NABMA

What NABMA does

NABMA (The National Association of British Market Authorities) is a UK-based, membership-based trade association founded in 1920 that represents market operators and local authorities across Britain. It is the only trade body specifically dedicated to British market authorities and positions itself as "The Voice of Markets," serving primary segments of market operators (both local-authority operated and privately run) and local government bodies responsible for running or overseeing markets. The organization does not operate as a technology company; instead, it provides a bundled suite of member services including the NABMA Performance Network benchmarking tool (developed with EDGE IT Systems Ltd), a Members' Exclusive Content Area hosting legal templates, FAQs, and a digital library, the Basecamp networking platform, Market Mentors and free one-hour Zoom consultations, nationally recognized Market Officer Diplomas, and the annual Great British Market Awards.

NABMA's core commercial activity centers on its annual Love Your Local Market campaign (launched 2012, reaching millions of UK consumers annually and adopted internationally) and the #MarketsFirst national campaign launched in 2023 around five priorities: attracting and retaining traders, addressing economic challenges, demonstrating wider market value, professionalizing management, and improving trader relationships. The organization runs recurring annual conferences (Annual Conference 2026 in Harrogate, One Day Conference 2027) and study visits in partnership with the Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC).

NABMA's business model is subscription-driven, with revenue from annual membership fees paid by market operators and local authorities (specific amounts not publicly disclosed), conference and event delegate fees (ranging from £90 to £420 per ticket including VAT), and sponsorship income from commercial partners such as Vitabri, Blachere Illumination UK, Market Place Europe, and Zapp. Distribution is direct-to-enterprise via membership enrollment, in-person events, online webinars, Basecamp self-serve access, and field-based study visits. Headquartered at The Guildhall, Oswestry, Shropshire, NABMA operates exclusively within the United Kingdom and maintains a partnership ecosystem with HM Government departments, the Local Government Association, the National Market Traders Federation, the All Party Parliamentary Markets Group, and other national bodies.

Name

NABMA

Legal name

The National Association of British Market Authorities

Website

https://nabma.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NABMA (The National Association of British Market Authorities) is a UK trade association founded in 1920 that represents market operators and local authorities, providing advocacy, training, benchmarking tools, legal advice, and annual campaigns such as Love Your Local Market to its members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Membership Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAGAGAK

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYTHAHAMAD

Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Corporate Meetings & Summits

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Market operator advocacy
• Membership association
• Local authority markets
• Industry benchmarking tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Oswestry

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: NABMA generates revenue through annual membership fees from market operators and local authorities. Membership provides access to exclusive resources, legal advice, training programs, networking platforms (Basecamp), and discounted conference rates.
2. Conference and Event Fees: The association charges delegate fees for annual conferences, one-day conferences, and virtual events. Pricing varies by membership status with members receiving discounted rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

NABMA is a membership-based trade association that sells annual membership subscriptions to UK market operators and local authorities, with membership providing access to exclusive resources, legal advice, training programmes, networking platforms, nationally recognised Market Officer Diplomas, and discounted conference rates. It also generates revenue through conference and event delegate fees (annual conferences, one-day conferences, and virtual events). The association delivers advocacy, lobbying, professional development, and benchmarking tools to its members rather than selling standalone commercial products.

Product overview

NABMA (National Association of British Market Authorities) is a membership-based trade association supporting UK markets for over 100 years. The organization does not offer a unified software platform but provides a suite of member services including the NABMA Performance Network (a benchmarking tool developed with EDGE IT Systems Ltd), the Members' Exclusive Content Area (containing a Library, Basecamp networking, Legal Advice, FAQs, and Digital Library), the Love Your Local Market annual campaign, nationally recognized Training & Development diplomas, NABMA Market Awards, and Market Mentors support sessions. These services are bundled as membership benefits rather than sold as separate commercial products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Love Your Local Market: The biggest celebration of markets in the UK – A NABMA campaign running annually, reaching millions of consumers each year.
• MarketsFirst
• Great British Market Awards
• The Voice of Markets

Products and services

• NABMA Membership Annual membership subscription providing market operators and local authorities with access to legal advice, training qualifications (Diplomas), networking platforms (Basecamp), performance benchmarking (Performance Network), campaign resources, and discounted conference rates.
• NABMA Performance Network A free benchmarking tool for members to measure and track market performance, enabling operators to self-assess and compare their market's success against industry benchmarks.
• Training & Development / Market Officer Diplomas Nationally recognised qualifications (Diplomas) for Market Officers, providing professional development opportunities for individuals working in market management.
• Love Your Local Market Campaign Annual campaign celebrating markets across the UK, running from mid-May to end of May, reaching millions of consumers and featuring the #LYLM hashtag each year.
• NABMA Market Awards Nationally recognised awards celebrating excellence in markets, including categories such as Market Manager of the Year, Market Team of the Year, Market Achievement of the Year, and Young Market Champion of the Year.
• NABMA Annual Conference and One-Day Conferences Annual conference (AGM) and one-day conferences held at venues across the UK, available with member discounts and various package options including full conference, single-day, and gala dinner tickets.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Love Your Local Market campaign reaches millions of people in the UK every year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• HM Government (Leaders' Group - Future High Streets Forum, Home Office, Department for Work & Pensions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABMA works with HM Government departments including the Future High Streets Forum, Home Office, and DWP on policy areas affecting markets. The association has secured markets referenced in the Government's Planning Policy Framework.
• Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint study visits and knowledge exchange programs for local council clerks and market operators. Collaborate on training and professional development initiatives.
• Association of Town & City Management (ATCM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on town centre management, regeneration initiatives, and shared events including the conference 'Markets Activating High Streets'.
• Local Government Association (LGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership working on local government policy affecting markets and town centre regeneration.
• National Association of Local Councils (NALC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on local council matters affecting markets and town councils.
• National Market Traders Federation (NMTF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular dialogue to ensure the markets industry speaks with one voice. NMTF supports the #MarketsFirst campaign. Collaboration on APPMG and government engagement.
• All Party Parliamentary Markets Group (APPMG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABMA supports the relaunched cross-party parliamentary group with MPs and peers. The APPMG conducts inquiries into markets' role in regeneration, health, and high streets.
• Institute of Place Management (IPM)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on regeneration research and evidence gathering for parliamentary inquiries into markets and town centre regeneration.
• Chester ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative examining the impact of weather forecasting on outdoor markets and visitor attractions, working with the Met Office.
• Met OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on improving weather forecasting communication for outdoor economy sectors including markets.
• Vitabri (Headline Conference Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeadline sponsor for NABMA Annual Conference 2026. Premier gazebo and canopy manufacturer providing premium outdoor equipment and sponsorship support.
• Blachere Illumination UKmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of NABMA One Day Conference and festive lighting solutions provider for markets. Long-standing conference sponsor.
• Market Place (Europe) LimitedmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK's leading operator of Continental and Special event markets. Sponsor of Great British Market Awards. Provides consultancy and market management services.
• EDGE IT Systems LtdmajorTechnology or IntegrationDeveloper of AdvantEDGE Market software for cloud-based, paperless market administration. Partnered with NABMA to develop the Performance Network benchmarking tool.
• ZappmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading supplier of market umbrellas, stalls and accessories. Sponsor of NABMA Market Awards 2026.
• Andy ThorntonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUK leader in contract furniture and architectural metalwork for hospitality and retail sectors, supporting NABMA as a sponsor.
• G M Imber LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading insurance broker for the market industry, offering commercial insurance packages with discounts available for NABMA members.
• Groupe GeraudminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLargest operator of local authority markets in Europe operating over 1300 market days each week.
• Real Deal CampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCampaign for Fake-Free Markets working to keep traders in counterfeit goods out of UK's markets and car boot fairs. Supported by NABMA.
• DévorerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransforms underutilized public spaces and markets through an agile, data-led model operating 400+ vetted food vendors across 40+ cuisines.
• TST ShadingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuality market stall umbrellas, tables & trailers supplier for councils, market operators and sole traders in the UK.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABMA engages with MHCLG officials on High Street Strategy development, regeneration policy, and market funding opportunities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• UKHospitality: UK trade association for the wider hospitality sector, including food markets and food halls. Comparable advocacy and member-services model for an adjacent consumer-facing industry, and relevant as many NABMA members operate food-led markets and halls.
• Local Government Association (LGA): Statutory membership body for all UK local authorities. NABMA is a specialist counterpart within the LGA's wider universe; LGA represents the same council buyers across all services while NABMA focuses narrowly on market operations and policy.
• British Chambers of Commerce: UK-wide membership network of accredited chambers of commerce. Comparable membership-based association model serving businesses and local economies, but at much broader scope and scale than NABMA's market-authority niche.

Direct peers

• Institute of Place Management (IPM): UK-based membership and research body focused on place management, town centres, and high streets. Comparable advocacy, research, and policy engagement model on regeneration themes that overlap with NABMA's market-led regeneration agenda.
• National Market Traders Federation (NMTF): UK federation representing market traders (the supply side that NABMA's operator members buy from). Closest direct peer: a UK membership body serving the same markets ecosystem, regularly coordinating with NABMA under a 'one voice' arrangement, and co-supporter of the #MarketsFirst campaign.
• National Association of Local Councils (NALC): Membership association representing England's local (parish and town) councils. Mirrors NABMA's local-authority-focused membership, advocacy, and policy engagement model, and is an existing NABMA partner on overlapping council matters.
• Society of Local Council Clerks (SLCC): Professional association for clerks of UK local (parish and town) councils. Comparable membership, training, events, and advocacy model, with active partnership working through joint study visits and knowledge exchange with NABMA.
• British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA): UK trade association supporting independent retailers, many of whom operate on high streets and in markets. Comparable membership model, advocacy voice, and supplier benefits structure targeting small UK retailers who overlap with market traders.
• Association of Town & City Management (ATCM): UK membership body for town and city centre management professionals. Directly comparable membership-trade-association model serving the same local authority customer base on adjacent themes (high street regeneration, town centre vitality), and an existing NABMA partner on shared events.

Regional players

• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA): UK professional body for public finance, serving local authority finance officers with qualifications, training, and policy input. Comparable professional-body and qualifications-led model to NABMA's Market Officer Diploma, and serves many of the same local authority members.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Nabma_Markets
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NABMA_Markets/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/loveyourlocalmarket
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nabma
• Instagraminstagram.com/loveyourlocalmarket

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NABMA