Mercato Metropolitano (MM) is inviting cooking entrepreneurs to apply to secure a rent-free, three-month tenure in its Ilford market.

The 'dreaMM campaign' hopes to provide help for a local entrepreneur take the first step towards starting a successful business.

The marketplace runs a number of sites across London and is soon to open a new site in Ilford.

Alongside the rent-free tenure, the selected entrepreneur will have access to free one-to-one consultations with the MM team.

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This aims to help them create a business plan, source sustainable, local ingredients, as well as receive branding and marketing advice.

They will also receive support and advice, as needed, from one of MM's current trading partners.

Andrea Rasca, Mercato Metropolitano’s chief executive, said: "Community building is at the very heart of the MM ethos.

"We believe in encouraging human interaction, in the spirit of community and engagement, and in creating thriving, vibrant urban communities – and what better way to do that than sitting around a table and sharing good food with friends and family?

"As part of this, we’re passionate about supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs who have innovative and sustainable business concepts, to help bring their dreaMM to life, and to make a living from their culinary craft.

"Unfortunately, the current cost of living crisis poses a major threat to local businesses and to those looking to embark on a new adventure.

"So we want to provide all the necessary means to enable one person’s dreaMM business to come to life. 

"Here at Mercato Metropolitano, we’ve built a wonderful model which offers all of the tools that our trading partners need – we source the best ingredients, sort out the waste and recycling, the cleaning, and much more.

"All we ask them to do is cook."

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Submissions are open until May 30, with applicants asked to answer a few questions in writing or through a short video.

Shortlisted entries will then be invited to pitch their concept in-person to a number of panelists at the dreaMM pitch day on Thursday June 15, following which a winner will be selected.

For more information, visit https://mercatometropolitano.com/dreamm-with-us/.