OPEN FOR BUSINESS – FREE BUSINESS ADVICE DROP IN SESSIONS

 

Rochdale Library, No. 1 Riverside – Every Thursday 10am to 1pm

 

Have you been thinking about starting a business?

 

Do you have an idea but not sure what to do next? 

 

OR maybe you are an existing business and are looking for some extra support?

Then why not come along to our FREE drop in session every Thursday at Number One Riverside to discuss your business ideas further.

 

 

PLUS 'TOPIC OF THE WEEK' WITH OUR SPECIALST ADVISOR

 

 

We can also help and advise you on subjects such as Getting your Business On-Line, Accountancy, VAT and Taxation, Business Banking and Finance, Branding and Creative Design / Print, and all forms of Social Media. Our specialist advisors will be available in the library 10am to 1pm on the following dates:

 

How to open a Business Bank Account, bank safely and confidently online, Start-up Packages Finance for your business PLUS much more - Thursday 14 August, 11 September 2014

 

Social Media, Branding and Creative Design & Print - Jenny Hodgkiss from Capture Design - Thursday 21 August, 18 September 2014

 

Getting your Business On-Line - Waseem Pervez from ProWeb - Thursday 28 August, 25 September 2014

 

Accountancy & Taxation - Ruth Pringle - Pringle Accountants - Thursday 4 September 2014

 

Number One Riverside Workers carve up a slice of sustainable living

 

Staff at Number One Riverside swapped their keyboards for trowels as part of a health and wellbeing  scheme to revolutionise the way that Rochdale consumes its food.

Green fingered employees joined the Leader of the Council, Richard Farnell, to plant a delicious range of fruits, herbs and vegetables, including strawberries, chives, lettuce, radishes and tomatoes as part of the community growing scheme, Incredible Edibles.

The programme, which started in Todmorden, sees volunteers create community gardens growing food which can then be picked by any member of the public free of charge.

And now, thanks to the support of the Kellet Street allotment volunteers, who set the plants growing, residents and staff are just a few weeks away from being able to pick the fruit and vegetables and rustle up healthy meals and snacks.

The scheme was made possible following a donation of cash from Five Ways to Wellbeing and planting boxes from local timber company Dresser Mouldings.

The planters are located close to the staff entrance of the building, outside the children’s library.

Funding has also been donated by Experian and is available for community groups and businesses who would like to create their own communal fruit, vegetable or herb gardens in Rochdale town centre.  

Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Richard Farnell, said: “Projects like this are a fantastic idea because they encourage healthy eating but also sustainable living. For that reason, it’s particularly appropriate that we have launched this project outside Number One Riverside, one of the most environmentally friendly council buildings in the country. We hope this concept will be embraced by Rochdale residents and spread throughout the town.”  

Anyone who would like to apply for funding to create their own community garden in Rochdale town centre can contact Frances Fielding on frances.fielding@rochdale.gov.uk 01706 926700.

Want to win a prize? Snap and send to be in for a chance

Rochdale’s Feel Good Festival is back again this year and leading up to the festival we are launching our Spot the Hot Rod competition. Taking part is simple…

If you spot the Feel Good Hot Rod car out and about during August and want to be in with a chance to win a prize, take a photograph of yourself with the car and tweet it to @feelgoodfest or send it in to Rochdale Feel Good Festival’s Facebook page. The car will be left in different locations around the borough and prizes will be awarded daily throughout August.  

Some of the prizes up for grabs which have all been donated by local businesses include; a Boots hamper worth over an amazing £200, a spa day pass at The Norton Grange Hotel, a meal for 2 at The Royal Toby, delicious cupcakes from Browns Handcrafted Cakes, 1-1 personal training session at Ladies Only Ltd Gym, Afternoon Tea at the Feel Good Café, a free car valet at RRG Toyota, a Will from Chris Waterhouse and lots more.

The Feel Good Festival is a free event, returning for the 7^th year running taking place on Friday 29 & Saturday 30 of August in Rochdale Town Centre. This year hosts a fantastic line up of live music and entertainment including headline artists Scouting for Girls and one of the nations most loved celebrity chefs – Ainsley Harriott.

For all updates on this years Feel Good Festival visit www.facebook.com/feelgoodfestival or join us on twitter at www.twitter.com/feelgoodfest

Independent Retail Month - July

Shop indie this July

July is the time to shop small and local, as the borough marks Independent Retailers’ month.

The event which is marked up and down the country, aims to encourage shoppers to hunt out the many unique independent shops on our high streets.

 

And there’s never been a better time to explore, following the publication of town centre guides for all four of our borough’s townships; Middleton, Heywood, Pennines and Rochdale.

 

The handy pocket guides list the best of each area’s attractions, including the independent shops, and include a handy map.

 

The guides will be available in the borough’s libraries, leisure centres, shops and the tourist information centre at Touchstones Rochdale in the next week. They can also be downloaded from www.visitrochdale.com 

 

The Rochdale Town Centre Management Company have organised cash mobs to mark the event. This sees shoppers gather outside the exchange at 12 noon on the first four Wednesdays in July with £5 each. The cash mob will then select an independent business which they will visit en masse to spend the cash.

 

Councillor Peter Williams, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Employment, said: “Independent shops really are the lifeblood of our town centres. They offer something unique and are an important part of the history of our high streets. I’d encourage people to support them, particularly during independent retailers’ month, so we can ensure they play as important a role in our future as they have in our past.”

 

Cash mob ready to spend in a local indepednent shop!

Buy Local, Shop Online... at Rochdale's new online department store

 

The new Rochdale Online Department Store has been launched:

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/store

The store brings local retailers together as a collective and enables the residents of the borough to buy online and yet shop local, the convenience of online shopping but with the benefit of supporting local retailers and keeping money in the local economy.

The goods on offer will include baby, children’s, women’s and men’s wear, jewellery, DIY products, books, art and crafts, school and work uniforms, gifts and fancy goods, carpets/rugs/flooring, furniture and household goods, photography equipment, bridal/prom dresses, haberdashery, disability products, car parts and accessories, flowers, sweets, cakes and meat packs.

Retailers include: Denis Hope, Brides of Rochdale, 25 Ten Boutique, Leading Ladies, CJ's Baby Boutique, Pennine Photographic & Binocular Centre, HiCo Ltd, Home & More, Buttons Haberdashery, Lancashire Wallpaper & Paint Co, GSG Carpet Factory Shop, George Kelsall Booksellers, Beads from the Art, Blue Rose Gifts & Balloons, The Little Art Gallery, Geoff Butterworth Fine Arts, Elite Framing, Liquid Wall Art, FMC Design Factory, Amber Pet Supplies, Sweet & Yummy Gifts, Brown's Handcrafted Cakes, Against the Wall Vinyl Stickers, Abbey Architectural Ironmongery Company, Concept Care, Heywood Accessories and Spares, Lola Ashleigh, M24 Arts.

Managing Director of Rochdale Online, Pauline Journeaux said: "High Street retailers have seen a significant downturn in the past few years and Rochdale has suffered more than most towns. One of the main reasons is the upward trend in customers buying online, and online shopping will account for at least a third of UK retail commerce by 2022. Local retailers have to adapt to survive and Rochdale Online’s technical expertise, established relationships with local businesses and massive local audience, makes it uniquely placed to offer this community based e-commerce platform for the borough. For the first time local residents will be able to ‘Buy Online, Shop Local’ in a one stop local store."

The development of the store has been backed by Rochdale Borough Council, and Ms Journeaux added: "I would like to thank the Council for recognising the exciting vision we had of a 'digital High Street' for the borough and for their grant support for the development."

Council Leader Richard Farnell said: “This is a fantastic initiative from Rochdale Online and is just the shot-in-the-arm our local retail offer needs. Rochdale has some great shops, but like everywhere, they have been adversely affected by the recession and the growth of online shopping.

"Many shops need an online presence and this new initiative will help local shoppers buy online and shop local. Shoppers outside the borough will be able to see ‘the very best of Rochdale retail in one place’.

"I am pleased Rochdale Council was able to support this venture which helps our local businesses compete with the big guys.”

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/store

Co-operation on Wheels Exhibition



Left to Right: Museum Trustee Mervyn Wilson, Mayor of Rochdale Councillor Peter Rush, Museum Manager Jenny Mabbott and young people from Sparth Community Centre

A new exhibition has been unveiled at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum to celebrate the Tour de France coming through Rochdale Borough on Sunday 6 July. The ‘Co-operation on wheels’ exhibition explores the link between cycling and co-operatives and will be on show until 25 October. There are a range of bikes and cycling memorabilia on display, from original Co-operative Wholesale Society delivery bikes to one of the latest road bikes used by professionals today.

 

Highlights to the exhibition are the skinsuit worn by Bradley Wiggins after he became world individual pursuit champion in 2003. There is also a toy pram, produced by the same CWS factory in Tyseley, Birmingham that made bikes. Those with a keen eye may also notice the tiny toy bike made in the likeness of a Birmingham Co-operative Society grocery bike.

"We challenged ourselves with this exhibition, as we wanted to engage a wide range of visitors from families to cycle enthusiasts. Not only are there lots of new things to see, there are things to do too", says Jenny Mabbott the Museum Manager who has been in charge of the exhibition from the planning phase to its launch.  "We have also worked with Rochdale Youth Service and kinetic sculptor Richard Dawson to create a cycling themed a piece of art to go alongside the exhibition and the result is really impressive".

This clever art installation has been created by young people from Sparth Community Centre and is made up of old bike parts. It will be unveiled at the Museum’s Tour de France Countdown Party event on Saturday 28th June.

 

The Co-operation on wheels exhibition is suitable for all. Alongside the artefacts and information on display there is also a range of interactive elements including a Tour de France themed four in a row game, design your own Tour de France jersey, a cycling wheel of fortune game, an exercise bike cycle challenge,  a gears building set and acetate shapes to design your own window display.

More information about both the Co-operation on wheels exhibition and Tour de France Countdown Party can be found on the Museum’s website www.rochdalepioneersmuseum.coop. Alternatively you can call 01706 524920 or e-mail museum@co-op.ac.uk.

A range of Le Tour de France memorabilia is on display at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum as part of the Co-operation on Wheels Exhibition

Love Your Local Market Fortnight - 14 - 28 May 2014

 

New traders make their pitch during Love Your local Market fortnight

A total of 15 test traders have pledged to pitch in Rochdale during Love Your Local Market fortnight.

As part of the event, which runs from 14 -28 May, Rochdale and Middleton markets offered stalls to new traders for just £5 a day.

And a host of businesses, including Ladies Only Gym, Shabby Chic Furniture and Jessica Sammon Designs, have heeded the call.

The following stalls will be running in Rochdale during the fortnight:

·         Ladies Only Gym – selling health foods and exercise equipment (Thursday 15 and 22)

·         Rochdale Hornets – selling tickets and merchandise (Saturday 17 May )

·         RSPB – selling membership (Friday 23 May)

·         Jessica Sammon – selling handmade cards, wrapping paper and mugs (14 May to 24 May)

·         Loose upholstery covers (16 to 28 May)

·         Costume jewellery (Friday 16 and 23 May)

·         Reading glasses (Saturday 17 and 24 May)

·         Wood carved goods (Friday 16 May)

·         Handmade jewellery, wine and champagne glasses with charms (Friday 16 and 23 May)

·         Handmade jewellery (Monday 19 May, Wednesday 28 May)

·         Vintage clothes (Saturday 17 May)

·         Personalised frames and gifts (Saturday 17 and 24 May, Wednesday 28 May)

·         Shabby chic furniture (Saturday 17 May)

·         Non-alcoholic drinks (Saturday 17 May)

·         Personalised gifts (Saturday 17 and 24 May)

And curious shoppers will also be in with a chance of scooping a prize worth £50, with a market hamper up for grabs throughout the fortnight.

The hamper contains goodies donated by the stalls including fresh fruit and vegetables, fair trade chocolate, a toaster, a voucher for free shoe repair and much more.

Shoppers simply have to visit the market anytime during the fortnight and leave their details on one of the cards which will be available on the stalls. These can then be left with the stallholders or in the market office on the balcony. The winner will be drawn on Friday 30 May.

Rochdale market manager, Jeff Charlesworth, said: “We really want Rochdale market to get bigger and better. We already have a new fishmonger trading on Saturdays who has received some fantastic feedback from shoppers. This is a great start, but we’d like even more new stalls and the traders who have come forward for Love Your Market fortnight give shoppers a taste of what we could have. That’s why I’d encourage everyone to come down and take a look at what’s on offer.”

Rochdale market will be open as normal during Love Your Local Market Fortnight. The opening times for the normal stalls are 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday with the exception of Tuesday which is flea market day. The market will be closed on Bank Holiday Monday (26 May).