Sheffield's Hidden Gems Podcast

Sheffield's Hidden Gems Podcast

By Excel City Apartments and Guided Walks (brand of ExcelProperty Partners Ltd)Society & Culture
Download on the App Store

Sheffield's Hidden Gems Podcast episodes

  • Episode 23 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast -interview with Mark Powell, MD of yes2ventures (includes socialatsnighill)

    In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Mark Powell, Managing Director of yes2ventures (https://www.yes2ventures.org.uk), a social enterprise in Sheffield.


    Yes2Ventures was setup in 2002 to supporting initiatives that offer training and employment to people who are severely disadvantaged in the labour market. Since then, four such enterprises form part of the Yes2Ventures umbrella.

    The organisation was brought to the attention of the podcast host because one of its enterprises, 'Snigghillsocial', was discovered by Excel City Apartments through its social media engagement on Instagram.  

    Other ventures of Yes2ventures include:
    *Yes2Work (New Deal for Disabled People job broker)

    *Viewpoint Research (telephone-based service)

    *Buster’s Coffee Company (cafés in Sheffield, Doncaster and Leeds)

    Listen to this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast and learn about the extraordinary support Mark Powell and his team provide for jobseekers who are severely disadvantaged because of learning difficulties. The organisation liaises with local employers to identify opportunities suitable for job seekers who are part of the various enterprises of Yes2ventures.

    The socialatsnigghill (https://www.instagram.com/thesocialsnighill) is one of the more recent initiatives from Yes2ventures, and was started in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Volunteer members are supervised by a trained chef and meals sold include Sunday lunches with “Everything But the Meat”.

    Remember also to subscribe to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, so you will know when future episodes are released.  


    Enjoy listening to this interview with Mark Powell, Managing Director of Yes2ventures, a social enterprise in Sheffield.

    45 min
  • Episode 22 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast -interview with Matt Hulley, Owner and Director of Just Preserves

    This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.  


    In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Matt Hulley, Owner and Director of Just Preserves (https://www.justpreserves.co.uk).

    Based in Sheffield, Just Preserves "combines traditional methods of large pans and handmaking with quality ingredients to produce jams, marmalades, chutneys and pickles from their HQ on Chippinghouse Road, part of the Antiques Quarter of Sheffield".

    Listen to this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast and learn how Matt learnt how to make marmalades, chutneys and pickles, having not had any experience of doing this before buying an exisiting business for the founders.

    With a range of over 24 products, Matt continues to use traditional manual processes for the production and is planning to add new products to the range.

    Products are stocked in a selection of independent shops in Sheffield as well as used by others in the food trade, such as cafes.

    Remember also to subscribe to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, so you will know when future episodes are released.  


    Enjoy listening to this interview with Matt Hulley, Owner and Director of Just Preserves!

    28 min
  • Episode 21 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast -interview with Gavin Leverett, CEO of Fletchers Waste Management

    This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.  


    In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Gavin Leverett, CEO of Fletchers Waste Management Ltd (https://www.fletcherswaste.co.uk).

    Based in Sheffield, Fletchers Waste Management Ltd is a second generation family business that has operated in Sheffield for 40 years. With a staff of 100 across two locations, one of which is a recent acquisition outside of Sheffield, the company works across multiple waste streams.

    Listen to the podcast and learn about Gavin's work before he accepted the invitation to join the family-owned business in March 2020. This followed his work previously in assisting the company through its Management Buy Out (MBO) in Feb 2020.

    In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, Gavin talks about his 'eureka' moment on the environment and what changes he'll make to support environment management if he had a 'magic wand' along with his work in growing the business since his appointment as CEO in early 2020.

    Remember also to subscribe to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, so you will know when future episodes are released.  


    Enjoy listening to this interview with Gavin Leverett, CEO of Fletchers Waste Management Ltd!

    Podcaster verification: GPVvAdtsnMPStfs9QvfE

    39 min
  • Episode 20 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast -interview with Rachel Briggs, C-o-founder of United We Climb

    This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.  


    In this episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Rachel Briggs, Co-founder of United We Climb (https://unitedweclimb.com/about).

    Based in Sheffield, United We Climb is registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC). The organisation partners with other companies involved in climbing and outdoors activities to develop new experiences for under-represented and under-served communities across Sheffield.

    The CIC designs and offers training to members for climbing in indoor and outdoor venues. Areas covered during training include: traverse or sideways climbing, bouldering (without ropes), harnessing and learning to climb down from heights.   

    Listen to the podcast and learn how and why Rachel and her co-founder created United We Climb, her own experiences of climbing as a child and how the organisation works with people interested in climbing in Sheffield and beyond.

    In this interview for the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, Rachel also shares with us some insights into plans for the future.  


    Remember also to subscribe to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, so you will know when future episodes are released.  

    Enjoy listening to this interview with Rachel Briggs, Co-founder and Director of United We Climb!

    40 min
  • Episode 19 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, Neil Maycock, Director of Digital Impact Solutions

    In this (19th ) episode of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guest is Neil Maycock, Director of Digital ImpactSolutions Ltd.

    Based in Sheffield, Neil founded this business 14 years ago. His company focuses on boosting the SEO rankings of clients so as to increase the ease with which they can be found by customers searching for the services or goods offered by Neil's client businesses.

    Because of the covid-19 pandemic and associated lock-downs in the UK, Neil adapted his business to finding new clients for his growing business. Not only did this 'pivot' open opportunities that broadened the geographic location of clients, but the size of businesses that engaged his services to boost SEO rankings.


    At present, the seo and digital marketing services offered by Digital Impact Solutions Ltd serve client businesses in the UK and Europe.

    Listen to this podcast to hear Neil Maycock talk about his love of marketing, particularly digital marketing, and how delivering value for customers through search engine optimisations led his clients, on occasions, to outperform competition for keywords. This includes outperforming at least one corporation with huge budgets and a large marketing team.

    In this interview for the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, Neil also shares with us some insights into plans for the next few months and years.


    Remember also to subscribe to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, so you will know when future episodes are released.

    Enjoy listening to this interview with Neil Maycock, Director of Digital Impact Solutions Ltd!

    28 min
  • Episode 18 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast -interview with Rob Cole, CEO of the award-winning business 'Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens'

    Our guest featured in Episode 18 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast is Rob Cole, Managing Director of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens, an award-winning SME in Sheffield.


    Started 13 years ago with Rob as the primary person in the business, Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens has grown as a business to having a team of 22 to service clients in Sheffield and beyond.


    Despite the word "kitchen" in its name, the business also designs and creates bathrooms, bedrooms and other living spaces. At the heart of many of their installations are sustainable cabinets, made from a 100% recycled timber board. Many of their kitchens have a backstory to tell, being created from reclaimed materials - past projects have used timber from reclaimed railway wagons and church pews.

    Listen to this podcast to hear Rob talk about the work of Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens since its founding 13 years ago as well as plans for the next few months and years.

    Remember also to subscribe to the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, so you will know when future episodes are released.

    Enjoy listening to this episode!

    32 min
  • Episode 17 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast -interview with Mark Storey, CEO of SCCCC

    Our guest for this episode is Mark Storey, CEO of the charity SCCCC (familiarly called S and 4 Cs) that works in partnership with others to support and improve the well being of older people in Sheffield.

    Did you know that in 2020 during those early days of the covid-19 pandemic, SCCCC was able to provide face coverings , as part of the  PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), needed to protect staff and its service users, but also to help other organisations struggling to acquire PPE.

    In this conversation, Mark talks about his role as CEO of SCCCC, effects of the first lockdown in 2020 because of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020 led to the charity not delivering all services as well as the remarkable way in which the charity took action to pivot and launched a pen pal programme to keep service users in contact with others.   Listen to this episode to understand why this less well-known gem in Sheffield has received royal and local awards in recognition of the work it does with senior citizens and other service users in the local community.

    43 min
  • Episode 16 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast -interview with Paul Stinson, Director of Hovaloft

    Did you know piloting a drone for aerial photography can make you feel as if you're in one of the 'Star Wars' movies?


    Find out about this and more as you listen to this episode to hear from Paul Stinson who is a licenced drone pilot and the Director of Hovaloft Limited, a Sheffield-based business.

    In this conversational interview, Paul talks about what led him to start his business and gives an insight into his aerial photography and videography business. Paul provides insights into some of the projects he's been commissioned to do during the past three years and how he built capacity in his business during lockdown, so as to expand his services to customers and clients. Interesting insights and detailed answers to many questions await you.
    Episode 16 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast is brought to you by Excel City Apartments, a serviced accommodation operator in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

    31 min
  • Episode 15 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast features an informative interview with Dr Rob Speranza, Co-founder of South Yorkshire Filmmakers Network

    Episode 15 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast features an informative and reflective interview with Dr Rob Speranza, Co-founder of the South Yorkshire Filmmakers' Network, known familiarly as SYFN in the filmmakers' community.  


    In this wide-ranging interview, Rob talks about his own journey from being a young post-graduate student at the University of Sheffield, through to co-founding SYFN after hosting many 'events' for filmmakers in Sheffield. He reflects on the growth of the network over 16 years and the experience since March 2020 as the South Yorkshire Filmmakers' Network adapted during the covid-19 pandemic to the forging of new partnerships so as to ensure the network continued to deliver traditional services to members of its community.  

    Listen, enjoy and share with others in Sheffield City Region and beyond!

    42 min
  • Episode 14 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast -interview with Alan MacDonald, Director of Paul Testa Architecture

    Episode 14 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast features an informative interview with local architect, Alan MacDonald a Director of Paul Testa Architecture. Most insightful discuss as Alan explains why the practice enjoys delivering for clients with 'challenging' sites and building projects. Also, learn about how the practice is applying sustainability features in its designs that not only delivery more energy-efficient homes, but provide greater comfort to families and reduced costs for upkeep and maintenance of the buildings.


    Enjoy......

    36 min

About Sheffield's Hidden Gems Podcast

From the publisher's feed

'Sheffield's Hidden Gems' podcast was launched in February 2021.

Podcast episodes feature conversational interviews with Founders and owners of independent businesses, CEOs of charities (non…