The High Life Magazine

The High Life Magazine for Mansfield

& Ashfield area

Portland College More than just a College

Editor’s Interview David Ralph Chief Executive D2N2

EMA-4-B Local Business Success

May 2013 Delivered FREE to local households and businesses

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C O R P O R AT E

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Welcome

Contents

Portland College More than just a College

May 2013

COMMUNITY 4 Youthzone 6 Ollie & Charlotte’s challenge 10 Editor’s Interview 12 Healthy Lifestyle CULTURE 29 Walks-4-life CORPORATE 15 Corporate section 23 Corporate Calendar 23 Profile Plus 24 Young Apprentice Story 27 IWB Pink Carpet Event REGULAR FEATURES 11 Gentleman’s Page 22 Keys to Success Carl 25 Femme Page Jennifer 26 Fashion with Natalie 28 Jo’s Jollies 30 What’s on Section 30 Book & Film Review SPECIAL 10 Festival Ticket Winners

Welcome Hello and great to be saying hello again to you our High Life readers.

8 David Ralph Editors Interview

Well not you are not going colour blind I have taken on the challenge of dying my hair pink in light of the It’s Women’s Business Club Pink Carpet Exhibition on behalf of Cancer Research and Breakthrough Breast cancer.

Please check out page 27 to find out more and you are all welcome.

This month we are proud to promote Portland College, “more than just a

10

College”, see pages 8 and 9 to find out more about the wonderful opportunities available to students, visitors and local businesses.

Our EMA-4-Business exhibition was a

EMA-4-B Business Success

tremendous success and we would like to offer a huge thank you to all those you sponsored the event, took stands or attended and we are warming up for our next exhibition on the 16th October. The aim, to showcase our local businesses and

16

organisations both locally and on a wider geographical scale to other East Midlands areas. You can also download a short video of the event if you see pages 16 & 17.

Promote Your Business with Marathon Media

Advertise in the June Edition From only £70 Leaflet Insertion £25 per 1000 Selective Areas for delivery Website Design from only £225 For a media package please visit

www.thehighlifemagazine.co.uk or call our sales team on 07916 245 367 or email: sales@marathon-media.co.uk Or use the QR code to the website. >>

The High Life is published by a locally based company; Marathon Media with the aim to build local business & strengthen communities. We are not just a publication but a magazine with a mission to promote positive news and encourage readers and advertisers to stand proud of Mansfield & Ashfield.

Have a great read and see you in June

Diane Carter, Editor

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4

Community

YOUTHZONE Samworth Church Academy students raise £402 for red nose day!

Samworth Church Academy Year 7 students have finally totted up their fundraising efforts for ‘Red Nose Day’ and have raised a whopping £402 for charity. Students sold red noses and cakes to raise money towards the annual event now in its 25th year.

Other red nose fund-raisers not pictured include Owen Comins, Travis Bamford – Jones (Year 7) and Curtis Miller (Year 8).

Regular Educational Feature Interview Time Now is the time when many young people are making decisions about their next steps and attending interviews for jobs, college and university. Whilst you can never be sure of the questions you will be asked there are several things you can do to help prepare your child with any interviews they may have.

Firstly encourage your child to look the part. Arriving smartly dressed shows any interviewer that the whole process seriously is being taken seriously and makes a positive first impression.

Secondly, help your child to be organised. Ensure they know where they are going, how to get there, for what time and who they are seeing. By knowing this in advance you are helping your child reduce stress and panic at what can be a very nerve wracking time. You should also help your child to research the organisation they are hoping to secure a job or place at. Very often an opening question at interview is around what is already known about the organisation.

Thirdly, work with your child to create a list of questions they would like to ask at interview. This shows they have considered many aspects of being part of that organisation and have an enquiring mind. They should have a copy of their application form and C.V. to take to interview too. This way they will be reminded about what they originally wrote in order to be invited to interview.

And finally, good luck!

Photograph left to right: Academy Teacher Miss Lily Ann Dawes and year 7 students, Charlotte Johnson, Katie Barksby and Lucy Singleton. Front row: Chantelle Mulvanny, Chloe Platts (holding ‘Zoom’), Lauren Richardson and Ellie Overton.

Generation games at college a success Students at West Nottinghamshire College stepped back to the 1940s today at a coffee morning for the elderly.

Brighter Futures Education is a local business run by a mother and daughter team offering one to one tuition services for children of all ages. Jill and Hayley are pleased and excited to be contributing to “High Life” magazine.

society called ‘Ignite’, the group enjoyed a lunch at the college’s new fine dining restaurant – Refined.

The students have been fortunate to have access to a £3,400 start-up grant through the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) which supports the growth of enterprise societies and works with 135 colleges and universities across the UK.

Ladies and gentlemen from the Mansfield and Ashfield area spent a morning enjoying tea and coffee and playing traditional board games such as chess and scrabble with students at the college’s Derby Road campus.

This money has enabled the students to provide catering for this first coffee morning and for further projects to be planned in the future.

The group, who attend Mansfield-based charity Jigsaw’s befriending lunches, visited the college to share their memories and pastimes of the 1940s with the students and talk to them about what Mansfield was like when they were young.

Mavis Dale from Warsop said: “This is a marvellous opportunity to get out of the house and try something new. We’ve had fun playing games and having tea and cake and I’m looking forward to our lunch in the new restaurant.

Students also recorded the visitors’ stories and memories on camera to be used on their blog.

“It would be nice to come to the college again if the students organise another coffee morning. It’s really good to be out and about and meet new people.”

At the event, which was supported by the college’s enterprise

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Youth Conversation – let's get talking

Mansfield’s first Youth Conversation took place on Thursday 21st March with more than 100 students coming together to discuss local issues and meeting with local service providers to give the organisations a better understanding of the needs of young people.

Two students from each year group at all of the District’s seven secondary schools and West Nottinghamshire College attended at Mansfield Library on Westgate, which was organised by Mansfield District Council along with Mansfield Learning Partnership.

During the morning’s session a range of service providers set up a market place where students were be able to visit the stalls and tell the service providers what they wanted and needed from each service. Services attending include: Nottinghamshire Police, Stagecoach transport, Mansfield District Leisure Trust, Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group, Mansfield District Council’s Leisure, Parks and Town Centre departments, Mansfield Museum and Nottinghamshire County Council Youth Services.

Then in the afternoon a question time event took place in the library theatre with a selection of expert panellists. Students were able to quiz the panellists on topical issues relating to young people.

For more information please call Mansfield District Council’s Community Engagement team on 01623 463 372 or email communityengagement@mansfield.gov.uk

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Community Will you take up the challenge?

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Mansfield to become more active - whether it's cycling to work, learning to dance or taking up a new sport. Ollie and

aralympic swimming stars Charlotte Ollie & Charlotte Henshaw and Ollie Hynd have teamed to get active! up with Active Mansfield to www.mansfield.gov.uk/active get Mansfield Tel: 01623 463470 / 463371 more active.

Many of us aren't too keen Charlotte haven`t allowed their on the idea of exercise. It might disabilities to stop them being be that we're too busy or we active, so what is stopping you? simply can't face the thought Any sports or physical activity of it. But most people aren't all help you to feel healthier getting the amount of activity and you'll also feel loads more they need to stay healthy. confident too!

Building activity into your day We are here to help you. Below keeps your heart healthy, are some ideas on how you reduces your risk of serious can get more active and if you illness and strengthens muscles need any advice just give our and bones. It can also be a Sports Development team a great way of reducing your call on 01623 463 371 or 463 stress levels and lifting your 470 or find us on Facebook mood if you are feeling down. at www.facebook.com/ Ollie and Charlotte are activemansfielduk challenging everyone across

Challenge you

/activemansfielduk

Improving quality of life through sport and physical activity

A BIG WELL DONE

..........to Blidworth Community Leisure Centre's member, 20 year old Cara Leigh Sisson, who has just come 1st in the Intermediate Arial Hoop competition of Great Briton, Cara who trains at Blidworth has followed a personal program by Chris Wood and Joanne Borg, in upper body strength and abdominal training as well as training once a week in Arial lessons.

and degenerative disc disease, but nothing can stop her achieving her goals, she said “ Even with all my ailments I have persevered to complete and win at a sport where strength and flexibility are high requirements” her motto is, “ You can do anything with a little faith and perseverance” . A true inspiration from someone so young.

Cara has numerous disabilities including scoliosis

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All Saints’ Catholic School The Best in Mansfield Government league tables consistently show All Saints’ to be one of the highest achieving schools in Nottinghamshire and THE BEST school in the whole of Mansfield.

95% of students gained at least 5 A*-C GCSEs last year.

If you want the best for your child then our dedicated staff team will do all they can to ensure they reach their potential. We expect students to work hard in a disciplined environment where excellent behaviour is important.

A recent OFSTED inspection rated the school as good with some aspects being outstanding.

Inspectors noted that students enjoy learning and coming to school.

Many of our students and staff are Catholic but we welcome students of all faiths, or non, equally.

You can find out more by visiting our website, contacting the school and by coming to see us at our next Open Evening.

All Saints’ RC School Broomhill Lane Mansfield NG19 6BW 01623 474700 www.allsaints.notts.sch.uk All Saints’ Catholic School Broomhill Lane Mansfield NG19 6BW 01623 474700 www.allsaints.notts.sch.uk

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Community

Editor’s Interview with David Ralph, new Chief Executive of D2N2 LEP On a very cold winter (well supposedly Spring) March morning I attended a D2N2 presentation at the Mansfield Town Football Club informing local businesses about what the LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) for our area of Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire had achieved and its plans for the future.

I would like to think I was slightly instrumental in the visit of Chair; Peter Richardson and his colleagues to Mansfield, as at a recent Nottinghamshire County Council dinner for local business club leaders I challenged the organisation in relation to how areas on the outskirts of the cities may feel they were isolated from the LEP and/or missing out any grant funding through lack of information.

Having regularly attended the Business Engagement Groups, set up to keep business leaders informed of developments I am aware of lots of positive initiatives taking place through the LEP and the RDF and it is vital that if you are a local business you are aware of this organisation, the funding available and what actually the LEP are doing. Please look at the website (address on page 9) if you want to find out more.

Following on from the Mansfield D2N2 meeting I decided to convey the message to a local networking group, NNN (No Nonsense Networking), simply set up to help small businesses & sole traders with information and business support.

We discussed the different issues that they were facing and the barriers many believed were preventing growth of their business with the aim to return this survey to the D2N2 team.

David Ralph, the new Chief Executive for D2N2 kindly responded offering a short interview and update.

Q

David, the issues for small business in our group are mainly time and resources. How can the LEP help?

The LEP will help small businesses in three ways. First we will talk to you but through your existing networks and not set up new ones (except where there are gaps). We already work closely with the Chamber and are setting up better communications with other business support organisations such as the FSB. I am also happy to attend any other networks to talk through challenges and opportunities. Secondly, business support.

We have already set up with the Chamber business support website portal - www. thebusinessadvicewebsite.co.uk - please do use it. Third, we are looking at ways of reducing red tape and regulation, not was, but we are trying and finally we have a grant fund and loan fund to help businesses grow. Details on the website.

Q

Another issue related to businesses in the town centre were high rental and rates and of course the car parking fees destroying the number of visitors to the town and the length of time they stay?

The LEP will work closely with all Councils and how they might better support business. However, we have no policy making powers.

Q

How can the LEP help with training and finding staff with the skills required?

At the end of April, the LEP will be publishing its skills strategy and in summary we are anxious to ensure skills plans better reflect the needs of employers. Included in this will be a greater emphasis on apprenticeships.

often to gain this money the administration is of such detail you need to pay a professional person to help you through any application. How can the LEP help with this?

Accessing public funding should always be rigorous but can often be bureaucratic.

The challenge we have set ourselves is to get the maximum funding out the door with the minimum necessary paperwork.

Initially, we think the best way of doing this is to have easy expression of interest applications so that funders, when they have to do the bulk of the work, are doing so with a good chance of a successful outcome.

Q

Is there any funding available currently for businesses?

This new flagship programme called Unlocking Investment for Growth will release nearly £20m of direct investment into local businesses supporting hundreds of jobs. While many of these will be in six key sectors of Bio-science, Food & Drink, Construction, Transport Equipment Manufacture, Low Carbon and the Visitor Economy, applications from other sectors creating long-term jobs will also be encouraged.

The programme will provide a grant of up to 25 per cent in support of capital investment projects with a minimum overall project value of £200,000. In exceptional circumstances up to £500,000 of grant funding is available for projects that can demonstrate real potential to create new jobs. The process is competitive and applications will be rigorously assessed

Q

Q

Q

Q

Traffic Infrastructure?

The LEP will have a key role in highlighting the infrastructure needs of the area and will work closely with the Sheffield LEP on these challenges.

Recently we have done really well with improvements proposed to the A453, Midland Mainline and the recent HS2 announcements and work should start soon on the M1 hard shoulder scheme.

I was talking this week to local authorities about the A617 and recognise it needs improvement.

In addition a strong point was that there is talk of grant funding but

What are the main criteria for assessment?

• Overall strength of business case in terms of deliverability, impact and risk minimisation • Number of new sustainable, private sector jobs created • Level of private sector support investment that is leveraged by the grant funding • Eligibility for RGF support – including State Aid compliance • Value for money From what date and how do businesses apply?

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Community Applications are now being invited for this funding and I hope it encourages businesses to get in touch and express their interest and feel free to have a no obligation discussion, by going to www.

D2N2lep.org/UI4G or for an informal conversation about a potential project, email brief details to UI4G@embltd.co.uk and include your telephone number so an adviser can call you back.

The sooner applications are made the better because we want to use this money to help grow the region’s economy and create new jobs. State Aid rules apply and businesses must be located in the D2N2 area of Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire.

If you are a business with a capital investment project or you are working with a business that is developing a project that will create long-term sustainable jobs but can’t quite raise the finance necessary then this programme could help to fund the gap. This is a fund to support the purchase of capital assets to create long-term sustainable jobs. The company applying must both employ the newly created jobs and hold the assets on their balance sheet for a minimum period of three years.

The applicant’s business plan will identify

the number of new jobs and will also identify and verify the funding gap which is preventing the project being implemented.

Whilst this State Aid governed support may in certain circumstances be up to a maximum of 25%, the actual amount that may be offered if successful, after a robust and competitive assessment process, will be determined by a number of criteria including location, business size, value for money, risk factors, numbers of jobs created and verification that funding cannot be raised from other sources.

This is a capital fund to stimulate capacity expansion in the D2N2 area and will not support working capital applications

Q

In closing, can you just offer a little insight into your new role personally, a very brief business career history and individual vision for your input into the D2N2?

I’m excited to be here. There is such an enormous opportunity with exciting innovation across some key sectors. I genuinely think this area can lead the way in rebalancing the UK economy through providing new jobs and skills to local people through innovative and low carbon solutions.

I believe I have a strong track record in similar roles leading the economic growth surrounding the economic engine of the Haven Ports (Felixstowe and Harwich) and leading ten-year regeneration programmes in Norwich and Bristol.

For further information about the work of the D2N2 LEP go to www.d2n2lep.org

About the Regional Growth Fund The Government’s Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is a £2.6 billion fund operating across England from 2011 to 2016.

It supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment. The first three rounds will generate over £13 billion of private sector investment and create or safeguard over 500,000 jobs. The fourth round of RGF will make a further £350 million available in the pot and bidding has now closed. For more information please go to: www.gov.uk/ understanding-the-regional-growth-fund

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Gentlemen’s Club Top Trends: Style Time The watch is the one indulgent accessory that men can universally pull off. There’s something innately masculine about wearing a bold piece of clockwork machinery on the wrist. The intricate, finely tuned mechanisms at work beneath the glass seem to symbolise, with every tick, man’s engineering prowess. Yet the watch is also a mark of individuality, conveying a great deal about the guy who wears it. As such, a watch should be chosen with careful consideration and attention to detail. Today, phones are the goto gadget of choice, leaving modern wristwatches free from gizmo wizardry to focus purely on style. Today watches enter a renaissance, a new age of stripped back simplicity with finely tuned design variations to communicate your personal style.

European watchmakers such as Mondaine and Skagen are surging in popularity with their affordable, minimalist designs that project style, precision and pure,

Xbox 360 game Review: Injustice “Gods Among Us” Out now

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njustice: Gods Among Us debuts as a bold new fighting game franchise from the developers of Mortal Kombat.

It introduces a deep, original story featuring a large cast of favourite DC Comics icons such as Batman, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, Nightwing, Solomon Grundy, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman and many others. Set in a world

refined looks. Carbon shades, graphites and smoke greys that flow from the face and throughout the strap play into this ultra-modern, restrained and streamlined styling that’s ideal for business wear and sophisticated living.

This stripped back attitude to styling has led to renewed interest in vintage timepieces. Classic watches bring a dash of dapper to any outfit. You might already have one tucked away - a family heirloom perhaps. Now’s the time to pull that vintage treasure out of the closet and onto your wrist. Renovation from a local watchmaker can make all the difference to the performance of your classic timepiece. For those looking for a twist on the classic look, Rotary’s wide range of timepieces fuse contemporary, minimal styling with classic dials and straps for an elegant, gentlemanly style.

Of course, seasonal fashions affect watch design as much as any other fashionable accessory, but using your watch as a trend-setting statement can quickly

where the lines between good and evil are blurred, players will experience heroes and villains engaging in epic battles on a massive scale.

become expensive. There are plenty of budget watches available on the high street to help you experiment with colour, face size and single season crazes.

While classic watches never go out of style, they can be a significant and long term investment. One option to ensure you never get tired of checking the time is the strap change-up. A leather strap can easily be swapped for a canvas one or vice versa, helping you update for the new season or reinvigorate your investment purchase.

Whether you’re cutting-edge cool or a classic gentleman at heart, one thing is clear: forget gadgets, today watches are not just engineering masterpieces but exquisite objects of style.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Rotary limited edition gents watch black face and strap (LE90002/04) £399 and Rotary gents waterproof sterling silver and strap (GS21226/06) £299, Tel. 0207 434 7546 Rubber watch with blue strap and black face, Topman, 0845 121 4519, www.topman.com

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A Healthy Life with The High Life mood-elevating neurotransmitter may be at Attacks of the painful joint inflammation known as gout peak in April. the root of the giddiness, energy boost and enthusiasm that characterize spring fever.

Dermatologists notice more cases of dermatitis and rosacea, and allergists, Anthropologists have suggested that not surprisingly, field surges of complaints spring fever may have developed over the course of human evolution. They point out about hay fever in spring. Also, obstetricians have reported spring to be that early humans often spent winter in a state of near-hibernation. Then, when a season of exceptionally high rates of unplanned pregnancies. (Scientists are spring arrived, they would enter an active pring fever, that reputed and seemingly uncertain as to what's behind this last period of intense hunting, gathering and infectious malady that strikes when the procreating. effect, though unusually high springtime days lengthen and temperatures begin to sperm counts in men offer some clue).

Attractive though that theory may be, climb, has been blamed for feverish bouts it doesn't quite explain the state of the On the plus side, spring is also the season of house-cleaning, restless behaviour in in which people bid a temporary farewell to early American colonists come spring. the classroom, distraction in meetings and flu, seasonal affective disorder and heart Historians think the colonists coined the love struck dazes. term spring fever to refer to the weakness, attacks, all of which peak in winter. People Some scientists think spring fever is more also experience a springtime drop-off in fatigue and irritability many felt after a long than just a colloquialism -- they think it's a catching sexually transmitted diseases, winter without fresh fruits or vegetables. constellation of symptoms brought about which goes hand in hand with the rather (Technically, the colonists' symptoms were by hormonal changes in the body. paradoxical fact that people tend to have that of scurvy.) Such etymology suggests In winter, the body secretes high levels less sex in spring. that the term spring fever is a remnant of of melatonin, a hormone that governs In fact, many of spring's effects on the times past that's been co-opted to mean sleep-wake cycles. Come spring, the something different today. human mind and body are seemingly increasing amount of daylight is registered contradictory. Hormones do a partial job But there's no doubt that the body's by light-sensitive tissue in the eye, which internal chemistry and susceptibility to of explaining the seasonal epidemic of signals the brain to stop secreting so much impulsive, giddy and amorous behaviours illness changes with the seasons. Just as melatonin. As the hormone's levels drop observed as the memory of winter fades, scurvy outbreaks once peaked in spring, off, greater wakefulness results. but much about the season's influences so did measles and rubella before wideOn the other hand, levels of another 1779_Mansfield Beach-Ad-127x190_AW_High Life scale & Sherwood Newsletter 15/04/2013 16:56 Page 1remains mysterious. vaccinations became available. chemical, serotonin, rise in spring. This

Why the spring makes us feverish

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Corporate Welcome to the Corporate Section   A great platform for your business promotion  Diary Dates, Networking News, Business Events  PLUS, +ve Information about Corporate Life in our Area  A Great Chance to get involved in Local Business

Corporate Section Contents 16 EMA-4-B Success 18 Website Art Classes 20 NNN & NE Partnership Networking Meeting 22 Carl Kilvington Keys to Success 23 Profile Plus 23 Diary Dates 24 Jade Marie Butt Young Apprentice Story at Blidworth Menswear 27 It’s Women’s Business Pink Carpet Exhibition

16

Corporate

East Midlands Action- 4 -Business Exhibition

“

“This Event is Buzzing”

T

hese were the words of

George Crowcher, Chief Executive of Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce upon his recent visit to The High Life East Midlands Action4-For Business Exhibition held at The Mansfield Civic Centre on Wednesday 27th March 2013.

The exhibition was a platform for

Diane Carter & Irvin Robinson Chair Mansfield 2020

Photo: Sponsors of the event, Mansfield & Ashfield Regeneration Midlands Insurance, DNCC and Purpose Media

“The day proved to be very enjoyable and productive for us. The event was very well organised and well attended. It offered the opportunity to network with other local business owners and resulted in us making several new contacts which will hopefully bring future business for us”.

Jill Bator & Hayley Wood- Brighter Futures Education

35 East Midlands businesses,

have a great product or service to offer.

geographical scale. From the feedback

organisations, and charities to come

My aim was simply to bring businesses

received we achieved our aim and

together to showcase their products

together from a wider geographical

businesses enjoyed a big boost of

and services to other businesses and

area to showcase Mansfield and

gaining new contacts whilst leaving away armed with knowledge and

local residents.

motivation to help them in the future.

Guests enjoyed the seminars by Marcus Kilvington on Sales and

We would like to thank our sponsors

Marketing and Rehan Alam with his

of the day; Midlands Insurance

social media and motivation tips.

Services, Purpose Media Purpose

Diane Carter, organiser stated “I

Martin Heartfield (of) Brunts School

was amazed at the response to the event. In spite of the current problems

Ashfield and what a great place it is

businesses are facing they still have a

plus encourage networking on a wider

fabulous fighting spirit, a determined attitude and a strong belief that they

Media web design development & online marketing, The Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce and the Ashfield and

Photo credits: Wendy Olivant, Barrett & Co Fantastic Photography Worksop www.barrettandcoportraits.co.uk. Carl Kilvington see details page 22.

17

Corporate “I have to say it was extremely well organised, and covered a wide range of businesses”.

Wendy Olivant, Barrett & Co Fantastic Photography Worksop Mansfield Shared Regeneration

event to ensure the 2nd one is

Service.

even bigger, better and more

This was our flagship event and we are proud to announce a second exhibition on the 16th October 2013 and are thrilled to already have on board sponsors; Midlands Insurance Services, Optimise Business and the Manor Restaurant and Hotel.

“Coffee and Catch Up” We want to keep the buzz buzzing and are running several relaxed &

beneficial. See invite to right.

The theme for the October event is ‘Feast or Famine’ getting businesses ready for the festive season and the New Year 2014.

For more details contact Co-ordinator Diane Carter on: diane@marathon-media.co.uk or telephone: 07916 245 367.

informal meet ups prior to the next

We would like to thank Carl Kilvington who kindly videoed the event.

Please see below a short introductory presentation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYLjdwpPnns &feature=youtu.be or use the QR code To view a 20 minutes résumé of the event see: http://youtu.be/M9kAI05rneE or QR code below

Graham Bee: Beeline Advertising

East Midlands Action- 4 -Business

Keep The Buzz Buzzing Coffee and Catch Up Event FREE to attend Venue: Mansfield iCentre, Oakham Business Park Hamilton Way, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 5BR Time:12 – 1pm Date: Thursday 9th May Purpose to offer feedback, keep in touch, plan for the next event to make it bigger, better and more beneficial for all!

Sponsors: Midlands Insurance Services, Optimise business and The Mansfield Manor Hotel and Restaurant

18

Corporate Local Firms Favour Renegotiation Of UK’s Relationship With EU

M

ore than two-thirds of local businesses believe the renegotiation of the UK’s relationship with the EU is a better way forward than withdrawing from it, according to new figures.

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce (DNCC) recently quizzed 286 local businesses about their attitudes towards the country’s membership of the EU. The survey found 67 per cent of local firms felt withdrawing completely from the EU would harm the UK economy, whilst 69 per cent believed remaining in the EU but negotiating to transfer specific powers back from Brussels to Westminster would have a positive impact on Britain’s business and economic prospects.

And when asked about which specific

NOTTS ARTIST AND SKY TV PRESENTER LAUNCHES WEBSITE ART CLASSES Two firms have combined skills to launch a new method of teaching those interested in learning how to paint or draw which has attracted unprecedented interest since it was launched last month by an expert artist.

The web-based teaching method is the brainchild of Mansfield born artist Matthew Palmer who has been teaching art for over 25 years. He currently also has TV shows running on The Painting and Drawing Channel on Sky TV Channel 191. His idea was brought to fruition by web design and e-commerce specialists Purpose Media. www.mattartist.co.uk is set to revolutionalise the way in which budding artists begin to learn and perfect their skills in drawing or painting. Instead of attending

shows there is growing concern about the cumulative impact of the rules imposed by Brussels and the endless stream of new European legislation and court rulings that raise their costs and lower their competitiveness. powers businesses would like to see Westminster claw back from Brussels, employment law topped the list (67%), followed by health and safety (57%), justice or home affairs (37%), regional development (36%) and public sector procurement rules (29%).

Commenting on the results of the survey, DNCC Chief Executive George Cowcher said: “As the world’s largest single market, Europe will always be a key trading partner for the UK. Being successful there remains central to the future growth and development of a significant majority of companies in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

“However, although businesses recognise the benefits of being part of a European single market, this survey classes with a tutor, art pupils will be able to register for the course and then watch in-depth tutorial videos. This means both budding and experienced artists can follow the step by step advice wherever they are planning to paint or draw a subject. They do not have to begin learning the basics or perfecting technique in a classroom or from a study book. They can actually spend more time painting what they chose.

Commenting Matt Palmer added, “The time available for hobbies is getting cut shorter and shorter. My new website allows pupils to access a practical very visual based series of lessons and immediately start painting or drawing subjects of their choosing. They get shown specific techniques and can watch an experienced instructor show them what to do without having to sit through a weekly art class in a studio. “ Matt Wheatcroft, Managing

“More than two-thirds of local businesses believe complete withdrawal from the EU would have a negative impact on the economy, but a similar proportion think renegotiating the balance of powers back from Brussels to Westminster would deliver business and economic benefit to the UK. “The Prime Minister is right to draw a distinction between the parts of the UK’s relationship with the EU we want to continue and those that we want to end. However, Government does need to take a clear steer from business and the real economy before rushing into policy changes, to ensure that any decisions about the UK’s relationship with the EU are in the country’s best interests in the long term.”

Director, added, “Helping companies take advantage of new technology to reach new customers and generate addition business benefits everyone. Working with Mattartist to develop his vision means those with smart phones, I-pads and tablets can literally learn and paint or draw anywhere there is WIFI.” Purpose Media are a successful web developer and on-line marketing specialist.

The company focuses on the design and build of content managed websites and e-commerce solutions that integrate back office accounting and stock control systems.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION ON THREE FRONTS FOR HALL-FAST!

H

all-Fast are pleased to announce that they have been short-listed in three categories at the fourth annual Red Ribbon Awards for family businesses.

Hosted by Family Business Place, they are the UK’s only national awards to recognize the achievements of familyrun companies of all sizes and across all sectors.

Finalists in the Corporate Social Responsibility, Small Family Business and the overall Family

19 Business of the Year categories, NATIONAL & LOCAL Hall-Fast will find out if they have been successful or not at a AWARDS SUCCESS prestigious awards evening held FOR NOTTS at the Lancaster London Hotel MANUFACTURER on 5th July 2013.

A1 Flue Systems has been shortlisted for the excellence Anita Brightly-Hodges, in manufacturing category in Managing Director of Family the Nottingham Post business Business Place says, ‘’we were awards, as well as the award spoilt for choice with this year’s for innovation in the national nominations. From hundreds Family Business Place Red who entered, we believe Ribbon awards. They have all of the short-listed family also been shortlisted for both businesses deserve to win’’. the Business of the Year and The Entrepreneurial Spirit Commented Malcolm Hall, awards in the Mansfield 2020 Managing Director of Hall-Fast, Awards.

“I am incredibly proud of all To learn of their Mansfield that we have achieved. In the 2020 success, A1 Flue last three years we have won Systems will be attending a sixteen awards this has enabled glittering awards ceremony on Saturday 27 April the business to attract the at Mansfield Civic interest of high calibre strategic Centre, followed by partners, companies and the Nottingham Post employees. I’m delighted that business awards on 23 our success has again being May at East Midlands recognized on a national level!’’

Conference Centre, and finally the Family Business Place Red Ribbon Awards dinner on Friday 5 July at the Lancaster Hotel in

London.

A1 Flue Systems employ 130 staff at a modern 54,000 sq ft factory in Ollerton. This year they will celebrate their 40th anniversary and their award nominations follow the completion of a number of high profile UK wide projects which include The Shard, Kings Cross Terminal 1 and St Pancras Chambers redevelopments in London, as well as the Co-operative Group head offices in Manchester. They have also designed and installed the chimney and flue systems for the Kings Mill Hospital and are the only chimney and flue manufacturer to still make everything here in the UK.

20

Corporate IWB Celebrating Women in Business Now with over 300 local professional members Ladies at Lunch Thursday 23rd May Venue: T.B.C. at Nottingham

Be part of a friendly, supportive, informative & inspirational women’s business group.

Regular Networking events including our monthly It’s Women’s Business Ladies at Lunch • Delicious Buffet with Coffee / Tea • Informal business Atmosphere • Specialist / Premier Plus Member Presentations £13 Premier Members / Guests £11.50 P+ Members To Book the above event or Join our IWB Membership, call Diane Carter; Chair & Founder on 07916 245 367 Or email: diane@marathon-media.co.uk

www.itswomensbusinessclub.co.uk image: freedigitalphotos.net_vlado

NNN Business Networking Group Unites with NE Group The well established No Nonsense Networking group has partnered with the NE Group at Edwinstowe House to offer members and guests the opportunity to enjoy their regular relaxed and informal networking over a light breakfast PLUS an informative presentation in line with the current Superfast Broadband for Nottinghamshire campaign.

A short taster talk entitled “Mobile Marketing in 3 Easy Steps” will be presented by Paul Fillingham of Think Amigo during the NNN session and if attendees wish to stay for an interactive 45 minute workshop which follows at 9am, they are warmly invited (please register via www.superfastnotts. co.uk to secure your place.)

This event will take place in the Garden Room at Edwinstowe House, Centre for Business Excellence on Tuesday 14th May at 7.30am to 9am. Please contact: Chair: Diane Carter Tel: 07916 245 367 or email; diane@marathon-media.co.uk for more information. www.nononsensejustnetworking.wordpress.com

IWB Nott’s April Ladies at Lunch

The meeting of the It’s Women’s Business Club took place on the 18th April at the regular Mansfield venue; the Oakham Suite, (Masonic Hall). Nottingham Road, Mansfield.

Attendees enjoyed a delicious light buffet lunch with lots of time for informal networking. The first presentation was offered by Premier Plus Member ;Amanda Mills in her role as Manager at Jolie Lingerie, an independent lingerie boutique that offers a professional bra fitting service to women from an A to K cup and 28 to 46 back. Amanda shared a very informative presentation on how to wear underwear whilst displaying some of the fabulous range. Jennifer Needham of Midlands Insurance Service won the business card draw offered

by Amanda and won a Jolie Lingerie voucher –timed nicely for her up and coming birthday.

The second short talk was presented by IWB Family Law Silver Specialist; Sue Leadbeater of Andrew & Co Solicitors entitled “Relationships and Business – some things you ought to know!”

Sue offered a variety of situations where business ladies need to prepare themselves to secure their business and their homes, for example; when starting relationships, moving in with a partner or getting married. Legal preparation such as prenuptial agreements is so simple to set up and can remove some of the anxiety if relationships sadly do break down. Our next event is on Thursday 23rd May see advert to the left.

Also see details of IWB Pink Carpet Exhibition on page 27

But when it arrives will you be ready to take full advantage?

Join us for our next phase of free, informative workshops which are being held around Nottinghamshire during May to aid both businesses and individuals understand the benefits it will bring. Free food and parking will be available.

‘How to use Twitter to gain more Business’ Wednesday 8th May— 8am to 10am Mansfield Town Football Club

‘Mobile Marketing in 3 easy steps’

Tuesday 14th May— 8am-10am Edwinstowe House, Edwinstowe then between 12-2pm at John Godber Community Centre, Hucknall For full details and to register for your free place, visit www.superfastnotts.co.uk or call The NE Group on 01623 827900.

Attend for your chance to win an IPad!

21

Corporate

“The business behind the numbers” We provide value based services under fixed price agreements; so you know exactly what you are getting and exactly what our fees are.

At Adkin Sinclair we focus on understanding your business and explaining the numbers, not just recording and reporting them.

Our experience in advising owner-managed businesses means that we are well placed to be regarded as your “Outsourced Finance Director”. Delivering valuable insight and knowledge to many of the essential areas of business, finance and taxation.

Our clients receive unlimited free telephone support as well as unlimited meetings with their reporting Partner – all at no extra cost…And all of our services are backed by our “no quibble money back guarantee”.

To find out what sets Adkin Sinclair apart from other accountants, call now and speak to Chris Adkin or Michelle Walker on 01623 645243.

Alternatively visit our website www.adkinsinclair.co.uk

Business Liaison Group (BLG) – Mansfield

L

ocal business people met this morning as part of the Mansfield2020 working group. The group meet every 6-8 weeks to discuss issues affecting local businesses in the Mansfield and Ashfield area. The group is led by the board of Mansfield 2020. Recent successes include driving broadband to the area 2 years ahead of schedule.

Business Growth Survey

The group approved an extension of the Business Growth Survey to the 19th April to capture businesses after the Easter break.

Local Directory

This morning’s discussions covered key issues such as the development of a directory to encourage inter-trading in Mansfield – ‘Buy Local First’. This will help raise the profile of all businesses regardless of size and sector within the area. The group are producing a strategy to execute the project. Update will be provide by the end of April.

Broadband

Although the BLG group have achieved great success regarding the BT broadband in the area. The feedback from local businesses have expressed the considerable amount of working process remaining. There are concerns that broadband is still not available for within certain business park and industrial estates.

The group are calling a meeting with BT to drive this process forward. Update will be provide by the end of May.

Skills & Education

The Mansfield Learning Partnership (MLP) have driven forward numerous opportunities for young people in the area to interact with local employers. MLP provides a platform for employers to help develop and inspire young people. MLP have now formed a board for ‘Business Champions’. Board members are Berni Dickinson, MLP, Katrina Atherton, A Star Media, Tracey Powell, Chad, Caroline Cox, Mansfield2020. The Board will be responsible for driving forward employer engagement with local students. There is a wide range of opportunities that employers can provide local students regardless of the size of your business and industry. The board will present and launch ‘Business Champions’ at the May (23rd) Mansfield 2020 breakfast meeting.

Other discussions took place regarding the Mansfield 2020 meeting with the local MP Alan Meale on 7th June. The BLG group will meet again on the 23rd May to put together structured questions to optimise the opportunity for businesses when meeting with Alan Meale.

The aim of the Business Liaison Group is to provide a platform and opportunity to all local businesses to discuss issues affecting business, skills and education in the Mansfield and Ashfield area.

With the purpose to drive forward change needed for growth in the area.

22

Time Management a Vital Asset

A

t the April meeting of the Mansfield and Ashfield Branch of the FSB guests enjoyed networking over a delicious 2- course dinner at the Mansfield Manor Restaurant and Hotel.

Time Management was the first presentation offered by Simon Misiewicz of Optimise Business. Simon encouraged the attendees to consider both personal and business goals and look at how these could be achieved in relation to setting realistic timed tasks and considering priorities. “How easy is it to become overwhelmed with so many tasks to reach so many goals and nothing is achieved-especially when we are so inundated with communication distractions via email/social media etc. All vital tools but need to be monitored and used effectively”.

The second talk was presented by David Cureton of David Cureton & Partners enlightening the audience on appealing for business rates. David talked about how his business can work with you to assess your current rate and consider how you could save money.

Interested in attending the monthly Mansfield and Ashfield FSB meeting see details to left.

Regular Feature: Keys to Success Ask an INTERNET ENTREPRENEUR - Edition 10

HOW to Get MORE Visitors to Your Website and Convert to Sales

Hello, its Carl here again with more Internet Top Tips for you...

Over the coming months, I’m going to address 2 of the most common questions I get asked: 1) How can I get more visitors (traffic) to my website 2) How can I convert more visitors into sales when they reach my website?

To do justice to these two questions, I’m going to break them down to help you really understand the challenges but also provide you with some real solutions so please do make the time to follow the next few months. What I’m going to cover can really make a difference to your website performance so please follow the coming months because it will be well worth it!

Let’s begin by looking at the reasons that maybe causing a lack of visitors (known as traffic) in the first place. To understand this, we need to consider WHERE visitors come from. Simply put, all sources of visitors (traffic) can be categorised into one of the following: 1. DIRECT traffic (Your visitor goes straight to your site, knowing your URL*) 2. REFERRED traffic (Your URL* is given to your visitor by someone else) 3. SEARCH traffic (Your

visitor is given your URL* by a search engine such as Google) *URL (Uniform resource locator) also known as ‘web address’ or ‘domain’ i.e. www.’YourCompany Name’.com Its the virtual equivalent to a street address Table: Example sources of visitors/traffic within the categories Direct

Referred

Search

Word of mouth

Google

A business card

MSN

Another website

Yahoo

Previous visitor/customer

QR code ACTION REQUIRED For your homework, between now and the next edition, I urge you to think of other sources of visitors specifically applicable to your own business and add them to your own table See you next month for more! Kind Regards, Carl Collaboration is the future for business Live, Love, Share and Inspire!

23

Corporate Profile Plus:

An Introduction to Local Business people Name: Stevie Roden Business Name & Role: D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership Communications Officer Introduction: Many of you may know Stevie, who was a reporter at the Nottingham Post for almost 14 years prior to joining the LEP, firstly reporting on local government and crime and latterly on the sports desk, where he covered Mansfield Town, Notts County and Nottingham Forest at various times before taking up the post of Deputy Head of Sport.

Stevie will be responsible for all media relations at D2N2 and should be your first point of contact with any enquiries relating to the LEP and its activities. He will be based with the D2N2 team at the Chamber’s offices on the NG2 Business Park and can be reached on 0115 9578757/07816 762564 or by email at stevie.roden@dncc.co.uk.

Profile Plus

Would you like to have your profile on this page?

Please offer your details as per the profiles on this page. Also send a high resolution (200dpi) head and shoulders photo.

We will do our best to place your business profile on this page.

Send to diane@marathon-media.co.uk

Diary Dates for Business Events April 2013 NNN Breakfast Networking In Conjunction with NE Tuesday 14th May 07.30 - 09.00am Venue: Edwinstowe House, Edwinstowe. NG21 9PR This event is FREE c/o NE Group. Booking Essential To book contact Diane Carter; Chair at diane@marathon-media. co.uk Visit www.nononsensejustnetworking.wordpress.com FSB The next meeting of Mansfield and Ashfield Branch will be on Monday 13th May 6.30pm to 8.30pm Venue: Mansfield Manor Hotel, Windmill La, Mansfield, NG18 2AL, IWB Ladies at Lunch Thursday 23rd May 12 - 2pm Venue: T.B.C. Nottingham If you wish to attend please email Diane Carter, Chair at diane@marathon-media.co.uk Visit www.itswomensbusinessclub.co.uk M2020 Business Breakfast Thursday 23rd May Time: 7.15 – 9 am.

Venue: Mansfield Civic Centre, Chesterfield Rd, Mansfield NG19 7BH. To book: www.mansfield2020.com IWB Pink Carpet Exhibition Thursday 20th June 10am to 3pm Venue: Portland college, Nottingham Rd, Mansfield See full advert for details page 27

24

Corporate

In her own words

A Young Apprentice’s Story W

hen Blidworth Menswear Sales Assistant Jade Marie Butt left Joseph whitaker School in Rainworth, she had achieved 10 GCSE’s and gained average grades in the 6th form for one year’s study.

It wasn’t that long really it took around a week to get a reply which isn’t bad. I received a letter through the post stating that I had an interview, following on from that I received a phone call and I started pretty much straight away.

How did you get your first job?

When did you actually start?

I first started Blidworth menswear in 2008 I was studying at Joseph Whitaker school as a Saturday girl however I left in 2010 and as I was fifteen years old and only to train to be a hairdresser, and then I had one year left. I didn’t want to leave went to see if I had any chance of getting school and worry about what working life my old job was like so I typed but just up my CV, which “I didn’t want to leave school and worry back part time so to be honest had about what working life was like” I could keep hardly anything up with my on it, and took it hairdressing. It was now a paid role but as into Blidworth Menswear. I had offered to I had experience through voluntary work work voluntary as a Saturday girl while I they knew I was a good reliable and keen was still at school just to get to know what worker. working life was really like and just a bit of experience really.

What’s happened since? Has the role developed?

Did you get the job there and then?

1

Blidworth Menswear Factory Shop

Plus We Have Belts, Cufflinks, Socks & Scarves To Complete Your New Look.

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WE are major manufacturers of high street suits...

My roles have massively developed.

I am much more confident speaking with customers. My customer service skills have become much better and I am confident to give advice but this all came with time,

experience and ‘hands on’ training.

I feel a lot more ALTERATION comfortable serving & REPAIR SERVICE customers all • Spring Wedding • Bespoke Bridal • together and am • Mother of the Bride • quicker serving at For all your bridal party needs... the till I feel like Alteration service for bridal party & prom wear customers know With over 35 years experience, let us alter, restyle or repair your clothes. feel I know what I’m Let us save you money35 by having your experience, favourite clothes altered...

With over years doing. Overall I find We are major manufacturers of high street suits and & let alter,process restyle orinside repair Curtain clothes. knowus the tailoring of clothing out.. your things a lot easier but ing Soft Furnishs.

Come and meet knowledgeable and our in-house Specialist your every job gets easier Let us our save you staff money by having tailor, who specializes in all clothing alterations from.. as you learn. broken zips..waistbands, dresses and skirts.. altered favourite clothes

to inside leg adjustments and discuss your requirements.

Sherwood House, Dale Lane, Blidworth, Notts. NG21 0SA. Tell us about a Tel: 01623 793073 / 07807889795

Untitled-1 1

15/04/2013 11:00:23

Is it all work and no play with 2 jobs?

What do you do when not working?

No it’s not all about work and no play. I only work part time at Blidworth menswear so I can keep up my hairdressing

“She was very quick and eager to learn, with her great customer service”

STEAMFORCE

9am 4pmwhen Monresponding - Sat to adverts Please mentionOpen: The One Stop-Local

may roles … dealing with customers fist hand, PDQ transactions, operating the cash machine, helping customers find garments and sizing them up in our suits range, stock taking, drop linking and cubing new stock, sort out invoices and despatch notes for new stock, ordering new stock for customers, phone customer service and more.

Blidworth menswear also offers a fantastic alteration and repair service for all aspects of clothing for both ladies and gents.

We have two fantastic kind endlessly patient tailors who are now teaching me all aspects of tailoring and dress making I have learnt so far how to read a pattern and cut out , I understand about the process of how clothing is made. There is a lot to learn and I know that it takes time but there are experts here to teach me.

typical day?

My work contains

in-between time as I want to go back to college and do my level three hairdressing.

I also get time to socialise with my friends and family.

A word from the employer.

Why did you employ a young person and what skills do you believe you can give them?

Glynis Staddon, Manager of Blidworth Menswear stated “Jade did some voluntary work before she left school and I remembered her enthusiasm and her lovely smile. She was very quick and eager to learn as with her great customer

Femme page 25

In this section of the magazine the focus is on the ladies. Our regular writer Jennifer Needham, sharing her High Life experiences.

Trying to lose weight for the summer? Why not try Hypnotherapy.

Jennifer’s Leisure Blog

L

ast week I used the pristine new Mansfield Bus Station

have designed it better because

for the first time and found the experience very pleasing.

we do have some incredible young

The old bus station had become so depressing but I did still

talent here in Mansfield, but really

have some fond memories of the place. It was there that I

encouraging, was the fact that they

first took the bus ‘shopping’ with my 13 year old classmates

felt enough ownership of something

some 30 years and ago, the place that my first boyfriend

new and positive to give this thought – a HUGE step forward.

and I had a row (age 15) and the place my mum told me I

We need to keep our smart young people, working, buying

shouldn’t hang around. I can definitely say I wouldn’t have

and living here in Mansfield.

wanted to ‘hang round’ the old bus station where as the new one…… well that’s quite different. Swish, airy and architecturally pleasing, I find the new resource to be a real asset to our Town Centre.

It might just be my imagination, but there does seem to have been more people shopping locally on a Saturday of late, and if the new Bus Station continues to improve this picture, then well done to you urban planners who conceived the idea.

Once onto the bus at the bus station I did take the opportunity of tuning into a few conversations around me and it was the young people in particular that interested me. Their comments about the new Bus Station were really positive - although one or two of them did say they could have done a better design job of the traffic flow and

Let’s get behind our town centre and make the most of the opportunity we’ve been given. Try out the new bus station and see if you have a better experience.

Jennifer Needham, BDM at Midland Insurance Services

turning space, which made me smile. Maybe they could service she was the ideal person for the role. I believe it is important to give local young people the opportunity and we are able to provide great training in retail and tailoring.

What do you believe you can offer to Jade through her work and training?

Jade is more than competent to eventually manage the shop and also will become a specialist in tailoring for variety of clothing and bridal wear. It has been fabulous to see her grow within the business and it is an asset to have someone I can rely upon.

About Blidworth Menswear We are major manufacturers of high street suits and know the tailoring process of clothing inside out..

Come and meet our knowledgeable staff and our inhouse tailor, who specializes in all clothing alterations from.... broken zips.. waistbands, dresses and skirts.. to inside leg adjustments and discuss your requirements.

Contact details:Sherwood house Dale Lane, Blidworth Notts NG21 0SA Tel: 01623 79073 Mob: 07807 889 795

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26

Fashion:

and timeless.

Low Heels, High Summer

S

ince Carrie Bradshaw first strutted along the Upper

East Side in a pair of Manolo’s, our fascination with

Fashion by Natalie

and sleek. Details should be kept to a

Alternatively, the lace-up brogue has been making a steady comeback for a few years now with more dedicated followers Black brogues make a great addition to

ensemble, the flat or low heel is

the business wardrobe, adding style to an everyday white blouse and tapered trouser combo. This season we’re

heels have grown a little taller with the

also

onset of each new season and we have

modern-day roles demand. It’s an attitude shift that has not gone unnoticed and, this year, designers have responded with a vast selection of flats and low heels that

embrace your inner Audrey Hepburn

weekend styling with pastel

this summer or adopt the maverick

brogues re-invigorating light and summery

winklepicker as your shoe of choice, you

cigarette trousers and skinny jeans.

can be sure to let your toes take a well

Flashing bare ankles is a sure fire way to

deserved break

keep the look chic and feminine.

in style. This

look are classic, streamlined

to choose from.

Flat loafers offer an easy route in

Does this mean we’ve fallen out of love

brogues break in to

dawn of stylish functionality has arrived.

wearer, but there are a multitude of styles

season’s most startling footwear trend.

been curtailed for now. Whether you

seeing

Also working that chic and sophisticated

ultimate confidence on the part of its

uncomplicated minimalism is key to this

and place, but its total domination has

maximise both style and wearability. The

This step change in footwear calls for

and, when it comes to business-wear,

super-high heel certainly has its own time

wearability. But as the twenty-teens

memory, an ideal we yearn for and our

sufficiently elegant for the evening

with the high heel? Not completely, the

relished the daily challenge of sky-high

footwear - comfort has become a distant

styles.

When worn with a simple and sleek

particularly, heels, has blossomed. Our

stilettos - the far reaches of skyscraper

the elegant appeal of this sleekest of

embracing the look season after season.

footwear and, more

ushered in the era of platform soled

minimum but a thin ankle strap magnifies

season’s

winklepickers. Pointed toes with flat soles or low, two inch heels that give just enough height to encourage a ladylike posture, winklepickers work well with

footwear mantra? Two inches or less please.

cigarette trousers and A-line skirts alike.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:

Winklepickers with sharp angles and

Pastel brogues from DOROTHY PERKINS, Tel. 0845 121 4515, www. dorothyperkins.com

to fashion’s new heel-height. These moccasin, slipper-like shoes might look

Gold brocade slipper shoes from TOPSHOP, Tel. 0845 121 4519, www. topshop.com

clunky on the shelf but try a pair on with skinny jeans to see how chic this style can be. Remember Audrey Hepburn’s iconic look from the 1950s movie Funny Face?

Diamonte slipper shoes from MISS SELFRIDGE, www.missselfridge.co.uk

This is what we’re going for here

Gardinia monochrome winklepicker from

- a sleek and simple trouser

PIED A TERRE, Tel. 0207 258 3605

exaggerated lengths

ensemble that subtly

made a striking impact on the Spring-

draws attention to

Summer catwalk.

the

Kitten heels - a low, thin, curved female form. Slipper style loafers inject these

heel - offer a classic winklepicker look, while fashion’s

minimal outfits with casual playfulness - a

cutting-edge low

dressed down functionality that is chic

heels are chunky

About Natalie A local freelance journalist with a passion for fashion, I write for local news websites and blogs, specialising in lifestyle and popular culture. When I’m not writing I can usually be found with my head buried in the pages of fashion magazines, watching the latest catwalk shows or scouring the high street for the latest designer inspired looks. I love fashions influenced by the 1930’s, 40s and 50s. Think Peter Pan collars, A-line skirts and vintage patterns - that’s me

27

It’s Women’s Business Nottinghamshire For Women Serious about Business

Celebrate -*- Collaborate -*- Communicate IWB Nottinghamshire Summer Pink Carpet Exhibition Venue: Portland College, Nottingham Road, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 4TJ Date: Thursday 20th June 2013 Time: 10 am – 3pm

A grand exhibition to showcase your business

PLUS: Our Team of Business Specialists & Advisors will be on hand to offer free advice in their expert areas to help you make the right choices for your business

Agenda FREE coffee or tea upon arrival Browse the stands & network The 1st Seminar begins at 10.45–11.30 am A delicious 2 - course seated lunch with coffee & mints served from 12.15 – 1*

Followed by keynote speaker local superhero: Denise Lowther Denise will be sharing her experience of The 28th Marathon Des Sables 2013. To quote Denise “156 Miles in 6 Days, across the Sahara Desert carrying your own food and gear, in temperatures reaching up to 50c…..How hard could it possibly be?”

Denise an avid sports person and a previous participant in Triathlons and Ironman events, will be sharing an inspiring talk on her road to recovery from cancer and how her whole life perspective has changed including her values and visions through her experience.

Lots more time for networking with the 2nd seminar at 2.00-2.45 *Lunch cost is £12. During lunch the stand space will be securely closed Sponsorship is available from £120 to include lunch Stands are available from £60 to include lunch Corporate Table for 9 persons to include exhibition stand only £150 For further details please contact Chair & Founder of IWB; Diane Carter on: 07916 245 367 or email; diane@marathon-media.co.uk

Business Style | Information | News | Support | Networking | Solutions

28

Culture Regular Feature: Jo’s Jollies

Mansfield’s Museum and Theatre Have you paid a visit recently to Mansfield’s very own museum and the Palace Theatre next door? Both on our door step and often overlooked.

We visited the Museum last summer in the build up to the Olympics and looked at a really good display that show cased local opportunities to have a go at different sports, all linked in some way to the Olympic Games.

We’ve just popped in again during the Easter holidays on our way to the theatre to see an Easter Pantomime.

The display in the museum this time was interactive and tracked the development of the radio. Entrance to the museum is always free and the displays either cover something of general interest or linked to a bigger event.

be under threat as they were simply not getting big enough audiences for their productions. It would be such a shame if these local theatres do close, having a theatre so locally makes it so easy to go instead of heading to Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield or Lincoln, ticket prices are in my view very reasonable and the shows are varied with something to suit all tastes, so let’s make sure we continue to support our local theatre.

A group of us were going together to see the Wizard of Oz, so we arranged to meet in the museum cafe before taking our seats ready to watch the show. Our children ranged from 4 to 12 with Grandparents accompanying us too. We all thoroughly enjoyed the production, on this occasion it was a true family affair with something in the show for everyone and the cast included some local children too.

A short while ago I caught a feature on East Midlands today suggesting that the future of the theatre in Newark could

Mansfield Charity Shop Reaches 5th Year The Cornwater Club Charity Shop on Queen Street, Mansfield is fast approaching the end of its fifth successful year of trading. Opened in May 2008 by the Chairman of Mansfield District Council the shop provides funding for the Cornwater Club, an old people’s charity which offers friendship to older people and prevents them becoming socially isolated in their own homes. Run by Manager, Sharon Baum and a team of dedicated volunteers the shop began its life offering second hand clothing for all the family, shoes, bags and household items including bed linens and curtains, books, and children’s toys. The operation soon expanded to include the sale of electrical items, after Sharon became a qualified PAT tester. She is now able to test all donated electrical goods on the shop premises and sell them to the public. In 2012, after receiving requests from customers to be able to use cards, the shop introduced the facility to pay with all major debit and credit cards.

Over the years the Cornwater Club Charity Shop has been host to a number of visitors including Miss Mansfield 2012, Miss Alicia Caley who along with a number of volunteers, modelled some of the summer fashions and Miss Mansfield finalists 2013, who modelled a variety of party wear; all the items modelled were donated goods from the shop stock.

Rags have always been an important part of the shop’s

operation. In May 2011 the shop launched a rags campaign, after it became clear that a large majority of the general public were unaware that worn and old clothing and shoes, were still acceptable as shop donations and were in fact recyclable. The public are encouraged to bring in old and torn clothes, linens and shoes, which are no longer in good enough condition to wear.

These items are sold on to a textile merchant who sends them to Third World Countries or, if they are too worn, shreds them and redistributes them for industrial cloths or packaging. Since the shop opened in 2008 it has recycled 36,868 kilos of rags thus reducing the amount of textiles going to landfill and helping the environment. The campaign was extended in 2012 to include businesses. The shop welcomes old uniforms, tablecloths, towels, sheets, curtains, even strips of material.

If you have not visited the Cornwater Club Charity Shop yet, please do, whether it is to shop the fashionable rails or to bring some much needed donations. Thank you.

Cornwater Club Charity Shop, 18 Queen Street, Mansfield. Telephone 01623 656133

Local Walks

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Culture

The Pleasley Country Park Walk Pleasley country Park Walk approx 1 Mile - variable This walk covers a circular route of approximately 1 mile, but can be modified into several side routes to increase the walk across this pleasant country park. Parking is on Pit Lane near to the old colliery buildings to the southeast of the park. The park is signed from the main road from Chesterfield to Mansfield at Pleasley.

The Country Park boasts an ancient hedge along the west side that can be traced back hundreds of years. The hedge once bordered an ancient track linking communities on old roads now unused by traffic.

Most old trees were removed when the pit was operating and the site was used as a spoil hill, but many thousands of new trees have been planted around the site creating new areas for nature and wildlife. Native trees have been planted including, Holly, Alder buckthorn, Buckthorn, Wych elm, Silver birch, Alder, Hazel, Ash, Privet , Willow, Common Oak, Hawthorn and Sycamore The site is scattered with several bodies of water of varying sizes, from a large lake to several smaller ponds, and a number of small streams.

Good views are obtained on the site of the old colliery that ceased working some time ago and makes a strong visual backdrop to some lovely views of the park across reed ponds and rough open ground. The Country Park is also linked by pathways to the Teversal trail, recently feature in the walk4life series.

If you know of a good local walk why not register it on the Walk-4-Life website You can also send us your photos of the walk and we will try and publish for others to enjoy

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What’s On What’s on May Hormonal Housewives Wednesday 1 May Mansfield Music & Drama

SPRING Avell takes the leading call to waken Dumbles’ tidings with Catkins flowing – scented leaves on sweetened air, New life has now begun.

Festival Winners’ Concert

To you sweet flowers, waken now,

Sunday 12 May

Rise up your stems to sunlight,

The Parnell Phil

Bluebells ring out your chimes,

Wednesday 15 May

Your colour true, not white or pink

Beauty and the Beast Thursday 16 and Friday 17 May Platero: Travels with a Donkey Thursday 16 May Rock ‘n’ Roll Paradise Friday 17 May Chinese State Circus

But angels’ hue from sky be given.

Hawthorn, be it red or white and apple blossom flowing, Will carpet paths with colour glowing To those who’ve chanced upon these scenes, With eyes to wonder at these sights be given – Will stop and look at them as if they are in Heaven.

Buttercup, a shade of gold so bright

Saturday 18 – Sunday 19 May

But don’t take all the glory or colour,

Soldiers’ Wives

Share it with your kind for all to see.

Wednesday 22 May

Daisy, cuckoo pine, violet and dog-rose

Ken Dodd

Are not second-best, as well you know.

Thursday 23 May

To each its gift of rainbow’s colour,

Bublé Fever Friday 24 May Sarah Adamson School of Dancing Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May Devas Dance School Friday 31 May and Saturday 1 June

Film Review: The Great Gatsby Release 17th May Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan Tobey Maguire is playing Nick Carraway, a young man who moves to Long Island in 1922 and finds himself living next door to wealthy Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio). Carey Mulligan plays Daisy Buchanan, Nick’s cousin who rekindles a relationship with Gatsby despite being married to Tom. This Baz Luhrmann film, is filmed on a grandiose level of splendour and glamour drawing from previous film (The Great GatsbyRobert Redford 1974) and book and heavily indulges in the look, sound and feel of New York City and Long Island in the jazz age of the Roaring 20’s.

From Solfe the brook to river.

Arches will glow with pride, its gift to share With seeking eyes of lesser kinds, A gift to humankind to cherish in lasting mind.

The Dumbles (A collection of poems) © Arthur Radford,

Book Review: Inferno Dan Brown Release 14th May

Dan Brown’s new novel, Inferno, features renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and is set in the heart of Europe, where Langdon is drawn into a harrowing world centred, around one of history’s most enduring and mysterious literary masterpieces.

As Dan Brown comments: “Although I studied Dante’s Inferno as a student, it wasn’t until recently, while researching in Florence, that I came to appreciate the enduring influence of Dante’s work on the modern world. With this new novel, I am excited to take readers on a journey deep into this mysterious realm. A landscape of codes, symbols, and more than a few secret passageways.”

Amazon £9 ISBN-13: 978-0593072493

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Culture Promote Your Business with Marathon Media Advertise in the

Maximise the seasonal sales potential for your business Start the new Business year with an advertising campaign in The High Life Magazine

Advertise from £70 for a Quarter page* For a media package please visit www.thehighlifemagazine.co.uk or call our sales team on 07916 245 367 or email:sales@marathon-media. co.uk Or use the QR code to go direct to the website * As part of a 3 edition package Warm, Well and Wise A FREE event for older people living in Blidworth and Ravenshead

Come along and find out about . . .

Safer Neighbourhoods and Crime Prevention Healthy Eating, with demonstration AGE UK Staff talk on ‘Keeping Well As You Grow Older’ Alzheimer’s Society & Macmillan Cancer Support Fire Service & Services for Older People Energy Agencies `Self Care’ – What is it?

Managing your Medicine …… Others to be confirmed FREE Refreshments & Buffet Lunch June 10th 11 am to 4 pm Sherwood Forest Community Church, Main St, Blidworth Entry by ticket only. FREE tickets available: 01623 793374 or 01773717328 Supported by: Blidworth & Ravenshead PPG, Newark & Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Group, Newark CVS

Men’s health event at Blidworth Miners Welfare

6th June in conjunction with Blidworth Surgery Patient Group & The Men’s Health Group based at Newark.

Local surgeries are trying to get men to look after ourselves and their health in a better way so come along and find out how we can help.

The Event is Men only.

Useful Contacts Mansfield District Council 01623 463463 Ashfield District Council 01623 450 000 Nottinghamshire C. C. 01159 823823 Nottinghamshire Police 01623 420 999 Non emergency number 101 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Community First Responders 01623 796 295 Nottinghamshire County NHS 01159 691 300 Mansfield Citizens Advice 01623 651 177 Job Centre Plus 01159 793 638 Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service 01159 670 880 Severn Trent Water 0800 783 4444 Mansfield Community & Voluntary Service: phone number is 01623 651177 & website is www.mansfieldcvs. org.

Useful Websites www.mansfieldtowncentre.co.uk www.masp.info www.mansfield2020.com http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sutton-TownCentre-Group/114801795199925 http://www.facebook.com/#!/Idlewells Plus visit The High Life online at www.thehighlifemagazine.co.uk Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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