START-UP businesses will be making their first public appearance at a Christmas Wonderland Market in Poole.

The embryonic enterprises have been guided on their path to profit by WSX Enterprise’s Driving Urban Enterprise project.

They are regulars at the project’s monthly Friday Club and will use the market to showcase goods and services.

Included will be a fashion show with a runway for models to exhibit a young creator’s designs, as well as a beautician, stage school, face painter, jewellery maker, cake maker, marketing pioneer and nail technician.

The Christmas Wonderland Market at the Lighthouse on Sunday, November 16, will have 130 stands, plus the market newcomers from WSX Enterprise.

Father Christmas will be reading stories to children and there will be live entertainment, festive foods and drink, decorations and gift stands galore.

The fair has been designed so people can get all their festive buying done in one go before December.

Sam Everard, from WSX Driving Urban Enterprise, said: “We have been helping a number of businesses get off the ground and a huge market like this will give them great exposure.

“There is some real entrepreneurial spirit locally and we have managed to acquire a space at the market for our businesses.

“It will give them a great opportunity to promote themselves and make some sales and will give visitors some extra stands to view.

“It is an ideal opportunity to conduct market research in a genuine business setting and we will be on hand for support.”

Dawn Hutchison, who is organising the market, said: “This is the first time we’ve run the event and it is a big indoor venue with well over 130 stands.

“It is an ideal opportunity for new businesses to offer their products and services to the market – and no one will have seen them before.”

The market is being held from 10am to 6pm. It costs £2.50 for adults and children go free.

WSX Enterprise is a business support service and the Driving Urban Enterprise project aims to help businesses get off the ground and prosper.

It is supported by the European Development Fund.