Rochdale
The Rochdale Teenage Market has given young traders and performers free space to showcase their creativity in one of the town’s most iconic civic buildings, while growing into a wider programme of youth enterprise activity across the borough.
🏛️ Creativity in the Town Hall
The Teenage Market first came to Rochdale on Saturday 12 October 2024, delivered in partnership with Rochdale Creates at the newly restored Rochdale Town Hall.
Rochdale Creates exists to make Rochdale an exciting, thriving and prosperous place through the power of creativity and culture. The partnership with The Teenage Market provided a practical way to bring that ambition to life: opening up a landmark civic space for young people to trade, perform, build confidence and connect with the public.
The first event brought together 53 young people from across the borough and wider North West, including 17 young traders and 36 performers. More than 500 people came through the doors, creating a lively and supportive atmosphere in which young entrepreneurs could test their products, speak directly to customers and experience what it feels like to be taken seriously.
For the young traders involved, the event was also a meaningful commercial opportunity. Stallholders collectively generated around £1,000 to £1,200 in sales, with two young businesses making between £200 and £400 on the day.
“It’s a valuable asset and builds confidence.”
🌱 From one market to a borough-wide programme
What began with an indoor event at Rochdale Town Hall has developed into a wider programme of Teenage Markets across the borough.
Between October 2024 and May 2026, nine Teenage Markets took place in Rochdale and Middleton, including indoor events at Rochdale Town Hall and Rochdale Central Library, as well as outdoor markets in Middleton town centre and public spaces across the borough.
Since summer 2025, the markets have increasingly been embedded within larger family-focused events, including the Feel Good Family Picnic, Middleton MayFest and the FAB Youth Festival at Rochdale Town Hall. This has helped connect youth enterprise with wider cultural programming, bringing young people into the heart of local events and giving them access to larger audiences.
Across the programme, young stallholders have collectively earned more than £10,000. The strongest single event was Middleton MayFest 2026, where 16 young traders earned £2,490 between them.
🤝 Support before the stall
The Rochdale programme has shown the importance of preparing young people before they arrive on the day.
Before each market, stallholders were encouraged to attend in-person training and networking sessions. These workshops gave young people practical information about what to expect, how the event space would work and how to prepare themselves for trading.
Young people also benefited from guest speakers, including experienced makers and professional merchandisers, who shared advice on how to present products, attract customers and sell confidently. At one workshop, a professional photographer also supported traders to capture high-quality product images that they could use to promote their businesses.
Alongside this, stallholders received detailed information packs before each event, including checklists, venue information, access details, advice on card payments and information they could share with family and friends.
✨ Confidence, skills and enterprise
The impact of the Rochdale Teenage Markets has gone far beyond sales.
Young people reported developing practical business skills, including pricing, labelling, merchandising, marketing, product presentation and understanding what customers respond to. For many, the markets offered their first real experience of running a business in a public setting.
They also developed wider professional skills: arriving prepared, turning up on time, following through on commitments and learning how to organise themselves before an event.
Communication was another strong theme. Young traders spoke about learning how to talk to customers, how to explain their products, how to be patient, and how to build the confidence to speak to more people. For some, the biggest achievement was not just selling something, but standing behind their stall and having conversations with members of the public.
🌍 Inclusive by design
The Rochdale programme has attracted young people from a wide range of backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of the borough and its surrounding communities.
The opportunity has been open to young people aged 13 to 25, with priority given to stallholders living in Rochdale borough before places are offered more widely across Greater Manchester and the North West.
The range of products and services has been broad, including home-baked cakes, sweet treats, crochet, textiles, 3D printed toys, accessories, clothing, paintings, drawings, candles, wax melts, seedling plants, henna, face painting, hair braiding and gift box subscriptions.
The programme has also reached a significant proportion of young people who identify as neurodiverse or who live with a health condition affecting their daily lives. Across different events, the proportion of stallholders reporting a health condition ranged from 6% to 42%, while the proportion reporting neurodiversity ranged from 13% to 42%.
This suggests that the Teenage Market model is particularly valuable for young people who may face additional barriers to participation, offering a flexible, supportive and low-pressure environment where they can grow at their own pace.
💬 Pride, belonging and community
The Teenage Markets have also contributed to how young people feel about Rochdale and Middleton as places.
Feedback from stallholders shows that the events have helped increase pride, strengthen community connection and make young people feel more visible within their town centres.
In the most recent Rochdale Teenage Market, 88% of stallholders said they agreed or strongly agreed that the event enhanced the sense of community in Rochdale. At the most recent Middleton event, 86% said the same about Middleton.
Young people described the markets as friendly, welcoming and community-focused. They valued the chance to meet other young creatives, learn from fellow stallholders and feel part of something bigger than their own individual business.
🚀 Looking ahead
The Rochdale Teenage Market has shown how a single creative opportunity can grow into a wider programme of youth enterprise, culture and place-based impact.
By working with Rochdale Creates and local partners, The Teenage Market has helped young people access free space, build confidence, earn income, develop business skills and contribute directly to the cultural life of their borough.
From Rochdale Town Hall to Middleton MayFest, the programme has demonstrated the value of putting young people at the heart of local events. Rochdale’s story is one of growth: from a first event in a civic landmark to a borough-wide platform for young enterprise, confidence and creative expression.