A community-run street market has doubled its expectations for stallholder numbers, becoming “one of the most enjoyable and profitable markets to trade at in the North West” – and winning the West Zone Enterprise Category in the Towns Alive Awards.

Levenshulme Market – a community interest company which began trading in March 2013 after the failure of a short-lived predecessor – has developed from a monthly to a weekly market, and will distribute around £15,000 in Awards for residents to start market businesses and for market traders to grow their businesses into viable enterprises to operate on Levenshulme high street.

The market was established specifically to help regenerate the local high street retail environment – building skills, creating jobs and regenerating the economy. The business model is unique, say organisers: “we have a specific remit to empower the community to take ownership of their retail environment and build the skills, confidence and capacity of local people to create earning potential and increase the range of choice and opportunity.”

Judges’ comments:

“The disparity between a dying high street and an appetite for alternative shopping destinations is endemic in the UK. Levenshulme Market shows that there is a natural, profitable, community-led solution.”

See the Towns Alive website HERE