The National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) highly commended the team in their Market Heroes Awards 2021 with the ceremony taking place at their virtual conference this month. 

The awards recognised the service that markets and traders across the UK have made to support local communities during the ongoing challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic. As well as recognising the best market teams, there were also awards for market traders, market managers, market innovation and young market champion. 

The council took the management of the borough’s markets in-house in June last year and run markets in Workington, Wigton, Keswick and Silloth, although they are currently suspended due to the current coronavirus restrictions. A new markets manager, Phil Byers, was also appointed, joining the council from Geraud UK who’d previously ran the markets on the council’s behalf. 

With markets having been unable to run for significant periods this year, the council has looked to support traders and shoppers in the number of ways, including the launch of a virtual market allowing traders to continue to sell goods to the local community through online and home delivery methods. 

Cllr Mike Johnson, Allerdale Borough Council’s Deputy Leader and executive member for economic growth, community development and placemaking, said:

“I’d like to congratulate the markets team for this recognition from NABMA and thank them for their work since we took the management in-house. 

“There’s been a lot of challenges for markets since the start of the pandemic, but the team have certainly risen to them and provided a great service for our communities. We all look forward to having the markets safely back up and running again when restrictions allow.”