Hobbyists unite in new series of TV’s Make it at Market

This week sees the return of the popular and award-winning series Make it at Market, which follows the fortunes of several keen entrepreneurs, hoping to turn their hobby into their livelihood.

A new 15-part OU/BBC co-produced series will begin on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Monday March 3 on weekdays at 15:45 across three weeks. 

It’s all set in a unique, life-changing boot camp on the grounds of Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire, where maker-in-chief Dom Chinea and a hand-picked team of extraordinary professional mentors help these budding makers turn their hobbies and skills into successful businesses.    

They have eight weeks to prove they have what it takes to put the advice they’ve been given into practice and start building a successful business. 

The Open University has two academic consultants on the series, both from The Open University Business School, Professor Richard Blundel and Dr Aqueel Waga.

Prof Richard Blundel has studied the growth process in a wide variety of craft businesses, including cheesemakers and furniture makers.  He has also conducted research on improving the environmental performance of small and medium sized enterprises.  He commented:

“I am pleased that the OU has collaborated with this new series. The programme offers viewers accessible, thought-provoking insights into the task of converting a personal hobby into a truly sustainable business – the challenges and the opportunities.

“As they follow each craftsperson along their learning journey, viewers can also see how important it is to seek support, and the vital role that mentors can play in this process.”

Dr Aqueel Wahga‘s research examines the processes and practices that drive the emergence and development of socially and environmentally sustainable small-scale businesses, a key theme at the Centre for Social and Sustainable Enterprise (CSSE) at The Open University Business School.

He said:

“I am delighted to be part of the new OU-BBC co-production series, which offers valuable insights into transforming hobbies into sustainable businesses.

“This series shares entrepreneurial experiences and underscores the importance of seeking support from mentors and networks to effectively access and utilise entrepreneurial resources.

“The focus is not only on for-profit business purposes but also on the value of craft entrepreneurs in responsibly using resources to establish eco-friendly and sustainable ventures”.

Supporting Online Content

Visit our Broadcast & Partnerships site, OU Connect, to discover valuable information and advice on turning your hobby into a thriving business from presenter Dom Chinea, series mentors, and the OU’s academic consultants. Explore the interactive, read the flipbook, and watch the interviews. 

This series was commissioned by Broadcast & Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Business and Law, with particular relevance to Q91 | BA (Honours) Business Management, F61 | Master in Business Administration and Q61 | BA/BSc (Honours) Design and Innovation. 

• Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Director, Broadcast & Partnerships 
• Academic Consultants: Dr Aqueel Wahga and Prof. Richard Blundel  
• Media Fellows: Alessandro Saroli and Dr Sophie Doherty 
• Broadcast Project Manager: Matthew Ray  
• Supporting Online Content: Patrick Kearney 

Main image copyright: Flabbergast TV | BBC