Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/538681
17 AWARDS UMIC ® UMIP ® UMI 3 SOCIAL ENTERPRISE LEVENSHULME MARKET FINALISTS IN BRITAIN'S BEST FOOD MARKET 2015 The weekly market in Levenshulme has been recognised for its pioneering work as a social enterprise which helps to empower its community to take ownership of the high street through its Market Fund, launched this year, as well as providing a "diverse range of high quality traders, with a changing roster of 50 artisan traders, [including] a variety of fresh produce and street food" and developing the market into a quality destination for food and drink retailers that has changed the face of markets in Manchester. The 15th BBC Food and Farming Awards celebrate the best of British food and those companies and individuals who grow, make and supply it. The Best Food Market category seeks to recognise Britain's food market pioneers - a regular market that brings together a wide range of great food producers, while serving a local community. The market was established by residents and local traders as a monthly market in 2013, with a launch funded by UnLtd and Manchester City Council. In 2014 the market became weekly, thanks to funding from UnLtd, via UMIP, which enabled the social enterprise to undertake a growth programme. The Market is now well established as one of the foremost markets in the North West and the business has recently begun operating "sister" markets in the Northern Quarter in Manchester and on The University of Manchester campus. Director, Helen Power, said: "UMIP and the University have been instrumental in the progress of the market via two different funding awards with UnLtd. We are also shortlisted in the University's Making a Difference Awards social enterprise category this year – I am an employee of the University and without the support we have received the business would not be where it is today." Fellow director Brenda Smith added: "This is an amazing accolade for us and we couldn't be prouder. We're obviously grateful to the BBC and to all of our supporters but the real thanks should go to the people of Levenshulme – they have embraced the idea of what we have been trying to do for nearly three years now and stuck with us when even we weren't sure it would work – our business is all about community and our community has made us what we are". Neil Buttery – a director of the market who established his successful food business in order to trade there and recently reached the finals of The Telegraph's Fabulous Foodie competition - said: "I am so pleased that Levenshulme has managed to achieve a great balance between its main aims: that it supports both burgeoning and established Levenshulme businesses whilst attracting a rich diversity of non-local businesses on a weekly basis from producers that residents simply could not find on their local high street." The market continues to go from strength to strength and will be held every week until December, offering shoppers an alternative to the supermarkets – with staples like bread, cheese, eggs, meat and fruit and veg accounting for around a third of the 50 stalls - with the remainder of the stalls being grouped around rotating weekly themes: > 1st Saturday of the month – Handmade and home: the market for modern craft and home wares - from photography and art to vintage furniture and hand-crafted jewellery > 2nd Saturday of the month – Food and drink: exclusively food and drink traders selling artisan produce and products > 3rd Saturday of the month – Fashion and flea: a market for lovers of style – the best vintage and modern fashion makers > 4th Saturday of the month – The best of the best – the North West's finest market traders gather for an end-of-month jamboree – anything from vintage vinyl to organically grown bedding plants > Where there are five Saturdays in the month, the market forgoes its Saturday market and instead lay on special Friday night markets that pick up on themes relevant to the time of year and other goings on in the city. For more information please contact Helen Power: 07853 266 598/info@levymarket.co.uk Web: www.levymarket.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/levymarket Twitter: @levymarket The team behind innovative social enterprise Levenshulme Market celebrated being named as a finalist in the hunt to find Britain's Best Food Market in the 2015 BBC Radio 4 Food and Farming Awards at a ceremony broadcast in May.