From free business training and networking to digital promotion and accessibility, Make it Market Drayton is helping local businesses and entrepreneurs develop new skills, reach more customers and build a stronger business community.
Running a business is about much more than having a great product or service. It takes confidence, determination, new ideas and the ability to adapt to changing customer expectations.
Whether you’re running an established business, working for yourself or thinking about turning an idea into a new venture, having access to practical advice, training and opportunities to connect with others can make a real difference.
Through Make it Market Drayton, Market Drayton Town Council is demonstrating its commitment to supporting local businesses, providing free opportunities to learn, develop and grow.
With two important events coming up in November, we’re continuing to focus on the skills and knowledge that can help businesses succeed, particularly digital promotion and making businesses accessible to everyone.
Get Ready for Christmas with Free Digital Promotion Training – 5 November
Christmas is an important time for many local businesses, particularly independent retailers, hospitality businesses and those offering products and services that make great gifts.
Getting your business noticed during the busy festive season can be challenging, especially when competing with larger companies and online retailers.
Our Christmas Promotion Training Workshop on Thursday 5 November, from 10am to 12pm at Market Drayton Town Hall, is designed to help local businesses think about how they can make the most of the festive trading period.
Digital marketing has become an essential part of running a successful business. Social media, websites, online listings and digital content all play an important role in helping customers discover what’s available locally.
For many small businesses, finding the time to learn new digital skills can be difficult. Understanding what works, where to focus your efforts and how to communicate effectively online can sometimes feel overwhelming.
That’s why we’re committed to making practical training available free of charge.
The workshop provides an opportunity to develop confidence, explore new approaches to promotion and consider how digital media can help attract more customers this Christmas and beyond.
Find out more about the Christmas Promotion Training Workshop:
https://makeitmarketdrayton.com/events/christmas-promotion-training-workshop/
Making Business Accessible to Everyone – 12 November
Our next free business networking event takes place on Thursday 12 November, from 6pm to 8pm at the Royal British Legion in Market Drayton.
This event will explore an important subject that affects businesses of every size: Making Business Accessible to Everyone.
When we think about accessibility, we often think about physical access to buildings. While this is extremely important, accessibility goes much further.
It includes how we communicate with customers, the information we provide, how easy our websites are to navigate and whether people feel comfortable and welcome when using our services.
Small changes can often make a significant difference.
We’re delighted to be welcoming Helen Pugh, founder of Ablepreneurs and author of The Ablepreneur Advantage, as our keynote speaker.
Helen will share her insights into entrepreneurship and accessibility, helping businesses consider how they can become more inclusive and reach a wider range of customers.
The evening will also provide an opportunity to hear different perspectives, share experiences and discuss some of the barriers that people face.
We believe these conversations are essential if we’re going to build a town where everyone feels welcome and businesses can reach their full potential.
Accessibility isn’t simply about meeting requirements. It’s about recognising opportunities, improving customer experiences and ensuring that nobody is unnecessarily excluded.
Find out more and reserve your free place:
https://makeitmarketdrayton.com/events/business-networking-3/
Looking Back at What We’ve Achieved in 2026
These two events are part of a wider programme of activity that Make it Market Drayton has been delivering throughout the year.
Our work is about supporting businesses directly while also encouraging more people to discover, visit and spend time in Market Drayton.
We’ve been working across several areas to help strengthen the local economy.
Free business training
We’ve provided opportunities for businesses to develop practical skills, including our recent Customer Focused Training Workshop, helping businesses think about the experience they offer their customers.
Business networking
Our networking events have brought local businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals together to share experiences, develop contacts and learn from one another.
Creating opportunities for businesses to connect is particularly important in a market town where independent businesses play such a valuable role.
Promoting Market Drayton to visitors
Throughout the year, we’ve been encouraging people to discover everything Market Drayton has to offer.
From shopping and places to eat to heritage, outdoor activities and family days out, our website and social media campaigns have highlighted reasons to visit the town.
Our seasonal visitor guides, including summer activities, autumn adventures, October half-term and Halloween, have helped showcase the town to new audiences.
Supporting local events and attractions
We’ve promoted activities including History Week, the Ginger & Spice Festival, community events and the many activities organised by local groups and organisations.
These events help create a vibrant town, attract visitors and provide opportunities for local businesses to benefit from increased activity.
Giving businesses greater visibility
Through our website, business information, news articles and social media, we’re helping people discover the independent businesses, services and experiences available in Market Drayton.
Every time we encourage someone to visit the town, explore its shops or stop for a coffee, we’re helping to create opportunities for the local economy.
Why Digital Skills Matter More Than Ever
The way customers discover and interact with businesses continues to change.
People increasingly search online before deciding where to shop, eat, visit or book a service. They look at websites, social media, reviews and photographs to help make their decisions.
For independent businesses, having a good digital presence can open up opportunities far beyond the traditional high street.
A small business in Market Drayton can reach customers across Shropshire, neighbouring counties and potentially much further afield.
Digital media also provides opportunities to tell the stories behind our businesses, introduce the people who run them and showcase the individuality that makes Market Drayton special.
Learning how to use these tools effectively doesn’t have to mean spending large amounts of money on advertising.
Sometimes it’s about understanding your audience, improving your content, keeping information up to date and making it easier for customers to find you.
By offering free training, we’re helping local businesses develop skills that can continue to benefit them long after a workshop has finished.
Accessibility Is Good for Customers and Good for Business
Alongside digital skills, we believe accessibility should be part of every business’s thinking.
Making a business more accessible can benefit older customers, disabled people, families with young children, people with temporary injuries and many others.
It might mean reviewing access to premises, providing clearer information, improving website accessibility or simply asking customers what would make their experience better.
Accessibility and digital communication also go hand in hand.
A business website that’s difficult to read or navigate may prevent someone from finding the information they need. A social media post without clear details may mean a potential customer misses an opportunity.
By raising awareness and encouraging businesses to consider different perspectives, we hope to help create a more welcoming and inclusive Market Drayton.
A Continuing Commitment to Our Business Community
Make it Market Drayton is about more than promoting the town. It’s about helping to create the conditions in which local businesses can flourish.
Market Drayton has a wonderful mix of independent shops, hospitality businesses, professional services, creative enterprises and entrepreneurs.
These businesses contribute enormously to the character of our town, provide employment, support local events and help make Market Drayton somewhere people want to live, work and visit.
We recognise that running a business can sometimes feel isolating, particularly for sole traders and those just starting out.
Providing opportunities to meet others, learn new skills and share ideas is an important part of building a supportive business community.
Our commitment is to continue listening to local businesses, identifying opportunities for practical support and encouraging more people to discover what Market Drayton has to offer.
Get Involved and Make the Most of Free Support
If you’re a local business owner, sole trader, entrepreneur or someone considering starting a business, we’d encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities available.
You don’t need to be an expert in digital marketing or accessibility to get involved. Our events are about learning, sharing experiences and finding practical ways to make a difference.
We’d also love to hear from local businesses about the challenges they’re facing and the types of training or support they would find most useful in the future.
By working together, sharing knowledge and supporting one another, we can help build a stronger, more successful and more inclusive business community.
Make it Market Drayton is a town council initiative.
