Market co-ordinator lands national role

The co-ordinator of Marlborough’s successful Communities Market has been selected to spearhead a national campaign involving 500 markets and 3,000 stallholders.

Ellie Gill has been appointed manager of the Love Your Local Market Roadshow, a government-backed initiative led by the country’s leading markets organisation, the National Association of British Market Authorities.

“Naturally I have a real interest in bringing this event to Wiltshire and hope to be working with town councils and Wiltshire Council in showcasing the best of what our county has to offer,” Ellie told Marlborough News Online.

“And of course we’ll be putting on something special in Marlborough to celebrate Love Your Local Market fortnight.”

Love Your Local Market was conceived in 2012, following the publication of retail guru Mary Portas’ review into revitalising town centres.

Around 200 local authority markets – including Salisbury and Devizes – took part in events last June.

New traders and business start-ups were offered a Table for a Tenner, a promotion that was adopted by Marlborough Communities Market on its launch last summer.

New traders wishing to take part in Marlborough Communities Market’s Love Your Local Market event on Sunday, 19 May should contact Ellie at marlboroughcommunitiesmkt@gmail.com to find out whether they qualify for the Table for a Tenner scheme.

The national roadshow will also include Harrogate at Farm & More on February 12, Borough Market, Southwark on February 21, Darlington on February 21, Wisbech on March 7, Scunthorpe on March 8, Barnsley on March 13, Loughborough on March 21 and Bolton on March 28.

The next Marlborough Communities Market will be held on Sunday, February 3. And from March the market will be held bi-monthly, with events on March 3 and 17. For a full list of dates, log on to http://marlboroughmarket.org.uk