Can you join the NMTF?

The NMTF is a trade association for market and street traders, events retailers and mobile caterers in the UK. You must be a permanent UK resident and over 16 years of age to join the NMTF.

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. Ultimately, this is at the discretion of the Directors.

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. Find guidance on legal structures here. You need the correct membership for your business. Not sure about the legal structure of your business? Contact us.

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 from businesses trading from shop units.

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. 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.

Everyone has a different trading model. Some businesses break the mould.

On top of market and street traders, events retailers and mobile caterers, here’s a list of traders who are also eligible to join the NMTF:

  • Traders in the aisles of shopping centres
  • Traders in hospitals
  • Traders who work single shows e.g. fetes and concerts
  • Traders with stalls/stands outside stations, football grounds and the like
  • Traders at exhibitions and trade fairs
  • Traders who work on piers
  • Traders with kiosks, including those at shopping centres