Sheffield's Hidden Gems Podcast

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 ). As a new female-led theatre company in Sheffield, Black Bright Theatre seeks to create “ ...female led, story driven theatre with complex female characters at the forefront... ”. The founders a...

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. The snooker academy was founded in June 2020 by Ding Junhui, a top-ranked professional world ranking snooker player, who was in the 2016 finals of the World Snooker Championship. Located on Haymarket Stree t in the heart of Sheffield City Centre, the academ...

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 service...

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 Yes2Ven...

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, chu...

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....

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...

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. Beca...

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 na...

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...

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 in...

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 SY...

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 deli...

In Episode 13 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, our guests are Glenda Strong (Illustrator) and Rebecca Norton (Coach) talk about their new business venture, 'Create Your Next Chapter, retreats for women'. Glenda and Rebecca created the 'Create Your Next Chapter, a weekend retreat exclusively for women in 2020 at a time when the UK and other countries around the world faced the global pandemi...

In this the 12th episode of Sheffield's Hidden Gems, our guest is the founder of Past Lives Ancestry and DNA Research, John Chapman. With over 20 years experience in researching family histories, John has undertaken work on Yorkshire families, buildings and companies as well as Irish migration in the 19th century. His research has allowed him to help his clients follow the journeys of their famili...

In this episode Austin McIntosh will talk about: -How he moved from working as a Personal Trainer to setting up his own business, The Fitness Club in Sheffield City Centre. -What kept him motivated during the lockdown periods between March 2020 and May 2021. -The importance of making people feel special and valued when they seek to take care of their physical, personal well-being and mental health...

Episode 10 is a milestone for the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast since its launch in February this year. This 10th episode of the podcast features an interview with Steve Murfitt, author of the recently published book 'Sheffield and Peak District Walks (Volume 1). As the title indicates, it's all about walks in Sheffield and the Peak District.  In this episode, you will hear: -What motivated...

Episode 09 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast features an interview with Lara Bundock, CEO of the Snowdrop Project Ltd, a charity founded in Sheffield to support victims and survivors of modern slavery. Believing that no one should be left isolated or vulnerable to exploitation, support by the charity is tailored to the individual needs, strengths, likes, history and hopes of each survivor or...

Episode 08 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast features an interview with Professor Matthew Gilbert, MD of LimitState Ltd, a specialist software company based in Sheffield. The business develops specialist software for structural and geotechnical engineers to enable them to rapidly determine the critical failure mechanism and margin of safety for a wide range of engineering problems. Software d...

Episode 07 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast features an interview with two representatives of the charity 'Nomad Opening Doors'. In this interview Steve Rundell (CEO) and Laura Baker (Fundraising and Communication Coordinator) talk about Nomad and share insights into the work of the charity in helping homeless people in Sheffield. Since founding over 30 years ago, Nomad has provided accommod...

In episode 06 of the Sheffield's Hidden Gems podcast, Children's Author and Storyteller Maxine Lewis talks about a significant personal achievement as she adjusted to the disruption caused by the covid-19 pandemic that prevented her to continue work as a supply teacher specialising in Special Needs Education. That achievement was the writing and publishing of her first children's book. Building on...

In this episode, our guest is Vegetable Entertainer Madame Zucchini (aka Natalie Hunt). In her unique cabaret, Natalie works with vegetable puppets to keep her audience informed and entertained as she weaves her story around the lives of her vegetables.  With her creative mind and practical insights, Madame Zucchini has entertained  interpretation to music for clients. Listen to Natalie...

In this episode, our guest is Catherine Rannus of Belightful Music TM. Catherine is a musician who has created tracks with healing elements within her music for relaxation of mind and body as well as changing energy level in listeners. As the owner of a music business, she has been part of festivals and brings a most unique interpretation to music for clients. In addition to having the distinction...

In this episode, our guest is Ms Rita Howson the Chief Executive Officer of Support Dogs, a charity based in Sheffield but serving individuals accross England. Listen to Rita Howson as she shares insight and experiences into how specially-trained and registered support dogs have been helping people diagnosed with Disability, Autism or Epilepsy. Hear about how over the years fully trained support d...