. Since 2011 more than 70 market officers have undertaken the Diploma in Market Administration (DMA), which provides an introduction to the skills needed to be a successful market officer. Courses recommended by those working within the sector include those run by the Institution of Occupational Health and Safety, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the British Institute of Facilities Management and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.


Mission for Markets
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