Sheffield's Hidden Gems Podcast

In this our 33rd episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, I am delighted to welcome Paul Simpon, Co-founder of Food Circle Supermarket, a business exclusively for customers who want to have their food budget stretch further alongside helping to reduce food waste.
Launched in 2018, Paul Simpson and his co-founder James Barthorpe are food and drink professionals who previously worked together in a similar business. They then joined forces to start their own business as they were keen to reduce unnecessary waste of food and drink.
Already, the duo are gained recognition for their business! They've won the Hallam Enterprise Award and in 2021 were among those named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2021.

In this episode, Paul highlights:
*the importance of understanding their customers, meaning "who they are and what they want"
*thinking like your customer when designing the online shopping experience
*how they decide on 'categories' of food and drink available so as to make it easier for customers to choose how to spend

Indeed, the business declares that "From protein snacks to tasty treats by your favourite brands, the Food Circle Supermarket has everything needed to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle whilst saving the pennies!"
Listen to Episode 33 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast as Paul Simpson shares the remarkable journey of himself and co-founder James Barthrope as well as plans to rapidly scale their business with new investors as well as  their aspiration to be "... the Acado of surplus food".

#sheffieldhiddengems #sheffieldissuper #foodcircle #hiddengems #hiddengemspodcasting #reducefoodwaste

Don't miss out!
PS. Remember to subscribe for FREE to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast hosted by Excel City Apartments in Sheffield.

In this our 32nd episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, we are pleased to be in conversation with Ellie Tomlin, Regional Fundraising Manager of the charity Shelter in Sheffield.
In our conversation, Ellie talks about the work of Shelter in Sheffield, how that work would have changed over the past several decades as the charity responded to the needs of people facing homelessness.  
Ellie reminds us 'rough sleeping' on the street and in doorways is not the type of homelessness faced by the majority who become homeless or find themselves living in temporary accommodation for months, and even years. She talks also about vulnerability to homelessness and how this unwelcome situation can be 'hidden' in plain sight.
In her role as Regional Fundraising Manager, Ellie is keen to engage more with businesses in Sheffield. She extends an open invitation to individuals and businesses to contact her to explore the many opportunities for volunteering and sponsorship.
Don't miss out!

#sheffieldhiddengems #sheffieldissuper #charity #reducehomelessness #hiddengems #hiddengemspodcasting

Listen to Episode 32 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, Ellie Tomlin will share remarkable insights and dispel myths about homelessness. Find out also how you too (or your business) can support the work of Shelter in Sheffield.
PS. Remember to subscribe for FREE to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast hosted by Excel City Apartments in Sheffield.

Our guest in this episode (the 31st) of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast is Mark Smith, the Founder and CEO of Make Your Mark UK. 

In the interview, Mark talks with us about what led him to launch his own business in 2017 and the reasons why training was the initial focus of the business Make Your Mark UK.
Providing training and executive coaching services to client organisations in the charity sector as well as private businesses, Mark talks about his remarkable journey pre-pandemic where the focus was on delivering training in face-to-face settings at selected venues to the current situation of both face-to-face and virtual training delivery. Not only did Make your Mark UK need to find new ways of working but the business seized the opportunity to work with new clients beyond its previous geographic boundaries.  
As a podcast host, the interview with Mark Smith may also have been the first occasion when I've interviewed another podcast host for the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast.
So, now you're thinking how did the founder arrive at the name for his business, what topics are covered in training delivered by Make your Mark and what are their plans for future growth? Listen to Episode 31 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, Mark Smith will give you the answers to these questions and so much more.

#sheffieldhiddengems #sheffieldissuper #sheffieldbusiness #hiddengems #hiddengemspodcasting #ceoguest
PS. Don't miss out! Remember to subscribe for FREE to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast hosted by Excel City Apartments in Sheffield.

In this our 30th episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Finbarr Lucas, Founder and Owner of 'Finbarr Lucas' (the furniture manufacturing brand that bears his name.
A maker of “Extraordinary Furniture Made for Life”, Finbarr and his team design and create beautiful furniture for people who love good design.
In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, Finbarr talks with us about the early days of his business, shares insights into some of the complex pieces manufactured by his business over the years as well as one of the most time-sensitive pieces he was commissioned to deliver during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Finbarr Lucas is known for creating bespoke furniture. More recently, the business has also developed a collection of handcrafted pieces for the home. 

As an independent designer and craftsman, Finbarr Lucas has been in the furniture business for more than 21 years. Finbarr believes that even the smallest business can make a difference with a responsible outlook to its practices.
Guided by functional design and ethical principles of sustainability, when you listen to this conversation with Finbarr you will learn more about plans for the business over the next few months and beyond.

#sheffieldhiddengems #sheffieldissuper #furnituremaker #madeinsheffield #sheffieldmakers #hiddengems #hiddengemspodcasting
PS. Don't miss out! Remember to subscribe for FREE to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast hosted by Excel City Apartments in Sheffield.

In episode 29 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Maxwell Ayamba, Founder and Managing Director of the Sheffield-based charity, Sheffield Environmental Movement (SEM).  

Listen to episode 29 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast as Maxwell Ayamba talks about:

*Role of SEM in  'green prescribing' by the NHS and how this service supports some of SEM's service users  

Towards the close of our conversation, Maxwell shares insights into some of the plans for SEM in widening access to natural environments and outdoor spaces in communities across Sheffield.

In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Nathan Oliver, a Chartered Architectural Technologist, who is Founder and Managing Director of Ikonografik Design, a Sheffield-based business.

Ikonografik Design (https://www.ikonografik.co.uk) was founded in 2005, and over the years the company has designed and managed projects across various sectors. These include healthcare, education, domestic, funeral, medical research, leisure, retail, offices, industrial, agricultural, student accommodation, churches and heritage properties.   

In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guests are Helen Denning and Madeleine Farnhill (familiarly called Maddie), Co-founders of Black Bright Theatre (www.blackbrighttheatre.co.uk).

You can listen to the podcast on Spotify (https://spoti.fi/2YVhIti) or Apple (https://apple.co/3wX2ovY)

PS. Don't miss out! Remember to subscribe for FREE to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast hosted by Excel City Apartments in Sheffield.

In this episode (our 26th) of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Sally Wilson, Production Manager, Together in the City, Sheffield Theatres.

Sally talks about the amazing project called 'Together in the City' that involved work away from the theatres in Sheffield City Centre and instead worked with  communities across Sheffield, especially in the northern areas of the city.

In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Lucky Vatnanai, Manager of the Ding Junhui Snooker Academy in Sheffield.

In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Darren Forde, CEO & Founder of Samdai(pronounced 'same day').

Founded in 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 global health pandemic, the business offers a same-day delivery service for fashion and beauty purchases in Sheffield. Samdai deliveries are quicker than those place online with local stores using national courier services.

You can subscribe for free to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast (sponsored by Excel City Apartments), so you will know about future episodes are released.