A young trader at Ashby Artisan Market will soon be heading to Wolverhampton for the last leg of a regional competition.

Traders winning awards at Coalville's Newmarket and Ashby Artisan Market's young traders events are preparing for the regional final of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) Young Traders Market awards.

The Jam Lab is one of three traders who will go on to the regional finals this Saturday.

Shaquille Hinds, owner of The Jam Lab, is pictured above at the Artisan Market which is held every month at the North Street car park in Ashby.

Dennys Paints was awarded the overall winner of the North West Leicestershire District Council's (NWLDC) local events, which acted as a springboard to the main regional and national competitions.

Jake Dennys, owner of Dennys Paints, overall winner of the young trader event at Newmarket in Coalville

The other entrepreneur - aged between 16 and 30, who also won awards at the Coalville event, was Soothing Stones.

If successful, the traders could then go on to battling it out in the national final over the August bank holiday for a chance to win a prestigious award and a £500 cash prize.

The aim of the North West Leicestershire events was to give young traders the opportunity to develop business ideas and encourage more younger people into the retail markets industry.

Traders interested in trialling a business idea can use Newmarket as a springboard into the business world and can get in touch with the council's markets team HERE. 

Councillor Andrew Woodman, Portfolio Holder for Community Services at NWLDC, said: "It's great to see all three traders make it to the regional final of the NMTF Young Traders Market awards.

"The local young traders markets are a great opportunity for young entrepreneurs to showcase their talent and our markets team were really impressed with each of their business ideas.

(L-R) Claire Lambert, Commercial Facilities Officer at NWLDC, Kyra Barboutis, owner of Soothing Stones and Clare Proudfoot, Environmental Protection Team Manager at NWLDC at Newmarket in Coalville.

"We'll be cheering on all three traders from the side lines - good luck to all those that have made it to the finals!"

Joe Harrison, NMTF CEO, said: "The support to our national campaign by market operators staging their own local events has been great this year, and we are so grateful to North West Leicestershire District Council for holding young traders markets at Coalville and Ashby.

"The campaign is now in its 10th year and since its inception has exceeded all our expectations.

"But that should not be surprising, since more and more operators are increasingly aware that for their retail markets to continue to thrive, they need younger traders to carry on the tradition. In that way not only can we hope for markets full of traders but also that they become an attraction for younger shoppers who like what these entrepreneurs are making and selling."