Top Ten Things for a Family Christmas in Manchester

We liked this from Creative Tourist (whose feed, you will find on the right of this blog).

The Family Survival Guide for Christmas in Manchester

Greater Manchester confirmed as Low Carbon Area

Announced as the First Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) for the Built Environment by the government, Greater Manchester is expected to save 6 million tones of carbon, create an additional £650m to the economy and support 34,800 jobs. Source: Crains

24:7 shows win two MEN Awards

At the 2009 Manchester Evening News Awards 24:7 Theatre won in two categories

Best Fringe Production
As We Forgive Them
by Richard Vergette

The judges said: “Another brilliant year at 24:7 very nearly gave the festival of new writing a clean sweep in this category with the likes of Alistair McDowall’s provocative 5:30, Richard Vergette’s searing As We Forgive Them, Steve Pearce’s intelligent Freshers and Eve Steele’s inventive Lub You standing out amidst a very impressive batch. The set of short plays at the new J.B. Shorts evening, where now-established TV and radio writers return to their pub theatre roots, were also greatly enjoyed. But, by a short head, it was As We Forgive Them that finally took the prize.”

Best Fringe Performance
Eve Steele
for her performance in Lub You (which, by the way, she also wrote!)

The judges said: “An actual clean sweep for 24:7 in this category, with many of the same plays - Freshers, As We Forgive Them and Lub You - demanding further attention for their performances. Christine Clare from Freshers, Eve Steele for Lub You and both performances in As We Forgive Them, namely Richard Vergette and Joe Sims, socked it out with Nicholas Osmond’s near-standup turn in Phys-Ed. Our judges ended up agreeing with audiences at the festival that it was Eve Steele who stood out.”

Reaching the audience at the Concierge Roadshow

Do you supply services or products to guests and visitors to Manchester?

Do you want to make contact with 50 – 60 key front desk personnel who advise and direct guests and visitors to alert them to your services, special offers or what’s new?

If so, take a sales desk at the Concierge Roadshow; The first event of its kind on January 8th 2010 at Manchester City Inn. Vendor options are from £50 to £200 for a sales desk. Astonishing value for money and a new network.

Interested? If you would like to read more visit www.worldclassservice.co.uk
If you would like to talk to someone about the day call Howard or Louise on 0161 456 6007 or by e:mail at louise@worldclassservice.co.uk

World Class Service Leadership Course

World Class Service is opening its service leadership programme for a series of 2 day courses based at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th Feb 2010

The first course, led by Howard Raynor, covers service leadership issues, market updates, key business issues of service, how to implement high service standards, motivation of teams, customer recovery and some of the secrets from the world’s most highly regarding service companies.

The course is now open for reservations.

Key benefits of this highly regarded programme include a clear method for looking at total service delivery, a clear method for improving service standards, how to add value through service behaviours, how to maximise sales through service, up to the second market news and how to recover the situation if things go amiss.

Programme is supported by hand out pack and online resource centre. Course size is limited to 15 delegates in total. Cost is £295.00 + VAT per person.

Click here for more information

Interested? Contact Howard Raynor on 0161 456 6007 or by email

Please note this course is eligible for small business support from Business Link. Speak to Howard or Business Link for more information.

The Concierge Roadshow

World Class Service and Manchester Concierge Network have teamed up to get 2010 started with a bang. Join us at City Inn on Friday 8th January for an all new event, The Concierge Roadshow.

This event is for anyone with a reception desk and customers. Expect fresh ideas, three great workshops, a whole new network to start the year and some fantastic inspiration for your team and customers. And that isn’t even the best news, the best news is attendance is free to your staff thanks to Co-operative Travel Services and our vendor desks who will be on hand to talk your team through their products and services. What else were you going to do on a Friday in January?

Save the date in your diary, more details to follow.
To help us with numbers , and if you haven't already, can you please RSVP to Louise at World Class Service if you think you are any members of your front desk team would like to attend. Numbers are restricted to 4 from any one venue.

Hope you can make it.

Manchester Made it Easy January 15th 2010

2009 has been a tough year. Manchester’s better than national performance suggests that working together has got to be better than working apart and something is definitely going right, but 2010 is about action rather than defence. A fragile recovery means new business. The original Manchester Made it Easy mission was to meet as a community of lifestyle, hospitality and cultural businesses to talk about common issues and opportunities. The format is a network, hear the latest, network some more then act.

You are invited join the next gathering of this community, this time the totem pole will be at Manchester Central on 15th January at 10.00am. The Agenda is straightforward and one hour long; progress on the issues of 2009, key milestones in 2010 where we can work together to improve business performance and to hear from Manchester's biggest new catch the TUC! 3000 new delegates in Manchester in September 2010. Hear straight from the conference organisers what their delegates look for in a city and how you can extend the best possible welcome.

2010 the moment of opportunity or stay in the dugout?

We would love to see you there and don’t hesitate to speak up.

Manchester Made it Easy quote of the year for 2010 - “Well done is better than well said.” BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

2010 Events

If you're putting together your business plan for 2010, it's a good idea to keep an eye on what's happening in the city and beyond.
Meetings may be slightly down on attendance during the FIFA World Cup and Manchester will be full of scientifically minded people in March and October with the Big Bang Fair and Manchester Science Festival.

• Winter Olympics (February 12-28) in Vancouver
• 6 Nations Rugby (February 6 – March 26)
• Chinese New Year (February 14)
• The Big Bang Fair (March 11-13) Manchester
• Irish Festival Parade (March 14) Manchester
• Grand National Festival (April 8-10) at Aintree
• European Individual Badminton Championships (April 8-10) MEN Arena
• Future Everything (May 12-15)
• Queer Up North (May 14-31)
• FIFA World Cup (June 11 – July 11) in South Africa
• Wimbledon (Jun 21 – July 4)
• Manchester Jazz Festival (July)
• World Lacrosse Championships and Festival (July 20-24) Manchester Uni
• The Open Championship (July 15-18) at St. Andrews
• Tour de France (July 3-25)
• 24/7 Theatre Festival (July 26 –August 1)
• Manchester Pride (August Bank Holiday)
• TUC Conference (September 13-16) - 3,000/day - Manchester Central
• Ryder Cup (September 30 – October 3)
• Manchester Food and Drink Festival (October)
• Manchester Science Festival (October 23-31)
• Manchester Comedy Festival (October)
• Manchester Literature Festival (October 14-24)
• In The City ITC (October)
• Christmas Markets (November – December)

2010 Highlights at the Palace Theatre and Opera house in Manchester

Les Miserables. The Palace. 19th Jan – 13th Feb
Riverdance. The Palace. 12th – 17th April
English National Ballet Cinderella. The Palace. 21st – 24th April
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The Palace. 27th April – 15th May
Hairspray. Opera House. 13th – 31st July

MEN Arena concerts and events 2010

Click here for the latest information on the MEN Arena's confirmed events for 2010

Manchester Art Gallery exhibitions programme 2009 - 2010

Fantasies, Follies and Disasters: The Prints of Francisco de Goya
Until February 2010
Free entry

Fantasies, Follies and Disasters features 30 prints selected from the artist’s three best-known and most significant groups of etchings: Los Caprichos (The Fantasies), Los Desastres della Guerra (The Disasters of War), and Los Disparates (The Follies). The works are all drawn from Manchester Art Gallery’s superb collections, and have not been exhibited together as a group for over 20 years.

This exhibiton will be followed by a second series of prints by Franscisco de Goya from
February 2010 – July 2010
Visual Dialogues: Disasters of War
6 October 2009 – July 2010
Free entry

Disasters of War (1993), Jake and Dinos Chapman’s gruesome sculpture, is being exhibited alongside the gallery’s current exhibition of Goya prints. Inspired by Goya’s etchings of the same name Disasters of War depicts atrocious acts of violence carefully and painstakingly reconstructed with expertly crafted miniature figures. The loan forms part of the gallery’s 2009 – 2010 annual Visual Dialogues partnership with Tate and young people from Manchester.

Angels of Anarchy: Women Artists and Surrealism
26 September 2009 – 10 January 2010
£6 (£4 concessions, free entry for under 18s and Manchester Art Gallery Friends)

This is the first major exhibition of women artists and Surrealism to be held in Europe.
Featuring over 150 artworks by 32 women artists, the exhibition is a celebration of the crucial, but at the time not fully recognised, role that women artists have played within Surrealism.

Andrew Bracey: Animalation
31 October 2009 – 28 February 2010
Free entry

Animalation is a playful and intriguing exhibition of new and recent works by Manchester-based artist Andrew Bracey. Specially curated for Manchester Art Gallery, this solo exhibition features a selection of quirky animated artworks inspired by animals and influenced by flip-book techniques.

ARTIST ROOMS Ron Mueck
4 February – 11 April 2010
Free entry

Ron Mueck’s hyper-real sculptures of the human figure are tender portrayals of people in their most intimate, isolated and vulnerable moments. This exhibition features three of his remarkable, out-of-scale sculptures.
ARTIST ROOMS on Tour with The Art Fund supported by the Scottish Government is an inspired partnership with the UK’s independent art charity and national government enabling Tate and National Galleries of Scotland to display ARTIST ROOMS throughout the UK.

Facing East
Recent works from China, India and Japan from the Frank Cohen Collection
4 February – 11 April 2010
Free entry

This is an exceptional opportunity to see a dozen of the most exciting works from the Frank Cohen Collection, many of which have never been exhibited publicly before. These groundbreaking contemporary paintings and sculptures by major artists from India, China and Japan include Bharti Kher’s The Skin Speaks A Language Not Its Own (2006) - a lifesize elephant with skin made entirely of bindis and He An’s Matrix (2007) - fibreglass figures inspired by kung fu fight scenes from The Matrix films.

Women Like You
6 March – 9 May 2010
Free entry

For over a year, artist Charlotte Newson has been gathering photographs of women who have inspired the people of Manchester. For this unique project in celebration of International Women’s Day (8 March) she will be combining hundreds of these images to create a large photo-montage dedicated to the Manchester-born leader of the British Suffragette movement Emmeline Pankhurst.

A World Observed 1940 - 2010: Photographs by Dorothy Bohm
24 April – 30 August 2010
Free entry

This will be the first comprehensive retrospective of Prussian-born and London-based photographer Dorothy Bohm, widely acknowledged as one of the doyennes of British photography. This exhibition will feature around 250 photographic images that trace her career spanning more than six decades and several continents, including time spent as a student in Manchester. It will also include documentary materials such as cameras, books, exhibition posters, family photographs and correspondence with photographers and artists. A new film is being produced especially to accompany the exhibition. The show will also tour the UK and overseas.

Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: A New Commission (working title)
11 September 2010 – 9 January 2011
Free entry

Mexican-Canadian Rafael Lozano-Hemmer is an electronic artist who produces large-scale interactive installations. He uses robotics, projections, sound, internet and other devices, usually working with new technologies and custom-made physical interfaces to create his dynamic works. His critically-acclaimed work in kinetic sculpture, responsive environments, video installation and photography has been shown in over thirty countries, including Biennials in Venice (Italy), Istanbul (Turkey), Havana (Cuba), Sydney (Australia), Liverpool (UK) and Shanghai (China). Now he will be producing a new commission especially for Manchester Art Gallery.

50% off tickets for BBC Philharmonic on Friday 4th December

Khachahturian Introduction, Hopak and Sabre Dance from Gayane

Dallapiccola Marsia (ballet)

Tchaikovsky Suite, Swan Lake

Gianandrea Noseda, conductor

The BBC Philharmonic orchestra is offering a very special 50% discount for tickets in Area B, which includes seats in the centre stalls and circle. Tickets will cost just £12.50 with the discount. (No other discounts or concessions apply with this offer).

To take advantage of your 50% discount for this concert you simply need to quote ‘BBC7’ when booking. You do this: in person at The Bridgewater Hall Box Office 10am – 6pm (8pm on event nights), by phone on 0161 907 9000 (£2 transaction fee), online at www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk (£1.50 transaction fee).

The usual ticket prices are available for all other seating in the Hall. A £31, B £25 (half price on 4 Dec), C £21, D £17, E £12, and F £9. A 20% discount is available to Friends of the Philharmonic, under 26 and claimants. Disabled patrons are entitled to 50% discount and Senior Citizens can receive 30% discount.

Delta Airlines restart Manchester to New York JFK

Delta Airlines will fly from Manchester to New York JFK again from May 2nd 2010. The airline had temporarily suspended the service due to low demand during the winter.

Manchester Evening News Arena Events

Here are the confirmed events at the MEN Arena for the next 12 months.

Training courses with The Manchester College

Recruitment

Well trained candidates, with relevant, up-to-date skills can have a positive impact on any business. With free training initiatives attached to recruitment, The Manchester College can provide your business with these job ready individuals, as well as a wide range of other tailored employment solutions – all completely commission free.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships offer a cost-effective way to develop highly skilled and productive employees. Participating in an Apprenticeship programme ensures that you will have employees that are not only trained to industry standards, but understand the unique values of your organisation. Apprentices are paid by their employer while they are training and learning, and all training costs are met by The Manchester College.

Work Placements

Your business could benefit from offering students work placements because they allow you the opportunity to appraise the potential of possible future employees and learn from their up-to-date knowledge and skills. It's a great opportunity for students as well, as they really do value the practical experience and contacts that they gain from work placements.

Offender Learning

The Manchester College provides ex-offenders with learning and skills, enabling them to gain the skills and qualifications they need to be job ready and play a positive role in society. If you are recruiting, why not consider looking at what these individuals could offer your business.

To discuss your recruitment requirements in further detail please contact the Business Support Team on 0800 068 8585 and select option 1 or email bst@themanchestercollege.ac.uk

Short courses

Our administration and support services courses offer the full range of skills that office workers require.

Courses available include:

Intermediate Word 27/01/2010 £99 per delegate

Introduction to Powerpoint 28/01/2010 £99 per delegate

The Effective Administrator 15/01/2010 £105 per delegate

The Professional Receptionist 22/01/2010 £105 per delegate

To view the full range of courses available please click here to download a full list.

All our courses can be tailored to suit the requirements of the employer and employees. Courses can be delivered at your premises or at one of our college sites.

To book, please call the Business Support Team on 0800 068 8585 and select option 1 or email bst@themanchestercollege.ac.uk

The MHA Award Winners 2009

The MHA Award Winners 2009,
originally uploaded by World Class Service.

The photographs of this year's winners are now available on the World Class Service flickr page.

To view the photographs and find out a bit more about the winners, visit www.flickr.com/photos/worldclassservice/

The photographs were taken by Teresa Dietrich www.teresadietrich.com

Excellent Taxi Drivers

Over 350 Manchester Taxi drivers have now passed Level 2 NVQ in Road Passenger Transport making them “Drivers of Excellence” in the Licensing team view.

How will you know you are in the company of an accomplished taxi driver? Easy they will have a small round pin, a special lanyard and even a smart tie. We are delighted to hear that some companies are now insisting that their drivers pass this qualification before they can join their company.

At the Taxi Drivers passing out celebration yesterday the pins were being worn within minutes of receiving them and the room was packed over 200 drivers collected their pins and ties personally. A round of applause for the city too for inviting these hard working ladies and gentlemen in to the Town Hall to enjoy their celebration.

Manchester's hoteliers raise over £30k for charity

The MHA Ball is always a glitzy affair. Hoteliers know how to to party. It's not just about the city's hardworking hoteliers letting their hair down, however. The evening celebrates the best employees with the MHA awards and everyone digs deep to support charities. This year saw over £30,000 raised and the money will go to Hospitality Action and local charities Five Star Scanner Appeal and the Wood Street Mission.

Visit www.my-hospitality.com for more information.

The MHA Awards winners 2009.

The MHA Awards 2009 took place at the MHA Ball at the Ramada Piccadilly Hotel on October 29th 2009. Congratulations to all the winners and shortlisted finalists. You can watch the video below and find out who won.

The List - Manchester's Restaurants

The Manchester Concierge Network introduces "The List",

"The MCN is proud to introduce "The List" which is devoted to keeping you in the know about the Best of the Best that Manchester has to offer. The idea behind it is that there's a lot of noise out there when it comes to our city. The problem is that most of the noise about the best places tends to only happen once the pounds are paid to advertise. We plan to be your best friend, the friend who knows everyone and everywhere. We have a wealth of knowledge and decided that we are going to share it with our friends; You."

The first edition is now available below

The List - Restaurants

You can blog here too

Manchester Made it Easy is all about making it easy to share information about Manchester. Are you a hotel with rooms to fill? Are you a venue with tickets left over for tonight's performance? This blog is a way of enabling you to speak to each other and whoever is reading.

There's nothing to stop you getting involved in this blog. Just send an email to World Class Service asking to become an author on this blog.

The Manchester Food and Drinks award winners are...

Restaurant Of The Year
The Modern, Manchester

Best Pub
Lass O’Gowrie, Manchester

Best Bar
Apotheca, Manchester

Best Newcomer
Damson, Heaton Moor

Chef Of The Year
Ian Matfin, Abode Manchester

Best Food And Drink Retail Outlet
Barbakan Delicatessen, Chorlton

Best Wine List
Gaucho Manchester

Best Coffee Bar / Casual Dining
Folk Café Bar, West Didsbury

MFDF Award For Healthy And Sustainable Eating
Gabriel’s Kitchen, Manchester

Outstanding Achievement Award
George Bergier, head sommelier at Sam’s and Tom’s Chophouses, Manchester

INVESTMENT IN SKILLS AWARDS

Professional Bartender Of The Year
Tom Lloyd, Obsidian

Manchester Young Chef Of The Year
Michael Tate, Harvey Nichols

Manchester Young Waiter Of The Year
Matthew Dutson, River Restaurant

Love Food Hate Waste Award
Mason Arms, Atherton

Producer of the Year Award (judged by Clarissa Dickson Wright)
Mrs Kirkham’s Cheese

MFDF Cheese Challenge Winner
Garstang Blue by Dewlay Cheesemakers

Best Beer Brewed In Manchester (judged by panel at the Greater Manchester Real Ale Festival)
Dobber by Marble Brewer

MFDF starts today

The Manchester Food and Drink Festival starts today and Manchester is awash with fantastic foodie delights until October 12th. Highlights are hard to pick out due to the quality of events in this year's festival so be sure to check all the listings and information at the festival website www.foodanddrinkfestival.com

We've done our best though and here's our pick of the festival

• Festival Fine Food Village, St Ann’s Square
  October 1-11 more detail

• Independent and Local Wine Festival
  October 2-3 more detail

• Whiskey Festival
  October more detail

• Oktoberfest
  October 8-11 more detail

North West Tourism Awards

The winners of the North West Tourism Awards are

• Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award – Nigel Haworth, Northcote, near Blackburn
• Large Hotel of the Year - The Lowry Hotel, Manchester
• Small Hotel of the Year – Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere
• Bed and Breakfast of the Year – The Ashton, Lancaster
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Imperial War Museum North, Manchester
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire
• Self Catering Holiday of the Year – Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle
• Holiday Park of the Year – Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria
• Excellence in Business Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool
• Taste of England’s Northwest – Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria
• Tourism Experience of the Year – Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire
• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn, Liverpool
• Sustainable Tourism Award – Arena and Convention Centre, Liverpool
• Tourism for All – Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire
• Tourism Event of the Year – Blackpool Illuminations
• Public Space Award – Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool
• Tourist Information Centre of the Year – Wigan TIC
• Travel Journalist of the Year – Stephen McClarence, The Observer

Free courses for those at risk of redundancy

The Manchester College is launching a new programme designed to help people affected by the risk of redundancy due to the economic downturn. This programme is completely free to any employee that has received notification of the risk of redundancy from their employer.

Delegates can attend three one day short courses chosen from a menu of IT and

office skills. They also get the opportunity to attend an additional half-day employability skills session, which will cover CV writing and practice job searching online. 'Closed' courses can also be arranged specifically for employers that have a number of staff that would like to attend.

Courses available include Excel, Word, Powerpoint, presentation skills and professional customer service skills.

For further details please contact the Business Support Team on 0161 920 4466 or bst@themanchestercollege.ac.uk

Train to Gain with The Manchester College

The Manchester College is a Train to Gain supplier. Train to Gain has been designed specifically to meet employers' training needs. Through this scheme employees may be able to access FREE training to help them gain a nationally recognised qualification. In addition to improving performance at work, a Train to Gain qualification might also enable employees to take on increased responsibilities.

Courses are available in a range of subject areas including office based skills, IT, customer service, hospitality, health and social care, retail and sales, and construction.

For further information on this scheme please contact a member of the Business Support Team on 0161 920 4466 or email bst@themanchestercollege.ac.uk