Support the next generation of entrepreneurs at the Young Trader Competition regional final!

15 Jul 2025

Following the success of the local heat, our young entrepreneurs will be back competing in the regional final of the Young Trader Competition 2025 in Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday 30 July.

Young entrepreneurs aged 16 to 30 from across the East of England will showcase their businesses, competing in four categories: General Retail, Arts and Crafts, Food and Drink, and Grocery.

Traders will be evaluated by a panel of respected local judges on key criteria including product quality, customer service, professionalism, and collaboration with fellow traders.

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council, said: “We are proud to welcome the regional final of the Young Trader Competition to Bury St Edmunds once again. This event is a brilliant opportunity for young entrepreneurs to gain experience, build confidence and connect with our vibrant thriving communities. I really encourage the local community in all parts of our district to go and support our young entrepreneurs whilst discovering the range of exciting and unique products on offer, showcasing their exceptional talent and creative abilities.”

Joe Harrison, CEO of National Market Traders Federation (NMTF), said: “Bury St Edmunds hosted the first ever Young Traders Market regional final in the East of England in 2021, which went incredibly well. We needed enthusiastic traders selling an excellent range of goods and we definitely got that! But a great deal of success of the competition is the time and effort put in by the market operators. The team at West Suffolk Council did such a tremendous job that we are very happy to be returning for the fifth year on the run.”

Winners from this regional heat will go on to represent the area at the national final in Stratford-upon-Avon, taking place over the August bank holiday weekend.

The NMTF Young Trader Competition is a nationwide initiative designed to encourage and support young people in market trading. West Suffolk Council continues to back the campaign by providing essential equipment, covering insurance costs, and championing opportunities for young business owners across the district.

To find out more about trading at West Suffolk markets, contact: markets@westsuffolk.gov.uk 

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