Partner Article

Market comes to life

A dilapidated market hall in the North East has been given the kiss of life after a dozen new businesses came to its rescue.

Hartlepool Market Hall was officially re-launched in September last year when Mayor Stuart Drummond and Hartlepool United footballer Adam Boyd cut the red ribbon.

Now, following a six-month stint of help and support from the council, all but two of the new tenants have agreed terms to man the stalls on a permanent basis.

Mick Emerson, Principal Economic Development Officer at Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “We would have considered half of the new tenants staying as a success, but to have nearly 80% is fantastic.

“We just hope the people of Hartlepool support the campaign and remember to pop into the Market Hall and have a look around.”

A new enterprise set up by the council will also be taking control of two stalls to help entrepreneurs test trade their business as footfall in the hall increased by 10% thanks to the new development.

Andrea Miles, Hartlepool Enterprise Centre Manager, added: “There were always going to be people who were wondering whether the project was going to be worthwhile.

“We went into this initiative with two aims, to help new businesses test their ideas and to drive more shoppers into the hall to support the stallholders. Now we have all of these new businesses who may not have considered self employment.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .