Market traders in Bury will be some of the first in the country to pitch in on a new flagship campaign from the Department for Education and Skills’ Get On campaign, it was announced today.

Over 435 million trips are made to the UK’s markets every year and traders have accepted the Get On campaign’s challenge to encourage shoppers into free local maths and English courses. Cheering on their efforts will be Bury Adult Learning Service, who will be in Bury market in January to give out information on the free local courses.

As part of the wider official partnership with the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF), over one million bags will be given away by stallholders together with scratchcards to help customer’s agility totting up sums, targeting the 14.9 million adults in the UK who lack the skills to pass a maths GCSE.

Commenting on this new “maths down the market” approach, Skills Minister Phil Hope MP said:

“This partnership between Bury’s World Famous Market and Bury Adult Learning Service is right on the money and shows the importance of good maths skills. Market traders can tot up bills without a moment’s thought – after all, how often do you see a till on a stall? Confident counters such as the traders in Bury Market set a great example for people who might be less sure with their maths, and we believe they are keen to make the most of their very visible role in the local community”.

“By handing out information about the free courses to customers, the traders will be giving the millions of adults who have problems with numbers the confidence to test their own skills and consider getting back to learning. Why not call 0161 253 5766 and find out about improving your skills? Good numeracy skills are vital for life and work and provide the ideal stepping stone to further learning.”

Cllr Mike Connolly Deputy Leader of the forward thinking Bury Council said: “We are delighted to be supporting the ‘Get On’ campaign and to be promoting the importance of numeracy and literacy skills for adults. Bury Council has one of the best educational records in the UK and its market is the best in the country. I am really proud of our award winning markets management team and the Bury Market traders are the salt of the earth. They possess enhanced skills which they’ve developed and used as part of their daily work and we think they can really help to spread the learning message to the tens of thousands of customers they serve every market day.”

Leslie Feingold, market trader at Bury market, added: “I have worked as a market trader for nearly 40 years, and take my maths skills for granted. However when I think about how often I need to calculate costs in my head, and how much slower I would be at my job if I had to use a calculator every day, I realise how important they are. I’m looking forward to working with the Get On campaign, and would encourage anyone out there who doesn’t feel very confident with maths to find out more about the campaign and build on what they can already do.”

In London, Skills Minister Phil Hope MP paid tribute to the numeracy skills of the nation’s 46,000 stallholders, launching the partnership at London’s Church St market. Getting behind the campaign, and a local stall, he served Londoners fruit and veg whilst trying out his patter and “giving away skills for free.”

Shoppers interested in the campaign are encouraged to call the free helpline on 0800 100 900 and find out about improving their skills.