Stockton's Young Traders' Market winner to represent north east in national final

A young entrepreneur from Stockton is set to take a place at the national final of the Young Traders Market Competition.

Coral Dean, from Thorpe Thewles in Stockton-on-Tees, won the regional heat at Stockton Market in May with her business 'Fat Rabbit Crafts' artisan wooden crafts with locally sourced wood including oak chopping boards, bird houses and bespoke furniture.

The 28-year-old saw off strong competition and came first in her category in Darlington in July. Following success in that event, she will now join hopefuls at the national final in Stratford-upon-Avon this weekend.

Coral runs Fat Rabbit Crafts with her partner and often represents their business at trade markets across Stockton-on-Tees and the wider region.

Stockton-on-Tee Borough Council and its youth movement Bright Minds Big Futures hosted one of the heats for the annual event run by the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF), aiming to find and support the next generation of market traders.

Young people were given a stall to run their business for free, benefitting from support and coaching from the Council's markets team.

Coral impressed judges at this local heat before heading onto the North East final. The national final takes place on Friday 26 August and Saturday 27 August.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing, was one of the judges in the regional heat in Stockton.

He said: "The Young Market Trader competition was a great event for the Borough, it was an absolute pleasure to be involved in seeing the efforts of these young entrepreneurs of the future.

"It's amazing to see that one of our own has managed to progress to the national final, which is a first for our towns. We have some fantastic young traders and I know Fat Rabbit Crafts will do us proud in the national final - I wish Coral the very best of luck!"

For all the latest information visit the Stockton-on-Tees Markets website.

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