Dudley shoppers will be able to pick up unique Christmas gifts, while helping small local businesses, at a special Christmas-themed market in Dudley town centre this December.

A Small Business Saturday market will take place on Saturday December 5 within the newly re-built Dudley Market, in the town centre.

In addition to existing market sellers, one-off stalls will sell food, crafts, gifts, and more.

The festive market will run from 8am – 4pm, next to one of the town’s Christmas trees and in between the restored historic fountain and the refurbished Duncan Edwards statue.

Family entertainment will also be provided, free of charge.

The event will be part of Dudley Council’s ongoing commitment to the national Small Business Saturday initiative, which encourages people to use local businesses wherever possible.  It will also mark the end of Dudley’s wider Small Business Week, from Monday November 30 to Saturday December 5.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, cabinet member for planning and economic development, said:
“We are running this event as part of our commitment to being a community council.  It is all about celebrating and supporting local entrepreneurs.  This year we have chosen to go for a different twist for our market, as for the first time we are hosting it on Dudley’s refurbished market place.  This way, not only are we offering free stalls to local small businesses to give them a helping hand, but we are promoting Dudley’s existing market traders, who are also small business owners.

“Dudley market forms a centrepiece for the town centre.  Having spent more than £6m on the market place regeneration project, we are now following that through by running initiatives to endorse and widen it.”

Anyone interested in having one of the remaining market stalls, which are free for the one day only, should email vanessa.brown@dudley.gov.uk 

The email must include full name and address, phone number, details about the products they would like to sell and details of their environmental health certificate – if the sale of food or drink is being proposed.

The market is one of a number of initiatives at Dudley Council to foster local business growth, under the umbrella of Dudley Business First, which is run by the authority. A single point of contact for businesses and investors, it offers free and tailored services to help local businesses.  

For more details on Dudley Business First, go to www.dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk or call 01384 812001.