To become a vendor, you have to visit one of the Big Issue offices to speak to a member of their team.
You need to undergo a induction process as well as signing an agreement.
The induction process aims to capture basic information about the vendor, explain how they work and convey some simple sales advice to get a vendor started. It is also to understand the initial needs and goals of the vendor.
Once accepted, the vendor is given five free copies to get them started and a pitch to start selling.
They are given two weeks to buy a Big Issue red tabard which costs £15, which is refundable when they decide to move on.
There are many set rules for vendors such as, Vendors can only sell on designated pitches and Vendors must not use physical or verbal aggression towards members of the public or other vendors.
Any failure to comply with these rules will result in the vendor being banned from selling the big issue anywhere in the UK.
The big issue encourages their vendors to think about long term goals an possible careers to get them back to financial stability and move on from being a vendor.
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