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LEAP Christmas Fair: unique gifts from young entrepreneurs
Event

LEAP Christmas Fair

Sat 5 Dec 2026

This Christmas, shop small and back big ambitions

Looking for a gift you won’t find on every high street? On Saturday 5 December, young entrepreneurs from schools across the region will set up stall on our main mall, selling products from the companies they’ve been running themselves. Every purchase is a real sale to a real customer, and a real vote of confidence in a young business owner.

Date
Saturday 5 December 2026
Time
9am – 3.30pm
Where
Main mall, Merrion Centre
A team of five students behind a stall of Christmas gifts and building-brick characters

Three good reasons to visit

  • Find something differentGifts and stocking fillers with personality. Past fairs have featured candles, soaps, jewellery, bobble hats, cosy socks and mystery gift bags.
  • Back young talentEvery sale helps a team of students see their business idea working in the real world, and that’s a confidence boost money can’t buy.
  • Meet the foundersSay hello to the students behind each stall and hear how they’ve built their business. They’ll be glad to tell you all about it.
Festive gift baubles with candy canes and bear-shaped treatsTwo students holding fluffy Christmas socks and candles at their stall

What is LEAP?

The Leeds Enterprise Advisory Project (LEAP) is a registered charity that helps students set up and run their own companies for a school year. It was founded in 2006 by six volunteers, and is still powered by a network of volunteers, business partners and judges who give their time and experience.

These are real companies with real responsibilities. Over the year, each team will:

  • Raise their own share capital
  • Choose a product, then make it or buy it in
  • Write a business plan and market their product
  • Sell directly to the public at fairs like this one
  • Present their results to a panel of business advisers
Two students with their bobble hat stall on the Merrion Centre main mall

Where big ideas begin

Along the way, students build teamwork, problem-solving and business skills, and the confidence to share their ideas. Over the past 20 years, more than 4,500 students have benefited from LEAP mentoring and programmes at the Merrion Centre. One of them is Rachel Woodford, who appeared on The Apprentice UK in 2024. Her entrepreneurial journey began at Merrion’s LEAP in 2012–13, when her group, Sweet Things, was formed.

“Seeing students realise what they’re capable of is what we have always been about.”

Steve Webber, Chairman of LEAP

Be part of our 40th LEAP Fair

This Christmas fair is a milestone: the 40th LEAP Fair, in a year celebrating 20 years of fairs at the Merrion Centre. So get a head start on your Christmas shopping, pick up something original and help a young entrepreneur on their way. Who knows, you might just be one of their first customers on the road to something big.

For more about the programme, visit leapenterprise.co.uk.

Three students in festive tinsel beside their personalised jewellery stall

Photos from previous LEAP fairs. Stalls and products vary each year.

Coming by car? Park for up to 24 hours for just £7 Pre-book at CitiPark Merrion Centre and enter code MERRION247. See parking offer