Go Trade

Great Yarmouth Borough Council was awarded a €224,215 share of a project worth €5.6 million for the purpose of opening up opportunities for market traders to access tailor made business support and increase footfall to our town centre.

The project called Go Trade, stands for Growth of the Visitor Economy through Traditional Markets, Employment and Skills.

High streets, town centres and local market places in the UK have experienced declining footfall, as shoppers favour the ease of online shopping. Go Trade sought to reverse this trend by combining local offers in partners' markets across France and the south and east of England into a unique brand of markets, targeted at both residents and tourists.

The Council was one of 16 partners from areas across southeast England and northern France working across a number of project streams including communications, business support and digital development. The project started in December 2017 following an official launch led by project lead, Basildon Borough Council, it concluded in March 2022.

The total funding received from the European Regional Development Fund, Interreg France (Channel Manche) England for Go Trade is €3.8 million.

The project partners are:

• Basildon Council
• University of Greenwich
• National Market Traders Federation
• Gravesham Borough Council
• Great Yarmouth Borough Council
• Great Yarmouth Town Centre Partnership
• Visit Kent Ltd
• Castle Point Borough Council
• Ville de Louvigné du Désert
• Agence d'urbanisme et de développement (AUD) Pays de Saint-Omer Flandre Intérieure
• Chambre de L'agriculture Nord-Pas-de-Calais
• Communauté de Communes du Pays de Lumbres
• Ville de Caen
• Office de Tourisme de Caen
• Ville d-Amiens
• Pas de Calais Tourisme

The Interreg France (Channel) England (FCE) Programme is a European Territorial Cooperation programme that aims to fund high quality cooperation projects in the Channel border region between France and England. It focuses on a range of specific objectives including supporting innovation, improving the attractiveness of the FCE area and developing low carbon technologies. The Programme has a total of €22 million of ERDF funds to distribute by 2023 and is managed by Managing Authority Norfolk County Council.

Over 4 years project partners achieved a number of objectives; this included development of a brand, a Trader accredited training programme, a website, delivery of over 50 events, providing free public wi-fi,  a trader mentorship programme, young trader markets, a range of promotional materials used at tourism trade shows and tourism industry publications. 

Great Yarmouth benefitted from the funding by achieving: 

• Over 15 local events on the market attracting visitors to the market
• business support for traders, including mentorships and advertising campaigns to promote their business
• Free public wi-fi in the marketplace
• Hosted young trader market days and dedicated support to new traders testing a business
• digital assets such as Great Yarmouth web space on the Go Trade website. 
• tourims itineraries and promotional videos showcasing the unique market offer
• field research of the town centre to inform future town planning around retail, market trading and tourism
• enhancement of the christmas market through investment in equipment and 12 additional pop up units. 

Go Trade - A modern market experience

Visit the friendly faces on Great Yarmouth Market, with a wide range of products to purchase including fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh meat and fish, linens and lots more!

The central undercover market is open Monday to Saturday every week, with additional market days on Wednesdays and Saturday. From May to October, an extra market day is held on Fridays.

More than a market to experience

Throughout the year the market hosts a number of entertainment events, from jazz bands, dance troops, pop-up cultural markets to the prestigious Out There Festival. There are plenty of reasons for all the family to visit the market.

Great times at Great Yarmouth market

Culminating two years of our market investment, watch these reasons to enjoy Great Yarmouth's historic market. Shop with the friendly faces of our traders and purchase all sorts of fresh produce including fruit, vegetables, meat and fish.

Go Trade helps to attract visitors to the Market Place and beyond.

• read our itinerary catalogues