Friday 30 January 2015

DISTRIBUTION AND ITS' CHALLENGES - HAVE YOUR SAY!


Tell us all about your distribution experiences in a survey we will be sending out shortly!

We want to here all about requirements, methods and positive and negative experiences. Big or small, we don't discriminate! We want to hear it all!

So look out for the survey in your inbox and fill it in for us!

EXCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY HUB DEMO FOR SELECT MEMBERS


Did you know that there is a wealth of new technology that businesses can use for free, right on your doorstep?

On the 26th February, a Fully Funded session especially for Select Lincolnshire members will run from 8.00am-10.00am at the Lincoln Technology Hub at the University of Lincoln offering you expertise from within the School of Architecture to use technology for just about anything!

The sky really is the limit at the Technology Hubs with a wide range of cutting edge technology to be used at your disposal.

Thinking of a major development? Full 3D and surround sound headphones at the as well as virtual tours University of Lincoln's Tech Hub can help visualise your proposed developments and design to your customers and stake holders.

The Hub's full range of 3D scanners can help you to research and test products like packaging.

Considering a new marketing strategy? The laser cutter at the hub can help you cut and engrave designs onto most materials, ensuring that your promotional material is a cut above the rest.

There are:
  • 3D colour printing
  • 3D Scanning
  • Laser cutting and engraving
  • CNC Milling 
  • Vacuum forming
  • CAD design and product/packaging development
  • Workshop and prototype facilities
  • Video, audio, web, apps and Social media
You could create your own labels, cutlery, food stands or even marketing material. There is scope for web advice designed to be delivered in a friendly manner, with no techy jargon to throw you off.

You can even speak to someone about branding and graphic design! Anything goes!

There will also be a live demonstration on how to use the equipment including the Love Food Select Lincolnshire stamp produced on the laser cutter! 

Places are strictly limited to 20 people to give a supportive learning experience, so please book promptly to avoid disappointment.

For booking please contact the onlincolnshire business support helpdesk:

Freephone 0300 80 80 120 or email onlincolnshire@lincs-chamber.co.uk

Thursday 29 January 2015

DISCOVER LINCOLNSHIRE WEEKEND 28TH & 29TH MARCH

Trading Opportunity – Lincoln




In collaboration with Lincoln BIG you are invited to take part in  ‘Discover Lincolnshire Markets 2015’.  This will be over the upcoming Discover Lincolnshire Weekend, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th March from 10am to 4pm daily.

It will encompass Lincolnshire producers including Farmers Markets, Craft Markets, Select Lincolnshire and Artists Markets but will be run as one large event on a similar scale and layout to the Lincoln BIG Continental Markets using Lincoln High Street, Cornhill and down the side of WH Smith, with up to 50 stall spaces. 

There will be opportunity for stallholders to hire a space for one or both days, although we would prefer both days for continuity for customers.  For those who do not have their own stall, we have a contractor who will put our standard market stalls up for a charge.

This event will be marketed as part of the Discover Lincolnshire Weekend publicity.

Due to the interest we’ve had so far, stalls will be allocated on a first come – first served basis so please ensure that you register your interest at the earliest opportunity.

If the event  is successful we hope to repeat this later in the year as part of some larger events.

Select member price will be £50 plus VAT for the weekend or £35 plus VAT per day  for a 3m x 3m sq pitch.

If you require a stall or a larger space please let us know.

Please contact gillian.richardson@lincs-chamber.co.uk to register and arrange an application form.

LATEST SELECT AWARD COVERAGE FEATURING SLEAFORD BUSINESSES


We're delighted to see the Sleaford Standard featuring Ownsworth Rapeseed, The Farm Kitchen and Manor House Stables in their latest edition. 


Wednesday 28 January 2015

SPALDING FOOD FESTIVAL

Image Credit: Lincolnian

THE EVENT: The Spalding and South Holland Festival of Food and Drink is taking place over the weekend 29th & 30 August 2015, in the centre of the town.  The aim is to celebrate the quality offering of food and drink in the Spalding and South Holland area, as well as other parts of the country, by holding a festival again after a break of two years. 

WHAT'S ON? This Festival of Food & Drink weekend is a culmination of various events that will be taking place over a 9 day period, the two days will be for everyone of all ages to enjoy.  As well as some great exhibits, visitors will be able to watch some of the region’s top chefs demonstrate their skills on stage and sample a great range of delicious local food and drink.   There will also be a great line-up of live music on stage, there’s plenty of entertainment for children and a range of stalls for adults to browse around and enjoy.  

WHAT DOES IT COST?  Conscious of the current economical environment, pitch prices have been set to be as competitive as possible:

·         3m Covered pitches in Marquee (with tables) - £60 per day inclusive of VAT.
·         3m Outdoor pitches for cold food and non-food exhibitors (bring your own stalls etc) - £40 per day inclusive of VAT.
·         8m Outdoor pitches for cold food and non-food exhibitors (bring your own stalls etc) - £65 per day inclusive of VAT.
·         3m Outdoor pitches for hot food (bring your own stalls etc) - £60 per day inclusive of VAT.
·         8m Outdoor pitches for hot food (bring your own stalls etc) - £85 per day inclusive of VAT.
·         Electrical Supply - £15 per day inclusive of VAT.


HOW DO I APPLY FOR A PITCH? Contact Dennis Hannant, Spalding Town Manager at Dennis.Hannant@Lincs-Chamber.co.uk


The Festival Team are really looking forward to seeing you at this year's event, please place the date in your diary and aim to join us in Spalding.

EVENTS AT THE POACHERS COUNTRY HOTEL

Image Credit: Lauren Nelson

20's Night - Gatsby Glamour & Showgirl Entertainment - Saturday 28th February
This event is not to be missed with professional showgirls performing 3 sets of live dance. Keeping to the 20's theme we have an Electro Swing DJ set... if you love The Great Gatsby you'll love this!

£25 a ticket - Including a themed 2 course menu - Fancy Dress Optional

Comedy Club - Friday 13th March
Live stand up comics from the UK Comedy Circuit. Arrival from 7.30pm. Comedy starts at 8pm. Drinks Deals on the night!

£12 per ticket including nibbles

I LOVE THE 80's V 90's NIGHT - Friday 27th March
Ultimate retro party including a Hog Roast. Playing all your favourite 80's & 90's Pop/Party/Dance/Hip Hop/Britpop & Rock Anthems! Get dressed up.  Get into the Groove & get ready to Jump Around to all your favourite party anthems!!

£18 per ticket - Including a Hog Roast - Fancy Dress optional

To book, call The Poachers Country Hotel: 01205 290310 (booking essential)

EVENTS AT STOKES


Chris Ingham Quartet - Saturday 14th February
Come along for a special swinging Valentine's evening of first-rate jazz featuring trumpeter Paul Higgs as the Chris Ingham Quartet celebrate the warm and melodic music of Hoagy Carmichael. Packed with wry songs and sentimental stories of one of America's most enduring songwriters, whose songs are beloved for their warmth and wit. This show recently sold out at Ronnie Scotts and Dave Gelly of Jazz Journal wrote "Classy product... with plenty of the right kind of swing".

Tickets are £10, Students/Under 16's £5 - available on 01522 523548 or in person by popping into Stokes High Bridge and Collection Cafés. Food and drinks available from the bar as always.

You can also purchase tickets online: http://jazzpac.emjazz.co.uk/  



Robinson Dwyer Kelly - Friday 13th February
We are delighted to welcome Liam Robinson, Eddy O'Dwyer and Frances Kelly back to Stokes Collection Café for an evening of traditional folk music. Look forward to hearing banjos, concertinas, guitar and some lovely vocals form this super trio.

Tickets cost £7 and are available from 01522 523548, online at www.minimorris.co.uk or in person by popping into Stokes High Bridge or Collections Cafés.

Free Family Fun Day at the Collection Museum - Tuesday 17th February
Calling all monks, knights and princesses! Join our Medieval dress up day, free of charge, between 10am-3.30pm. Optional Crafts £1 a go.



Oxley-Meier Guitars - Friday 27th February
This is the gig for those that love the sound of a guitar - two world class guitarists who can be expected to put on a dazzling display of musical soundscape. As starts of the British jazz scene, the trademark sound mixes elegant jazz with spicy world music rhythms. 

Tickets are £10, Students/Under 16's £5 - available on 01522 523548 or in person by popping into Stokes High Bridge and Collection Cafés.

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE


Introduction to International Trade

Venue: The Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce
Member price £200+ VAT
Non Member prove £270 + VAT
26TH March 2015
Lunch Included

An Overview

This one day seminar looks at the whole export function. It provides a perfect introduction for new staff, is ideal as a revision exercise for staff who may be a little "rusty" and need to get up to date, and as an overview for supervisors and management who need to have to understand what their staff are doing.

Contents Include:
Why Export?
The Export Office - Organisation and roles
Planning to Export - Strategic decisions
Export Enquiries - Understanding, responding, and converting to business
Incoterms 2010 - A review of the main ones
How to calculate an export price - and make a profit!
The Contract, Internal Order Processing and Despatch Preparation - Keeping it simple and under control
Getting paid - Different methods examined
Shipping methods - Ramifications of different methods - costs, time scales etc
Insurance - Marine and Credit
Export Documents - Internal, External, and Official. An overview of the main ones
VAT and Customs

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

All staff who are either directly involved in Export or who have a supervisory role. An ideal starter and refresher course.

If you would any further information or would like to book a place please contact Helen on helen.tomkinson@lincs-chamber.co.uk or call Helen on 01522 846929

COUNTY CRISPS MAKER VOTED 'BEST SNACK BRAND 2015'


Pipers Crisps have won the 'Best Snack Brand' 2015 as voted by retailers for the third year in a row. The crisps received the prestigious award by the Guild of Fine Foods magazine and are currently available in around 5,000 outlets across the UK.

Alex Albone, Founder of Pipers Crisps, said: "We're so proud to have won the 'Best Brand' accolade not once, but three times in a row. It's an especially important award because it's voted for by the retailers themselves, our own customers.

Read all about it in the Lincolnshire Business magazine here.

Friday 23 January 2015

SELECT AWARD MENU


 
We're delighted to share the menu for our Select Awards which has been carefully designed by The White Heather and features only local produce. 

For a full list of the Shortlisted businesses, please click here

We still have tickets available for the Awards, so please contact Gillian Richardson on 01522 846931 or email her atGillian.Richardson@lincs-chamber.co.uk if you'd like to book your seat. 

Our programme for the evening is as follows:

  • Networking and Drinks Reception - 6pm
  • Four course dinner of locally sourced cuisine, with wine followed by coffee a cheese board and chocolates - 7:30pm
  • Carriages midnight 




JOB VACANCY -Experienced Cooks / Sous Chefs (PT/FT)




Bizzibees Caterers --Immediate requirement

Very experienced Cook and or Chefs required to cook and present food directly to our customers to an exceptionally high standard. 

You would be required to work at high profile venues, wedding and corporate events and exclusive parties.
Excellent rates of pay according to experience and ability.

A driving licence is essential.

Work in and around the Spilsby area.

For more information please contact Caroline on: 07419128338/01754 830654
or daytime email: bizzibees@btinternet.com                                

Friday 16 January 2015

AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT: SHORTLISTED BUSINESSES 2015


We are delighted to announce the shortlisted businesses for our 2015 Awards. The standard this year was incredibly high, and our judges had a difficult task of shortlisting the best businesses in each categories. 

People’s Choice Award
Angels Desserts
Mountains Boston Sausage
Manor Farm Shop, Swineshead


Grower of the Year

Producer of the Year

Retailers of the Year

Wholesaler of the Year

Self-Catering of the Year

B & B of the Year

Hotel of the Year
Caterer of the Year

Venue of the Year

Teaching Establishment of the Year

Pub of the Year

Restaurant of the Year

Tea Rooms of the Year

Would you like to attend the awards?
Tickets are on sale for local businesses to attend the awards. Tickets cost £50+vat each or a table of 10 can be bought at a discounted price of £450+vat.

Shortlisted businesses can purchase tickets at a special price of £30+vat, limited to two tickets per business.

To book your ticket please call 01522 846931 or email Gillian.Richardson@Lincs-Chamber.co.ukGillian.Richardson@Lincs-Chamber.co.uk

Follow our live tweets on the night If you cannot attend the award evenings, don’t worry. We’ll be doing live updates on Twitter and Facebook; capturing guests arriving, and most importantly who scoops the top prizes.
With special thanks to our sponsors: 

CALLING ALL INDEPENDENT RETAILERS CAFE OWNERS AND PUBLICAN


A FREE 2-day business workshop "Growing through Technology" focuses on a range of retail related topics, including:

  • Using Facebook, Twitter or other Social media to drive customers your way
  • Can Cloud Computing drive real cost savings?
  • How can you use IT and the web to minimise your business costs?
  • What about taking your business online to sell?
  • What about you in-shop IT?
There will also be the opportunity on the course to discuss specific issues that you raise, too.

After the 2 days of workshops, a FREE individual consultation at your premises will then help you implement the ideas you've learned into your business.

Places are strictly limited on this County Council funded programme.

You must be able to attend both days.

All events run from 9.30am-4.30pm:

Lincoln – BG Futures, Bishop Grossteste University, Longdales Road, Lincoln, LN1 3DY
Thursday 29 Jan & Thursday 5 February

Sleaford – The Masonic Rooms 15 Watergate, Sleaford NG34 7PG
Sunday 8 & Sunday 15 February

Grantham – The Boilerhouse, Caunt Rd, Grantham NG31 7FZ
Wednesday 11 & Wednesday 18 February

Louth – Fairfield Enterprise Centre, Lincoln Way, Louth, LN11 0LS
Thursday 12 & Thursday 19 February

Boston – Enterprise Centre, Venture House, Enterprise Way, Endeavour Park, Boston PE21 7TW
Thursday 19 February & Thursday 26 February

To book a space contact John Owens
Mobile:    0780 963 1597
or email:  John@JohnOwens.biz

Thursday 15 January 2015

TELL US: ARE YOU INVOLVED IN FARMHOUSE BREAKFAST WEEK 2015?


Sunday 25 to Saturday 31 January 2015

In January 2015 people up and down the country will be celebrating national Farmhouse Breakfast Week.

The celebrations, called ‘Shake Up Your Wake Up’ highlights the importance of breakfast.  

Get Involved
All stages of the food chain, from farmers to food producers and retailers to consumers are encouraged to get involved and hold events during the week to promote the importance of starting the day with breakfast.

Activities include tasting sessions, breakfast competitions, cookery demonstrations, special breakfast menus and school breakfast clubs to name just a few.

Case Study - how did Uncle Henry's Farm Shop get involved last year?
Read examples about how Select Lincolnshire for Food member Uncle Henry's Farm Shop supported the campaign last year, and what benefits it got from it. 

How can you get involved with Breakfast Week?
Be part of a successful national campaign celebrating the most important meal of the day! If you grow, process or serve breakfast products then you can get involved. You can use the week as a vehicle for your own activity and promote breakfast in any way you choose. If you are stuck for ideas, we have provided some suggestions in our Get Involved section.
We have a range of free resources to help you including booklets featuring some tasty breakfast recipes, posters, and stickers.

Campaign key messages
  • Breakfast benefits you and your family and can help make you healthier and happier.
  • Breakfast eaters tend to be slimmer than breakfast skippers.
  • Breakfast provides you with the energy and nutrients needed for an active lifestyle.

For more information and to receive an information pack see the official Farmhouse Breakfast Week website. And also the HGCA website for additional information.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE – HUNDREDS OF VOTES ALREADY MADE – DON’T MISS OUT

www.selectlincolnshire.com/members/Vote.aspx

The countdown is on for the People’s Choice Awards, as part of the Select Lincolnshire Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards 2015. 

It is one of the most competitive categories and gives consumers; as well as local chefs, cooks and shoppers, the chance to vote for their favourite local food business which they feel is worthy of an extra-special prize.

Sponsored once again by Lincolnshire Co-op, Supply Chain Manager Nicola Berry, said: 
“Lincolnshire has so much food to celebrate, we’re really spoilt. In fact our Love Local range, which supports small producers across our area, now features more than 100 products.

“I know there are many people out there who love our county’s great local choice, so we’d encourage them to vote for their favourite food producer to win the People’s Choice Award.”

To place your People’s Choice vote visit www.selectlincolnshire.com/members/Vote.aspx before Monday 19 January 2015, which is when all votes will close.

Marketing Toolkit on Select Lincolnshire Website
If you need a helping hand generating votes, have a look at our Marketing Toolkit on the Select Lincolnshire for Food website. 
 
All votes placed will be entered into a free prize draw for a hamper bursting with local produce.  
The winners will be announced during the Select Lincolnshire for Food Awards ceremony on Tuesday 3 February, at The White Heather, Caenby Corner.

Tickets for the awards cost £50+vat each or reduced to £450+vat for a table of 10, and includes a full meal with wine. Call 01522 523333 or email Gillian.Richardson@Lincs-Chamber.co.uk to purchase yours.    

SELECT LINCOLNSHIRE FOOD, DRINK & HOSPITALITY AWARDS

'Over 200 tickets sold already, don't miss your chance to attend'

In Lincolnshire, fresh local produce has a special place in people’s hearts. In fact, food feeds more than appetites in Lincolnshire.

We’re a county full of food experts; growers, producers, processors, chefs, bakers and artisan businesses make Lincolnshire the jewel in the UK food industry’s crown.

From the Humber to the Wash, traditional skills of farming and food production have been nurtured and handed down through the generations to create a rich and diverse food heritage.
Join us in celebrating Lincolnshire's pedigree in Food and Hospitality with our Annual Select Lincolnshire Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards.

Agenda

  • Networking and Drinks Reception - 6pm
  • Four course dinner of locally sourced cuisine, with wine followed by coffee a cheese board and chocolates - 7:30pm
  • Carriages midnight

Ticket prices

  • Tickets: £50 +vat 
  • £450+vat for table of 10
  • Shortlisted businesses can purchase tickets at a special price of £30+vat, limited to two tickets per business.

Dress Code

  • Dress Code: Black Tie

Would you like to attend the awards?
Tickets are on sale for local businesses to attend the awards. Tickets cost £50+vat each or a table of 10 can be bought at a discounted price of £450+vat. 

Shortlisted businesses can purchase tickets at a special price of £30+vat, limited to two tickets per business. 

To book your ticket please call 01522 846931 or email Gillian.Richardson@Lincs-Chamber.co.uk

Follow our live tweets on the night
If you cannot attend the award evenings, don’t worry. We’ll be doing live updates on Twitter and Facebook; capturing guests arriving, and most importantly who scoops the top prizes.
Which local businesses have been shortlisted?

With special thanks to our sponsors: