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Competition

Your idea.Your business.Your moment.

Your chance to sell at the Black Eats London Christmas Market

BOXPARK Croydon · 5–6 December 2026 · For girls and boys aged 13–18 who live in Croydon, including Purley.

Competition closed

Thank you to everyone who signed up

Thank you to everyone who signed up. To be informed about future events, please complete our Pop Up Top Up signup through Upshot. This is not an application to take part in this Christmas market competition.

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Competition closed.

Thank you to everyone who signed up. To be informed about future events, please complete our Pop Up Top Up signup through Upshot. Join us for future creative events and opportunities — this signup does not enter you into this Christmas market competition.

Join Pop Up Top Up

A real opportunity to build your business

Applications for this competition have closed. The programme gives selected young entrepreneurs the chance to put their ideas into action.

Selected applicants will develop their ideas, attend business workshops and pitch their concepts for the opportunity to sell at the Black Eats London Christmas Market. Successful applicants will be contacted directly. For future opportunities, join Pop Up Top Up using the signup below.

  • Six places — young people selected to take part in the competition
  • Two winners — young entrepreneurs selected to sell at the Christmas market
  • Business support through two preparation workshops
  • A sponsored market opportunity, including a contribution towards your table display

The money you make can help grow your business.

Money generated from your sales can be reinvested into your own business venture — so the market is just the beginning.

From application to market

  1. STEP 1

    APPLY

    Applications closed on Thursday 29 October 2026 at 11:59pm. Thank you to everyone who applied.

  2. STEP 2

    FIND OUT IF YOU'VE BEEN SELECTED

    Pop Up Top Up CIC will review applications and contact applicants to let them know whether they have secured one of the six competition places.

  3. STEP 3

    ATTEND TWO PREPARATION WORKSHOPS

    Successful applicants must commit to attending both workshops. These will help you develop your business or product idea and prepare for the competition. Dates and times will be confirmed separately.

  4. STEP 4

    PITCH YOUR IDEA

    Pitch day takes place on Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Creative Enterprise Zone, Centrale Shopping Centre, Lower Mall, Croydon. You'll present your idea for the opportunity to win one of two market places. Judging criteria will be confirmed soon.

  5. STEP 5

    TWO WINNERS ARE SELECTED

    Two young entrepreneurs will be selected for the sponsored market-selling opportunity.

  6. STEP 6

    SELL AT BLACK EATS LONDON CHRISTMAS MARKET

    The two winners will work towards bringing their products to market on 5–6 December 2026 at BOXPARK Croydon. You'll need something you can realistically bring to market by 5 December.

Your journey doesn't end here

Not selected for one of the two market places? Your entrepreneurial journey can still move forward. Young people who take part in the competition but are not selected as market winners will still receive business support and be added to our list for future opportunities.

We want young people to keep developing their ideas, building their confidence and progressing towards their business goals.

COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS:

  • Age 13–18 and live in or go to school in Croydon 
  • Have a business, product or idea you can realistically develop into something market-ready by 5 December 2026.
  • Commit to attending both preparation workshops.
  • Attend pitch day on Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Creative Enterprise Zone, Centrale Shopping Centre, Lower Mall.
  • Commit to working on your idea between the workshops, pitch day and the Christmas market.

The exact dates and times for the two workshops will be confirmed separately.

Competition closed

Ready to take your idea further?

Thank you to everyone who signed up

Sign up for future events with Pop Up Top Up

To be informed about future events, please complete our Pop Up Top Up signup through Upshot. We would love you to join us for future creative events and opportunities.

Join Pop Up Top Up

This signup is for Pop Up Top Up future events and opportunities only — not entry to this Christmas market competition.

info@popuptopup.co.uk

In-kind sponsor: Black Eats LDN

We're grateful to Black Eats LDN for supporting our Young Entrepreneur Competition by providing complimentary trading space at the Black Eats London Christmas Market at BOXPARK Croydon on 5–6 December 2026. This contribution gives our two selected young entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase and sell their products, gain real-world retail experience and reinvest their sales into growing their own business ventures.