Small Business Saturday UK

Is your business ready for Small Business Saturday - 6th December?

Small Business Saturday UK is taking place this year on Saturday 6^th December and is a grassroots campaign which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.

As a small business you can get involved with the campaign and promote your business.

The campaign is backed by the UK Government and supported with a national media campaign to encourage people to support their local businesses on 6^th December and beyond.

 

For tips and ideas how your business can get involved, download the Handy Guide on the Rochdale Borough Council website: www.rochdale.gov.uk/smallbizsaturday

 

There is also a host of information on the Small Business Saturday UK website: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

On Friday 28^th November, to coincide with the opening of the MO site, a month-long exhibition is being held in Rochdale Town Centre showcasing the best of artists from around the borough in all forms of art. The project is the collective work of Councillor John Blundell, Professor Jeff Johnson of the Open University & Martin Ballard of Red Cape Marketing, Rochdale.

 

No 19 Baillie Street, the former Sugar Sugar restaurant & Black Box Comic Book Shop, will be transformed into a two floor gallery, and local artists are encouraged to get in touch and display their work within the gallery. This is, however, no normal art gallery…

 

Depending on what form your art is (digital images, canvas, upcycling of bizarre and wonderful items are some of the forms we already have submitted)these will be captured and uploaded onto a 15,000 lumen projector that will be based on the former black box site and project them in an ever increasing art show on the side of the Regal Moon. The vision is to animate a large area, and encourage people from around the borough to come into town and see it. This will take place in the week commencing 1^st December, and run alongside the gallery itself.

 

A range of workshops, music afternoons/evenings and more will be held in the gallery, and the project is seeking sculptors, musicians, painters, buskers and more to get involved and work together. The gallery will be open daily from 11am to 7pm, with the projection show taking place from 4pm to 9pm each evening – it will be added to daily with new submissions being asked for from people who visit to simply text/email in also.

 

The gallery will be staffed throughout the duration of opening times, but artists are encouraged to come down and present their work and will be allowed to sell their works at the end of the exhibition without paying a percentage fee - this could lead to some very unique Christmas presents under the tree come December 25^th!

 

If you would like to display please get in touch with Martin Ballard Tel: 07968108822  Email: martin@redcapemarketing.co.uk

Find the project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Reviving-the-Art-Beat-in-Rochdale/288704214656627

Twitter: @ArtBeatRochdale 

If you know someone who may be interested, please spread the word!

 

JOIN ROCHDALE'S BUSINESS JELLY!

Full line up revealed for the Rochdale Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On

Britain's Got Talent boy band 'The Mend' will perform live at the Rochdale Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch On

The packed line up for the annual Rochdale Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch On has been revealed  including Littleborough singer and X-Factor star Danny Dearden, Britain’s Got Talent boy band “The Mend”, and Coronation Street actress Katie McGlynn.

Rochdale Town Centre Manager and event organiser Mark Foxley said: “This year we wanted to showcase our local pride and give the public a free event the whole family can come down and enjoy. We have a fantastic line up to kick start the festivities and special thanks to Rochdale Borough Council for their support and funding.

“We hope families will make a full day of the event and do some early Christmas shopping in the town centre beforehand and stay afterwards for a bite to eat at one of the many award winning café’s, bars and restaurants. People forget some of the great venues we have in the town including The Baum – voted best pub in the UK, La Mancha, Madison’s and The Flying Horse Hotel to name a few. We also have over 80 fabulous independent shops and 60 high street names.”

The popular Christmas Lights Switch On event taking place on Saturday 22 November will commence with a magical lantern parade led by Katie McGlynn at 3.30pm at the top of Yorkshire Street involving school children from Holy Trinity, Broadfield and Hamer primary schools. The parade will make its way down to The Butts for live performances on the main stage between 4pm – 5pm, followed by a spectacular firework display.

Boy band "The Mend" said: "We're really looking forward to performing in Rochdale. We have been in the studio for a while working on our album so we can't wait to get back on stage, particularly at such a fantastic event as the Christmas Lights Switch On...so let's get Rochdale Rocking!"

Rapper Kris who lives in Middleton says: "It's an honour to perform so close to home and to be part of the best festive party in the town!"

Other local artists to perform on the main stage will include The Carers Resource Choir, Turners Dance Studio and characters from Cinderella Pantomime at the Middleton Arena. The Big Switch On will be carried out by all the artists along with The Mayor of Rochdale and players from the Rochdale Hornets Rugby League.

All hosted by Revolution Radio 96.2, there will also be children’s rides and various stalls at this annual town centre favourite event.

X-Factor star Danny Dearden to perform at the Rochdale Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On

X-Factor star Danny Dearden will be performing at the Rochdale Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch On event

 

Littleborough singer and X-Factor star, Danny Dearden will be performing live at the Rochdale Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch On event taking place on The Butts on Saturday 22 November.

Danny who made it through to the final six in the Boy’s category and reached the Judges Houses stages of the competition in Mexico said his X-factor journey was an experience of a lifetime where he got to swim with dolphins, drive speedboats and perform live in front of Mel B and guest judge Emma Bunton.

Sadly, Danny didn’t make it through to the live shows but he has done Rochdale proud and is looking forward to his home coming performance.

Danny said: “I’m really excited to be taking part in the Rochdale Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch on event and performing in my home town.

“I attended the Switch On event last year and the crowd was fantastic.

“My friends and family will be coming to watch and it will be an honour to perform on stage in Rochdale.”

The Switch On will commence at 3.30pm with a parade along Yorkshire Street involving local school children, reaching The Butts at 4pm, with performances on the main stage from 4pm – 5pm.

The switch-on will then be held with other soon to be revealed star guest appearances, followed by a spectacular firework display.

There will also be children’s rides and various stalls at this annual town centre favourite event.

 

Danny performing at the X-Factor Boot Camp

Danny with Judge Mel B and the final six singers in the X-Factor Boys category

 

Small Business Saturday - 06 December 2014

Middleton's Grand Day Out



Edgar Wood hosted tours around Middleton's historic town centre

Young artists performing live in the Middleton Gardens

Children having fun outside the Middleton Arena

Vintage Fire Engine

Middleton Town Team in association with the Middleton Townscape Heritage Initiative hosted a “Grand Day Out" in Middleton town centre on Saturday 13 September to help revitalise the town and celebrate its heritage offer. People from across the borough came to the event that offered a range of activities to enjoy. The day was planned to coincide with National Heritage Open Days weekend and so this provided a great opportunity to boast about the fabulous heritage with in the town and to showcase the work of renowned architect Edgar Wood.

A land train completed a circuit of the town giving people behind the scene insight to some of the buildings designed by Edgar Wood and access to a number of heritage buildings including The Edgar Wood Arts & Craft Centre, the old Queen Elizabeth Grammar school,  the Old Boars Head pub and St Leonard's church. The train guard was dressed as the character of Edgar Wood, Middleton’s local architect, and wore a traditional black and red cloak  and provided a narrative during the train ride informing people about the history of the town. A vintage fire engine located at the Middleton Arena proved popular with children, as did the opportunity to have a photo shoot dressing up in clothes from the 18 century period. There was face painting, bouncy castles, street artists, a teenage market, arts and craft activities and much more which contributed to a successful day .The team ordered in sunshine by the bucketful,  it truly was a huge success and the Town Team are hoping to make the day an annual event.

Membership of the Middleton Town Team includes; Hopwood Hall College, Lords Butchers, Anthony K Associates, Sedgwick Legal Solicitors, M24 Arts & Crafts, Tesco, Royal Bank of Scotland, Middleton Town Centre Management Company, Middleton Shopping Centre, McDonald’s, Link for Life, Boots The Chemist and Rochdale Borough Council.

The Town Team are planning a community event in November to up-date interested businesses and community members on the current and future direction of the Town Team.

For more information please contact the Chair of the Middleton Town Team, Adam Torevell – Director of Middleton Town Centre Management Company on Tel: 0161 653 4990.