Friday November 13, 2009

Dear colleague,

Welcome to NABMA's 'new look' monthly newsletter. This issue is a trial. We value your feedback.

Government Supports Recommendations of CLG Committee

We have worked for this result for a number of years so when the Government announced it was adopting all the recommendations of the CLG Committee you will appreciate that there was considerable celebration at NABMA. It is important that we fully appreciate the importance of the Government announcement. This is the first time that markets have had formal recognition within Government. A new body has been set up to promote and strengthen markets. This body will cover all relevant Government departments and will report to two Government Ministers. In Rose Winterton and Jim Fitzpatrick we have two market champions who will take an active interest in the future of the markets industry.

The new body will hold its first meeting at the beginning of December and we will be looking to settle the terms of reference and also consider a work programme for the next twelve months. High on the agenda are likely to be issues concerning new start opportunities for traders, food issues, strengthening and improving management structures within the markets industry and attracting new businesses. NABMA will be represented on the new body by myself and Chris Zasada, Policy Manager and Malcolm Viegas. However we hope that there will be an opportunity for other NABMA representatives to attend at various stages to contribute on specific issues. Hopefully we will see the setting up of working groups within the main structure of the new body and these working groups will deal with specific issues that are delegated to them.

At the same time NABMA is working with Dave Goddard, Leader of Stockport Council and LGA Markets Champion, to ensure that there is an effective response from the Local Government Association. The CLG report struck a balance between the roles of both the Government and the Local Government Association and while we are delighted that the Government has responded in a very positive way our next task must to be ensure that there is a similar level of response from the LGA.

You will find further information in this newsletter concerning forthcoming events. It is important that we celebrate the good things about markets through Market of Year and our forthcoming one day conference “Building Better Markets”.

Graham Wilson, Chief Executive

NABMA/KPR Midlink Market Of The Year 2010

You will already have received your entry form and I hope that there will be an excellent response for this year’s competition. We have extended the categories of entry so there is something for every NABMA member. Of course there is no reason why you cannot enter the same market in different categories. Listed below are the categories of this year’s competition:

Best Street/Outdoor Market
Best Private Market
Best Wholesale Market
Best Indoor Market Hall
Best Small Market (no more than 50 stalls)
Best Speciality Market
Britain’s Favourite Market

The last category is an online competition which will start on 1st December. Further details of this competition will be sent out shortly.

Let’s make our 2010 the best year yet. Closing date is 21st December so make sure you get your entry forms in good time prior to that date particularly if the postal strikes continue.

Market Snippets

Congratulations to Ian Kelly and his team at Tameside for scooping the Greater Manchester Chamber Building Award 2009. Ian was responsible for the rebuilding of the Ashton Market, following the terrible fire, and clearly the finished product has delighted the judges in this competition. Congratulations to Ian and again markets demonstrate the clear contribution that they make to town centre success.

Keeping with the Manchester theme congratulations are also in order to Manchester City Council who became the first NABMA member to sign up to the “Real Deal” initiative. It is understood that around six NABMA members were vying to be first in the frame but Manchester got there first on 28th October. Hopefully we will see more markets signing up to “Real Deal” before the end of the year. This is another way to demonstrate the improving quality of markets and give consumers real confidence.

Reference is made earlier to the setting up of the Government’s new body to consider the future of traditional markets. Running alongside this new body is a Defra group that will be looking at food issues. Chris Zasada, NABMA’s Policy Manager, has been invited to join this group and it is hoped that there will be some connection between the two groups as the food issue is one of vital importance to the future wellbeing of markets. It is also important that we use both the CLG and Defra groups to bring together the wholesale and retail interests.

European Services Directive

Deadline day for the implementation of the Directive is looming. 28th December is only a few weeks away. NABMA is working hard to ensure that members receive good advice on the requirements of the Directive. We have now scheduled a Retail Forum for 3rd December at Halton when we will be spending most of the session on the implications of the Directive. It is intended, following the Retail Forum, to write out to all members with a checklist of the things that need to be done by 28th December. Prior to compiling this newsletter a survey was undertaken of NABMA members and it is clear that the vast majority of those responding have had little or no advice and have done nothing to prepare for the Directive. Clearly this is something that needs to be addressed and we are trying to work with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills to find a solution that we can implement effectively by 28th December.

Building Better Markets Conference

NABMA’s one day conference will be coming up shortly. Booking forms for this event have already been circulated. The focus of the conference will be on the background to the CLG report and also the policy document published by the Retail Markets Alliance on 23rd November.

We will also be covering issues like the European Services Directive and presenting some case studies illustrating good practice in markets. The conference will also see the presentation of the Market of the Year Awards 2010.
Booking forms can be obtained via the NABMA website or on application from the NABMA office. An earlybird discount applies until the end of December. Please make sure you book early for this important conference.

To book your space please click here