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The Artsmix* market comes back to enliven Pudsey Market Place on Sunday September 7th with a host of local artists selling arts & crafts ranging from cards and jewellery to wood work, paintings and textiles art.
September’s market will include an actual tea dance organised by Armley’s The Marvellous Tea Dance Company, who are Leeds’ original and authentic vintage events company. They create unforgettable occasions for all with their passion for all things kitsch, vintage and cakey! A blues band will be playing live on the day, and dance lessons will take place to involve members of the community around the retro theme.
Also for the first week back at school, lots of gifts for children to enjoy – handmade soft toys, wooden wands, children’s books, knitted toys and tea cosies, and more…. Visitors of all ages can get a beautiful henna tattoo, or their face painted! Winners of the arts competition and treasure hunt will be able to win small arts-related presents.
Bar 57 from Lidgett Hill is providing a coffee and snacks stall at the market, and invite you to take up their offer of 2 Sunday roasts for the price of one, at only £7.95 it’s a bargain! World’s End is also offering a free litre of wine with every meal for 4 and half a litre with a meal for 2. Come down to the market to pick up a flyer to claim the special offers.
You can combine a trip to the market between 12 and 5pm with a visit to Pudsey Park, and plan to pick up some unique Christmas gifts at Pudsey’s Artsmix* Christmas market on Sunday 7th December.
The arts and crafts markets are run by Artsmix supported by Leeds Ahead and Leeds City Council’s Outer West Area Management. Artsmix has been funded by the Leeds ‘Sharing the Success’ programme, part of the government's Local Enterprise Growth Initiative and supported by Park Lane College Leeds.
The Artsmix* market regularly takes place in Leeds City Centre, behind the Corn Exchange. Next market Sunday 14th Sept, 11 – 4pm, @ Chancellor Court. For more information, please visit www.artsmix.co.uk
Press contact Sophie Michelena T: 07725940795 E: [email protected]
Pictures attached to email, more available on request
(Reporter) What type of business is Soul food?
(Adi)
Soul food is private catering to businesses and local and private events. I mainly specialize in African Caribbean and Caribbean food but if a client requests a certain type of food I can also accommodate that as I previously worked as a chef for a lot of well-known hotels.
(Reporter) How long have you been trading.
(Adi)
I’ve been trading for 6 years now.
(Reporter) What inspired you to set up a business in catering?
(Adi)
I remember as I child my mum used to run her own catering company in Gambia. I used to sit around for hours watching her cook amazing dishes, and the aromas and smells that used to travel from the kitchen were amazing
My mum was gifted with this skills and she passed on her knowledge and her gift over to me.
I made sure I gained the experience and knowledge of working as a chef in the industry before I decided to start-up my own business.
(Reporter) So did your mum teach you how to cook traditional dishes?
(Adi)
I shared with my mum my vision to set up an African and Caribbean catering company, and explained my experience in cooking other foods from around the world but not Gambian.
When my mum came over to England in 1998 we spent a lot of our time in the kitchen making authentic Gambian cuisines.
(Reporter) What special events have you catered for so far?
(Adi)
Mmmm! Were shall I start I’ve catered for the Abolition Common wealth event put on for the lord mare of Leeds.
I’ve been doing AGM meetings for housing associations for the past 7 years, and also cater for various departments within social Services.
I’ve done up to 30 different weddings in Leeds for up to 400 people.
And I’ve also catered for big functions for West Yorkshire Police and Leeds probation Services for up to 300 people.
(Reporter)Throughout the years of trading have you received any awards?
(Adi)
Yes, in 2003 I received the Young black Achievers Award at Leeds town hall.
(Reporter) How do you promote your services?
(Adi)
I’ve mainly got all of my business through word of mouth. When I normally cater for big functions and people taste my food they normally either recommend me to their business partners or family members.
(Reporter) How many events do you normally cater for on a weekly basis?
(Adi)
Approximately 4 events per week.
(Reporter)Tell me more about the team you work with?
(Adi)
They’re amazing!
My team consists of 4 chefs/waitresses whom I have taken on board and trained to become experts in the industry.
(Reporter)What are your plans for the future?
(Adi)
At present I’m looking for a factory unit to further develop my sauces and drinks. I would also like to have a line of my products in supermarkets this is something I’m looking into at the moment.
Wendy Smith
‘ When Addi originally came to the Catalyst, he came as a referral from another client.’
‘He was running a catering company and was branching out to create his own sauces, juices and food recipes, which he had passed and tested at a lab but didn’t have the know how, how to transport what he had into the manufacturing industry.’
‘Since being involved with the Catalyst he has become more involved with the Leeds Chamber Advisors including Sharing the Success. Through the help and support he has received, he has now secured a unit to transport his sauces into labeled jars.’
‘He’s also been getting a lot of new recommendations through word of mouth.’
‘One thing I also want to highlight is Adi’s Soul Food banner includes flags from around the world because he can create any cuisine to suit any palate requested.’
Leigh Green has recently completed his foundation course in Contemporary Music Production at Park Lane College in Leeds, and will be attending Leeds Metropolitan University in September to study for a degree in Music Technology.
Leigh was raised in Bradford by his mother, and admired his father for his strength in raising 2 boys and his creativity being that he was a musician.
Leigh was inspired by music from a very young age and decided at the age of Seven that he wanted to pursue a career as a music producer. He even wrote to Jimmy Fixett to make his dream come true but sadly never received a written response.
After witnessing his father struggling, barley making ends meat as a musician, this motivated Leigh to develop a business idea that benefited deprived communities through building creative skills.
Leigh explained when he was drafting his business idea, it dawned on him how much musicians struggle to find somewhere for their bands to practice, and how expensive it is to get studio time. This is why he’s decided to set up a number of recording studios and rehearsal rooms fitted with microphones for the local community to use. It will work on a first come first served basis at cheap rates.
Leigh is a passionate and driven individual who scenery wants to make a difference.
At the moment Leigh is currently looking for sponsorship and support to help him along with his business venture.
If you’re a business owner, interested in providing a young entrepreneur with support and sponsorship please contact one of the Leeds catalyst hosts.
Serena M: 0771 898 2546
Randolph M: 0789 439 3835
Wendy M: 0787 269 4804
Leeds Catalyst will be holding drop in sessions for catalyst members to come together and become fully acquainted with one another. Brainstorm ideas, share experiences and information, with an aim to improve and move their business ideas forward.
Owen Jackson (Leeds Credit Union) and Balbir Semdhi (LEGI Business Advisor) provide intensive business support daily and are experts in their field.
They both hosted our very first drop in session today, which was a success and fulfilled our overall aim to encourage our clients to utilise the free information, advice and guidance provided through the Leeds LEGI Programme.
Both Owen and Balbir encouraged members to speak to as many partners as possible and attend as many events to promote their business.
The Catalyst members were overwhelmed with the amount of support and practical information they received.
Testimonials
How useful did you find the information?
(Faadil Kareem)
It wasn’t bombarded with too much information, they were going at the right pace. I found the information provided practical and useful.
I was previously jumping through hoops, pondering that my business idea wouldn’t work but through attending this discussion I feel a lot more confident.
Overall i feel there's more clarification on my progression path, everything seems more doable.
(Lyndsay Din)
I found the information very useful and the hosts extremely helpful. All of the answers to my questions were answered which if not answered could have stopped all progression.
The environment was really calm and friendly which i found easy to work in.
What do you think about the catalyst?
(Faadil Kareem)
The catalyst clearly has a staff recruitment ethos ethic, which I think really helps people coming into the centre. I’m gob smacked because the staff seem to be falling over themselves to help you, I’ve never experienced that type of assistance in a business advice centre.
My experience of business centres has been lots of talk and visits and very little action and the objectives of the visit were never met.
(Lyndsay Din)
I think it’s really great to get free advice.
It’s learning new skills and gaining other views on decision i have to make is helping my business loads. I've learn't how to connect with clients including how to present my business professionally.
I personally feel the people within the catalyst, make the catalyst’s what it is. Their friendly, easy to get on with, and really supportive. I now feel i can ask an advisor a question without feeling stupid.
Will you attend another ‘Drop in Work and Learn’ event again?
(Faadil Kareem)
Yes I would! It’s been great to meet other members of the catalyst to talk and potentially network, building new partnerships to benefit one another’s business.
(Lyndsay Din)
I would defiantly attend another session. It’s really good to know that on a weekly basis there’s someone within the catalyst to give advice.
Come along to Life & Action coaching days starting from the 22nd August’08, 10am – 12Noon at the RISE Catalyst Centre in Seacroft.
Andrew Smith – Life Coach
Take a giant step with Andrew Smith, and discover if life coaching is right for you, with our FREE one-hour life coach taster session.
You are invited to experience a FREE, NO OBLIGATION one hour introductory session. Then we leave it up to you to decide whether life coaching is for you.
No obligation, no pressure and no unsolicited calls or emails and that’s a promise!
Ian Hargreaves – Action Coach
Book yourself in with Ian Hargreaves today!
ActionCOACHING can help you improve day-to-day operations of your business.Focus on time,team and money, we can deliver strategies and systems designed to guide and mentor you in improving the efficiency and profitability of your company.
Book yourself in for an introductory FREE session today!
For more information or to book a session call Wendy Smith:
Tel: 0787 269 4804 (or) Email: [email protected]
Alternatively you can visit us at:
RISE Catalyst,
Brooklands View,Seacroft,
Leeds,LS14 6SA
Business Link have set up a chain of events to inspire and excite those of you who maybe interested in setting up a business or becoming self employed.
These events will offer further information and guidance on what to do next and how to move your business idea forward to becoming a reality.
What will it cover:
Please click here to download the calendar of events
Download blwy_events_calendar2.xls
To find out more about these FREE events or to book a place immediately you can call on 0845 6048048
or email [email protected].
For more information about these and other events visit www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk and click on 'Events'.
