Following our news story on page six, allow us to introduce all the other remarkable young traders who took part in #NYM2017, showcasing the very best in youth entrepreneurship.

Tom (24) of The Cocoa Caravan, came from the Midlands with his £500, vintage limited-edition caravan, which he has spent a lot of money refurbishing and kitting out

Tom (24) of The Cocoa Caravan, came from the Midlands with his £500, vintage limited-edition caravan, which he has spent a lot of money refurbishing and kitting out. He started out selling hot drinks and cakes a year ago and uses real melted chocolate in his hot chocolate – mmmm! Tom is supported by The Princes Trust and this was his first NYM, however, he can be found at shows and festivals around the country as this is now his full-time job. thecocoacaravan@gmail.com

Rebecca of Cakes by Rebecca is just 17 and this was her first market having previously traded to friends and via Facebook just a few months earlier

Rebecca of Cakes by Rebecca is just 17 and this was her first market having previously traded to friends and via Facebook just a few months earlier. She would consider trading in markets, part-time to supplement her studies. Her ‘drip’ cakes, such as the Jammy Dodger one was her best seller and she also had dairy and gluten free options. Beccyboo1999@aol.com

Holly of Pogs Handmade has been selling her jewellery designs for eight years, since she was 18 and trades at Manchester markets

Holly of Pogs Handmade has been selling her jewellery designs for eight years, since she was 18 and trades at Manchester markets, as well as online and even has some of her pieces in local shops. Her whimsical pieces are inspired by the things she loves, books (in particular Alice in Wonderland) music and nature. She is completely self-taught and makes things she would wear herself. www.pog.bigcartel.com

Mehtaab (19) or Taabi as she is known as, only started trading in May and has already sold at Blackburn’s Festival of Making and the Bolton Teenage Market

Mehtaab (19) or Taabi as she is known as, only started trading in May and has already sold at Blackburn’s Festival of Making and the Bolton Teenage Market. What started as a hobby baking, she continued with a GCSE in catering, a patisserie course at Blackburn College and is now studying Hospitality Management. She came up with the concept of Taabi’s Treat Box, which was a selection of her traybakes, cupcakes and drip cakes. taabistreats@gmail.com

Emily of Em & J’s Candle & Craft Quest (The J is for Julie, her mum) got a candle making kit for Christmas and started selling candles in March

Emily of Em & J’s Candle & Craft Quest (The J is for Julie, her mum) got a candle making kit for Christmas and started selling candles in March. She is a regular at markets and boot sales having been taken along as a child with her Mum and Grandmother. Emily, who is 24 and can be seen at Barnsley Market, specialises in the soy candles in jars whilst Julie makes moulded candles from paraffin. She also has a range of bath products, including bombs and soaps to compliment the candles. With prices started at just 30p for some of the soaps, she is very pocket money friendly. Candlecraftquest2017@outlook.com

Peacock & Juno are vegan food purveyors, preparing and cooking many of the dishes themselves

Peacock & Juno are vegan food purveyors, preparing and cooking many of the dishes themselves. The company has been trading for a year and is a regular at the Manchester Youth Markets and can also be found at various food and drink festivals. At the market, they had two types of filled bagel, mock duck noodles and ‘sausage’ rolls. I really wanted to try the noodles but with a camera and note pad in tow, it wasn’t a viable option to walk around and eat, so I tried a sausage roll; pretty good too, a bit of mustard and it would have been bang on! Both Fidel (27, pictured) and his partner work full time and so this is a weekend hobby. Find them on Facebook: @PeacockAndJuno

David McDonald (left) is the owner of Georgie Banger Company and is a third-generation sausage maker

David McDonald (left) is the owner of Georgie Banger Company and is a third-generation sausage maker. He decided in 2013 to try making a variety of the family recipe sausages, giving them a Geordie twist and selling them at markets. At 27, he now has a successful business and trades at markets and events throughout the UK. Liam works with him and was busy cooking and handing out samples of some of the ten varieties they had for sale. The sausages are 80% pork shoulder and use natural casings. I can vouch for the award-winning Geordie Banger; the rest are in my freezer. www.geordiebangercompany.co.uk

Helen (24) is the owner of The Mad Hatter’s Tearoom in Southport Indoor Market, which she began three years ago

Helen (24) is the owner of The Mad Hatter’s Tearoom in Southport Indoor Market, which she began three years ago. She graduated with a degree and no work experience and after repeated job application ‘knock-backs’, she set up the tea rooms which is now her full-time job. Despite admitting that she works too much, she told MTN: “I wouldn’t change it for the world.” She took part in NYM last year and loved it so much, she jumped on the opportunity to re-apply. Although cakes are her main line, she also hand paints ceramics. She was wrapping this teapot up for a customer. See her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/madhatterstearoomsouthport/

This was Grant Lopo’s (centre) second stint at NYM as he attended two-years previously. Grant (20) is a Chef de Partie at James Martin, Manchester and sells cakes on the side

This was Grant Lopo’s (centre) second stint at NYM as he attended two-years previously. Grant (20) is a Chef de Partie at James Martin, Manchester and sells cakes on the side. Granted Cakes is the business name and as well as cupcakes, he also makes celebration cakes and the market was an ideal opportunity for him to get his name out for his online business. To draw attention to his stall, he was holding a raffle to win a cake, his helpers were busy handing out leaflets and he also had samples to taste. He told me he doesn’t eat cakes himself but seems to have a happy throng of tasters among his family and friends. www.granted-cakes.co.uk

Scarlett has recently returned from studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and brought her delicate and intricate French patisserie to the NYM

Scarlett has recently returned from studying at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and brought her delicate and intricate French patisserie to the NYM. She had only traded at one other market, at The Lowry, the previous week. She had a sublime range of pastel macarons, brioche doughnuts and mirror-glazed entremets. For those not familiar with these types of bakes, samples were available and resistance was fruitless. At just 20, Scarlett intends to try trading at more markets and continue with her online business, where she also promotes her celebration cakes. www.patisseriereine.co.uk

Stefanie of The Sugar Kitchen has an online business and is a regular at Radcliffe Market’s Friday Food Nights

Stefanie of The Sugar Kitchen has an online business and is a regular at Radcliffe Market’s Friday Food Nights, which she tells me have become really popular. This was her first city centre market and she brought her dad along for support. Her main line on display was her individual, gluten free bundts, although she was also selling cakes by the slice. Her most popular is red velvet but the one drawing the most attention was the custard cream cake (shudder!) Stef is 29 and from Bury. www.tskbaking.co.uk

The market was predominantly female and so it was good to meet Jess Brett, who at ‘just 16’, was the youngest trader at NYM

The market was predominantly female and so it was good to meet Jess Brett, who at ‘just 16’, was the youngest trader at NYM. Being young by no means makes him inexperienced, he started at Stockport Teenage Market when he was 11 and has attended 150 markets in the last four years. He creates coasters, fridge magnets, mobiles and cubes out of Hama beads which he melts together to form the images. Having just completed his GCSE’s he will be continuing his studies and his Saturday market trading. He spoke highly of the Teenage Market scheme and his mum told me how it had brought him out of his shell.
www.facebook.com/beadsbyjess

As the name suggests, Charlotte’s Eggs are eggs that are sold by Charlotte

As the name suggests, Charlotte’s Eggs are eggs that are sold by Charlotte. Let’s be honest, eggs aren’t beautiful, but the effort that Charlotte put in to her display made them eye-catching and appealing. Her eggs are different from the usual offerings in that she had extra-large eggs, Jumbo free range, quail’s eggs and double yolkers. Most of her eggs come from her friend’s farm and are free range. At 26, Charlotte’s Eggs is a full-time business, trading two-days a week at Beeston Market and supplementing her income with part-time bar work. This was her second consecutive year at NYM.

MTN has mentioned Candy Warhol before, they were the winners of the Youthquake Market that took place during LYLM

MTN has mentioned Candy Warhol before, they were the winners of the Youthquake Market that took place during LYLM (See MTN September 2017, Issue 209) so it was great to meet Lauren and Manon who studied at university together, graduating last year. Lauren had made a few pompom earrings and painted some T shirts and Manon was making patches and now they both do everything. Their range is based on their own style and at 23, although they are both working full-time, they hope to continue at Portobello Road Market to the end that Candy Warhol is their full-time business. candywarholcreations@gmail.com

My award for the most impressive item at NYM was on the Cake Magic stand. Demi, 22, is based at Stevenage Indoor Market and her Alice in Wonderland inspired, tiered cake was jaw-dropping. She was selling cupcakes to entice people in, but was focussing mostly on her celebration cakes. Since she came to the NYM last year, she has expanded her business to include cupcake workshops which she hosts at children’s parties.
www.demiscakemagic.co.uk

My award for the most impressive item at NYM was on the Cake Magic stand. Demi, 22
Last, but by no means least is Beth of Be Manc who has introduced a range of Manchester streetwear

Last, but by no means least is Beth of Be Manc who has introduced a range of Manchester streetwear. Anyone who is a Mancunian or knows one, knows how fiercely proud they are of their city, even more so after this year’s terrorist attack on their city. Beth’s clothes are available online and she was taking orders for items as we spoke. Beth is from Stockport and started the brand after studying for a fashion degree at Liverpool university where she created ‘Manchood’ and then the Be Manc brand followed.
www.bemanc.co.uk