Market improvements recognised by major award

A major on-going improvement programme at the city’s indoor market has led to Swansea Council being recognised at a prestigious UK-wide awards scheme.

Beating off competition from across the country, the council won the best commercialisation and entrepreneurship category at the 2022 Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Awards held at Swansea Arena.

Recent improvements at Swansea Market, which is run by the council, include the introduction of a changing places facility and toilets, which are now being used by close to 3,000 customers a week.

An accessible to all market garden area has also been developed at the heart of the attraction, creating a space that can be used for seating, eating, working, events, exhibitions and cookery demonstrations.

Featuring over 170 plants, a recycling point and facilities for babies and children, the market garden has attracted about 1,200 users a week since first opening in December last year. It also includes a watering station for dogs.

The council has also put new casual trading facilities in place at the market to support budding new traders.

Cllr David Hopkins, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Performance at Swansea Council, said: “Swansea Market has been at the heart of Swansea life for many years, and it will continue to play a key role in future as part of our city centre’s £1bn transformation.

“Recent schemes like the new customer toilets, the market garden and the new casual trading facilities are supporting entrepreneurship while also generating more footfall and spending at the market, which is helping accelerate our city’s economic recovery from the pandemic.

“Receiving the APSE award for best commercialisation and entrepreneurship initiative is credit to the work of our fantastic market staff and market traders who continue to do so much to raise the market’s profile across the UK and beyond.

“Further improvements are also earmarked at the market in the coming years to create an even better trading and visiting experience there.”

The council’s tip treasures shop scheme was also shortlisted in the same APSE award category as the market.

Other categories where the council was shortlisted included council of the year; best workforce initiative; and best housing, regeneration or new build initiative.

Council teams in housing, construction and building services; street cleansing and street scene; and cemetery and crematorium services were also shortlisted at the awards for best service teams.