Market manager receives award for revival of Harborough's market town roots

The district council’s market and events manager for Harborough Indoor Market, Gail Bates, was crowned Small Market Manager of the Year by the National Association of British Market Authorities.

Despite being relatively new to the industry, Gail has led a significant revamp of the town’s historic market, creating a thriving and community-centred marketplace with events including the Comedy Festival and Young Trader Markets.

While Gail manages the indoor and outdoor markets held in The Square and other council-led events, she also works under the guise of Guardian of the Historic Market Charter for Market Harborough, granted to the town in 1204.

Gail’s post began in April 2022 when the market was still suffering the after-effects of the pandemic, when some units remained empty and traders were often few.

So Gail and her team set to work to breathe new life into the market.

She explained: “We had a refresh of the branding with a new logo which has been transposed onto the windows on Northampton Road with funky graphics which give the market kerb appeal. A new website was already being worked on, but we completed that project and got the site live.”

And the team’s work didn’t stop there.

Following the breakdown of the heating system on the food hall last year, they took the opportunity to improve the foodhall and give it a much-needed makeover.

Gail says the investment in the building and an improved social media presence has attracted traders far and wide.

Now the market has 25 permanent traders and more than 100 casual traders selling produce from fruit and veg, cheese and fish to clothing, accessories, gifts, haberdashery and biltong.

But Gail says a thriving market is so much more than selling and buying goods.

She explains: “They provide a space for people to not only buy great produce at great prices, but to also socialise and support the local economy. Markets have been in our communities for centuries and have always been a place for people to meet and trade.

“The modern market has changed a bit in that now we have a nice warm café and different items to buy, but the premise is still the same, but without the cattle!

“Markets are at the heart of towns. You couldn’t have Market Harborough without a market. The clue is in the title!”

She also points out markets can serve as a gateway for new businesses.

She added: “We recently held a local Young Trader market as part of a national campaign, and were delighted that one of our traders went on to win the National Young Trader of the Year award. Plus we supported a number of other young traders in starting up their small business.

“A number of great businesses started on markets. Dunelm is one such business, starting on Leicester Market in the 1970s.”

The market team is also behind the annual Christmas Light Switch on, taking place on November 23 in the Square this year.

And in 2025, residents and visitors can look forward to a comedy festival in February, a steampunk event in March and a VE Day 80th anniversary celebration in May.