Last weekend, Place For Youth transformed Nuneaton into a vibrant, youth-led marketplace full of energy, creativity and enterprise which demonstrated the incredibly powerful role that young people can play in shaping the future of their town centres.

Delivered as part of a new Warwickshire-wide model for Teenage Market activity, made possible thanks to support from Warwickshire County Council, the event brought together 20 young traders from Nuneaton and surrounding towns to take part in a day of youth-led creativity.

Demand to take part was exceptionally high, with more than 40 applications received to take part — a clear signal of the appetite amongst young people for opportunities to showcase their ideas, develop their skills and build their businesses.

A Platform That Delivers Real Impact

The results from the day highlight both the economic and social value of creating space for young people in our town centres:

💷 £1,600+ generated by young traders
🛍️ 446 products sold
👣 3,823 visitors to the town centre
🆕 1,247 new visitors
🔁 2,576 repeat visitors
⏱️ Dwell time increased by 5.12% compared to the regular Saturday market
⏰ Peak trading time: 1pm – 2pm

These figures demonstrate more than just strong trading performance — they show how youth-led activity can drive increased footfall, attract new audiences, and encourage people to stay longer and engage more deeply with their local high streets.

“We Were All Teens Trying Our Best”

Beyond the numbers, the impact on the young people involved is what truly defines the success of the Teenage Market.

Lilly, aged 16, reflected on the experience:

“I felt really comfortable… we were all teens trying our best.”

For many young traders, the opportunity is not just about making sales — it’s about building confidence, finding community and taking meaningful steps towards their future.

Emilia, aged 9, shared how the experience is already helping her grow her business:

“I used the money I made to buy more materials for my business.”

And for Bentley, aged 14, the event provided something just as valuable:

“I enjoyed seeing how many people love what I love.”

These moments capture the essence of what the Teenage Market is all about — creating a supportive, low-risk environment where young people can test ideas, develop skills, and feel a genuine sense of belonging and achievement.

A Model for Town Centre Renewal

Alongside strong footfall and increased dwell time, the event generated an overwhelmingly positive public response. New audiences engaged with Nuneaton town centre, and there is already growing interest in expanding the model, with discussions underway to bring a Teenage Market to Bedworth.

For local authorities and place leaders, the model is simple but powerful:

Activate underused space. Support young people. Create reasons for people to spend time in town centres.

By placing young people at the heart of placemaking, we can unlock new energy, drive economic activity, and build more inclusive, vibrant places.

Building Momentum Across Warwickshire

The Nuneaton event marks another important step in delivering a coordinated programme of Teenage Market activity across Warwickshire.

The next event will take place in Rugby town centre on Saturday 4th April, delivered in partnership with Rugby Borough Council, continuing to build momentum and create new opportunities for young traders across the county.

Working in Partnership

This work would not be possible without strong local partnerships. We would like to extend a huge thank you to:

Audrey Brown and Julia Aratoon, Warwickshire County Council
Chris Parry, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council
Julie Flower and Dawn Williams, Nuneaton BID
Emma Clue, All Communities Matter

And to photographers Trevor Price and Paul Phipps-Williams for capturing the day.

Get Involved

If you are a local authority, BID, or place leader looking to drive footfall, support young people and bring fresh energy into your town centre, we would love to work with you.

Together, we can create places where young people don’t just live — but lead.

#Placemaking #TownCentres #YouthEngagement #EconomicDevelopment #CreativeEconomy #SocialImpact #LocalGovernment #TeenageMarket

Energy, Enterprise and Footfall brought to Nuneaton Town Centre