BiG celebration marks launch of new quarter in Castle Market

Britain’s Got Talent star Sophie Mei headed up a BiG party to launch a new business trading area in Sheffield’s Castle Market complex on Saturday 5^th July. The official opening of the unique trading area at the market was celebrated by an all day party with DJs, face painting and balloon modelling. 

 

Crowds gathered to celebrate the opening and watch belly dancer Sophie Mei, originally from Pitsmoor Sheffield, who narrowly missed out on making it into the final of Britain's Got Talent. She performed her dance routines ‘Kiss Kiss’ and ‘She Bangs’ which have been viewed by over seven million people on You Tube.

 

The new market area, part of the BiG - Make it Your Business programme, is now open and providing the opportunity for members of the public to test trade in a market environment which already has a footfall of more than 80,000 people a week.

 

Sophie Mei also cut the ribbon to open a new business advice centre in the market area. BiG is providing new traders in the area with subsidised rent and business mentoring for a six month test trading period.

 

 

“This project shows the steps we are taking here in the city to help people set up and be successful in business. The BiG trading area at Castle Market aims to reduce risks associated with starting a new business as much as possible by providing support and keeping costs to a minimum.”

 

The BiG project at Castle Market is a new initiative set up between Sheffield Markets, BiG: Make it Your Business and Sheffield Enterprise Agency (SENTA). 

 

SENTA are providing support to the businesses based in the new area at Castle Market. SENTA Enterprise Director Mandip Dosanjh said: “We are delighted to be offering start up business support to this exciting incubation project. It is a great way to give young businesses a chance to flourish and test their market, without the headache of finding long term premises and the normal costs associated with this.”