Issue 001 2009/10

MADe Sheffield

MADEBusiness, ideas, culture, life, sport, Sheffield

sPORT JessICA eNNIs The golden girl of British athletics Jessica Ennis talks about coming back from a career-threatening injury. Pages 20-23

LIGHTING THe FLAMe Sheffield is already warmed up on the starting blocks to make the most of 2012. Pages 24-25

INNOVATION RAIsING THe ROOF Sheffield company raises the roof at Wimbledon. Pages 30-31

BusINess sHeFFIeLD BusINess suRVeY Despite an economic downturn, the city has shown its resilience and dynamism. Pages 43

+ 44 (0)114 223 2345 WWW. CReATIVesHeFFIeLD.CO.uk INFO@CReATIVesHeFFIeLD.CO.uk

sHeFFIeLD CuLTuRe

sPORT INNOVATION BusINess

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CONTENTS What’s inside...

ABOUT SHEFFIELD A WARM SHEFFIELD WELCOME Philip Wellington, Head Concierge at The Mercure, on welcoming people to what he calls ‘a truly unique city’. Pages 6-7

48 SHEFFIELD HOURS Nether Edge resident and PR consultant, Sally Clarke, shares her secrets to the perfect weekend. Pages 8-11

CULTURE IN THE FRAME Doc-Fest, the UK’s premiere documentary festival, is gaining worldwide recognition. Pages 12-15

A CLEAR SENSE OF DIRECTION Tony award nominee, Daniel Evans, talks about his vision for Sheffield’s theatres. Pages 16-19

SPORT JESSICA ENNIS The golden girl of British athletics Jessica Ennis talks about coming back from a career-threatening injury. Pages 20-23

LIGHTING THE FLAME Sheffield is already warmed up on the starting blocks to make the most of 2012. Pages 24-25

HIGH AMBITION Climbing legend, Jerry Moffatt, has scaled the world’s most difficult routes, yet still rates The Peak District. Pages 26-27

INNOVATION MADE IN SHEFFIELD Some of the world’s most innovative solutions in sports technology are from Sheffield. Pages 28-31

BACKING THE BID Sheffield has impeccable credentials to become a FIFA World Cup Host City. Pages 32-35

BUSINESS LIFE IN THE SUPERFAST LANE Sheffield looks set to become the UK’s own version of Silicon Valley. Pages 36-39

BUCKING THE TREND Sheffield now has a range of world class suppliers who can compete with the best. Pages 40-42

SHEFFIELD BUSINESS SURVEY Pages 43

NEW STORIES FROM A NEW CHAPTER Building a competative point of difference. Pages 44-45

NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE Creative meeting space in Sheffield’s Kelham Island conservation area. Page 47

FOOD & DRINK LITTLE CHEF’S BIG COMEBACK Pages 48-49

MICHELIN MEN Local produce proves a winning formula for Michelin-recommended gastropub, The Milestone. Pages 50-51

SHEFFIELD FOOD & DRINK Pages 52-53

INNOVATION, PASSION, KNOWLEDGE… BEER! Based in rural Derbyshire, Thornbridge Brewery is challenging the way people think about beer. Pages 54-55

ENTERTAINMENT SHEFFIELD MUSIC CITY Pages 56-57

UPCOMING MUSIC Pages 58-59

U2 SUMMER 2009 The night Bono donned his shades for a baying Sheffield crowd. Pages 60-61

WHAT’S ON IN SHEFFIELD Pages 62

Note from the editor

Throughout its history, Sheffield and its people have been recognised as inventive, hardworking and entrepreneurial. It’s a city that prides itself on getting things done, quietly and effectively, irrespective of the challenges faced.

Sheffield is an amazing place, with amazing people. It’s a city full of extraordinary stories. What we need to do, though, is get out there and tell people these stories. MADE is here to do just that.

NiCOlE GrEEN Editor

EDITORIAL NICOLE GREEN EDIToRSTEVE DOYLESTEPHANIE POTTERDALE MORRELLPHOTOGRAPHY DAVID SHORTTOM JACKSON TRACEY WELCH ILLUSTRATION HWA YOUNG JUNGWITH SPECIAL THANKS TO SALLY CLARK – LARK PRDAVE GRIMSHAW – MAKE THINGS HAPPENPRODUCED BY CREATIVE SHEFFIELD IN ASSOCIATION WITH IRISBRENDAN MOFFETTLAURA SISSONS

At its heart has been city development company, Creativesheffield, who have been charged with delivering Sheffield’s economic transformation. Nicole Green recently caught up with their newly appointed Chief Executive, Paul Firth.

“Over the past 10 years Sheffield has gone through a remarkable regeneration programme, culminating in the fantastic city centre we have today.

Despite the recession, Sheffield has had a great year: as well as the continuing development of the physical infrastructure, inward investment has been strong with healthy office take up levels. The pioneering Digital Region project is gathering momentum, which will promote the growth of the City’s scientific, creative and cultural knowledge base, and there have been some nationally recognised events. This is fantastic for energising the City and putting us firmly on the map and has really boosted short break tourism.

All these developments and initiatives give us a really strong platform to build from.I’ve been involved with Creativesheffield for a while, but in my new role as Chief Executive will be taking a much more hands-on approach — moving the city forward as it develops even further.

Sheffield has really upped its game in terms of the events and experiences it offers. We’re now a key player, bidding for major events like UK City of Culture 2013, FIFA World CupTM Candidate Host City and continuing to invest in existing events such as the Grin Up North Comedy Festival, the biggest in England this year, and International Documentary Film Festival, Sheffield Doc/Fest. As well as pushing on with these events, 2010 will kick off in style with the

re-opening of the refurbished Crucible Theatre.

As the UK’s first City of Sport, Sheffield has an enviable reputation for producing sporting talent, like golden girl (and MADE cover star),

Jessica Ennis, and for hosting major national

and world championships across a variety of activities.

It’s important to positively change how the outside world perceives our city by shouting about our successes. I want Sheffield to have a reputation as the best place to live and do business in the UK”.

PAul FirTh Chief Executive Creativesheffield

TrANSFOrMATiONSheffield’s dramatic transformation over recent years has caused ripples

at home and abroad.

www.creativesheffield.co.uk

www.irisassociates.com

4 52009/10 About SheffieldMADE Sheffield

A WArM ShEFFiElD WElCOME

Every time I welcome a guest to Sheffield, I do it with pride. As the Head Concierge of one of the city’s key hotels, I am

often the first point of contact for anyone arriving in the city, and it is my job to show the city off properly.

WRITTEN BY

Philip Wellington, Head Concierge, Mercure Hotel

I t is 15 years since I arrived in Sheffield, when I made my way up north from London, and I have never looked back. I have always seen a certain

charm in Sheffield. It is a truly unique city, full of quirky secrets and fantastic people, which is now matched by a truly stunning city centre.

I am lucky enough to have witnessed the amazing physical and cultural transformation of the city at first hand. New buildings have shot up, and the city is now almost unrecognisable, and it is just getting better and better. Most importantly for those of us living here, it hasn’t lost any of its unique charm.

Working right in the Heart of the City, I am surrounded by some of my favourite parts of Sheffield. The stunning Winter and Peace Gardens surrounding St Paul’s lead onto great cultural spaces like the Millennium Galleries. I honestly couldn’t think of a nicer place to work – which makes my job of showing off the city very easy.

I feel strongly that every person that visits Sheffield should feel at home. It’s what we do well. of course, some of the people that pass through our doors have been coming to the city for years. For those people, it

has been exciting to chart the city’s transformations and successes each time they arrive at the new rail station or drive into the city centre. For the people arriving for the first time, they are always taken aback at everything the city has to offer and how cosmopolitan and exciting it now is. The improvements are by no means done. I am constantly impressed with the plans and developments, seeing the ongoing evolution of a city I have grown to love.

“ I FEEL STRONGLY THAT EVERY PERSON THAT VISITS SHEFFIELD SHOULD FEEL AT HOME. IT’S WHAT WE DO WELL.”

The new Tudor Square development, which has been eagerly anticipated, will make the Heart of the City even better. The theatres and restaurants give a real buzz to the centre and there is always something going on to take the city from day into evening.

one of my favourite times of year is when the annual World Snooker Championships come to the Crucible, as I am well placed to see the excitement up close and greet the thousands of people that flock to the city. It’s not all about the city centre though. As well as directing

people to the shops and bars on Ecclesall Road or surrounding areas, I always tell visitors to drive out to the Peak District. Having a National Park just a short trip away, with breathtaking views and heritage sites like Chatsworth, is a unique asset to Sheffield and something that should be taken advantage of.

The number of visitors and big business events coming to the city is growing, so I see a lot of new faces, but I try to remember every guest I meet. of course this is a little easier when famous faces come through the city. Celebrities like Gordon Ramsay are full of praise for Sheffield and have been impressed with how far the physical and cultural improvements have come.

I like to think that when I open the doors to a visitor, I am welcoming them to an exciting and modern Sheffield, and I am proud to be an integral part of the city’s future. It certainly feels as though Sheffield is on the brink of something fantastic, and I like to think I am a small part of this exciting growth, just as everyone living and working in the city is. For now, I am proud to introduce MADE magazine, and wish everyone a very warm Sheffield Welcome.

72009/10 About Sheffield

in Sheffield

Ashtanga Yoga, champagne tea, and a gallop through some of the UK’s most stunning countryside. Sally Clarke shares some of her secrets to the perfect 48 hours in the city.

WRITTEN BY Sally Clarke

I live in the leafy, green, Nether Edge, so early Saturday morning is a whirl around Cemetery Road Park with the dog – one of Sheffield’s

hidden gems of architectural treats. There’s lots of green, a path for running and plenty of squirrels for the terrier to ambush. It’s steeped in drama and really atmospheric, a photographer’s dream.

Yoga Shala on London Road is the next stop, for Ashtanga yoga – otherwise known as power yoga – which is energetically challenging to say the least, but particularly satisfying. Pete Gill who runs the Shala is an excellent teacher who has worked with top athletes to improve fitness and posture. His classes are extremely popular given his sport orientated approach. To undo some the good work at Yoga Shala it’s off to Bragazzis

on Abbeydale Road for a delicious coffee and bite to eat. Bragazzis is perfect for people watching (if you can get a seat) and a browse through the papers. It’s a really vibrant little meeting point which means you have to get there early if you want to eat; food goes fast in this place. Just up the road from there is Swallows and Damsons who sell the most beautiful, fresh flowers – so I will usually buy a selection.

I would spend early Saturday afternoon on the other side of Nether Edge, down in Sharrow Vale and around Banner Cross, to indulge in browsing and catching up with people. There are some fantastic organic and locally sourced food shops – so I can stock up on treats for Sunday. For an indulgent late afternoon treat, The Leopold Hotel does very chic champagne teas.

The Leopold is Sheffield’s first boutique hotel, converted from the old boy’s school, with lots of original features and large arched windows which flood the hotel with light and give a perfect view onto buzzy Leopold Square.

“ BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE AND A BLAST OF FRESH AIR, PLUS A BOOST OF ADRENALIN EqUALS THE PERFECT WAY TO SPEND THREE HOURS ON A SUNDAY!”

Last stop on the purchasing front would be the quirky Shops & Boutiques at the Forum. This is where Sheffield’s originality and style can be seen. Syd & Mallory’s is a favourite for re-worked vintage and beautiful handmade bags. The Shops & Boutiques are all independent – so there is charm-a-

plenty and lots of catwalk inspired fashions to choose from. Everything is a one off so sole ownership is assured!

Saturday evening is usually a visit to Nonna’s on Ecclesall Road for excellent meat or fish or fresh pasta. It is independently run by a team with consummate knowledge of Italian food, wine and life, as well as faultless hospitality. It’s the guarantee of a quality evening out that has given the award-winning restaurant national recognition.

Sunday morning is all about the great outdoors and less about the hustle and bustle of City life. Literally a five minute drive you are in the National Park’s Peak District, which is beautiful for a stroll or more testing hike. Add another 15 minutes onto that and the stop would be Ladybooth Riding Centre

in Edale for a gallop on the moors above the waters and forest of Ladybower and Derwent. Beautiful landscape and a blast of fresh air, plus a boost of adrenalin equals the perfect way to spend three hours on a Sunday!

After working up an appetite we come back into the city centre for food at The Milestone, and then to The Showroom to catch an offbeat late afternoon film. Another full weekend and by Sunday evening we will be back at the house for a snooze in front of the fire, ready for the roast in the oven from Saturday’s purchases plus a particularly good rifle through the Sunday papers. What more could you ask for?

8 9MADE Sheffield 2009/10 About SheffieldMADE Sheffield

“ Saturday evening is usually a visit to Nonna’s. A team with consummate knowledge of Italian food, wine and life, as well as faultless hospitality.”

In the Frame

F or over 1000 documentary makers and media heavyweights, there is only one place to be each November... For five

intense days, Sheffield’s cultural quarter becomes a boardroom and playground for a host of documentary makers, and for emerging new talent, could be the place where dreams are made.

Sheffield’s annual Doc/Fest is now the UK’s premiere documentary festival, celebrating the art and business of documentary making. The packed schedule of film showings, masterclasses and controversial discussion panels,

as well as the festival’s unique networking marketplace and pitching forums have earned the event world-wide recognition.

Now in its 16th year, the festival has expanded beyond all expectations, with attendance doubling year on year over the past four festivals. of course, with

a city that’s driven by innovation and originality, it’s little wonder that Doc/fest is moving forward and is now much more than a five-day event. Doc/Fest is a year-round service provider to the industry, with ongoing support, activities and workshops.

The festival is working to open up new markets for funding and embracing the future of new technologies; experimenting in cross-platform and interactive media. one of the ongoing projects the festival is producing are the Crossover Labs, an international programme which gives producers from across different genres training opportunities to prepare themselves for the digital and cross-platform world. This is in addition to monthly events at the heart of Doc/Fest, The Showroom, and pitch-training workshops around the world.

Doc/Fest is just as much about the people who make documentaries as it is about the art form itself. The festival’s MeetMarket is now one of the biggest draws to industry figures, where world-renowned documentary makers enter the

mix with emerging talent to pitch ideas and secure funding. This emphasis on relationship building and co-production between different countries has driven the ongoing success and notoriety of the festival.

Thanks to MeetMarket, over £4 million worth of deals were initiated during the event last year, with 53 unique projects pitched. Even globally recognised documentary maker, D. A. Pennebaker secured funding for his latest project The Collar, which will be shown at this year’s event. Charlie Phillips, the marketplace director of the festival, sees the Meetmarket as a ‘vital’ part of the documentary industry calendar. “It is especially important for the rest of the world to come and see what UK commissioners have to offer.”

FROM HOME-GROWN FILMS TO WORLDWIDE NAMES IN FILM-MAKING, DOC/FEST IS NOW FIRMLY IN PLACE AS THE MOST IMPORTANT DATE IN THE INDUSTRY CALENDAR.

“Doc/fest is the most important generator of finance into the documentary industry, but it also feeds off the thriving creative economy in the city itself.” over the years, film-makers have been making the annual pilgrimage to Sheffield, and the city has earned a reputation for being a top notch host, providing the perfect backdrop for creative relationships to flourish. Delegates appreciate what the city has to offer and welcome the chance to work in a communal and supportive environment.

As Charlie notes, Doc/Fest has also fed back into the city, and the future of the festival is perfectly tuned to the Sheffield’s development as the creative and digital heart of the UK. Heather Croall, Festival Director, says that the changes in Sheffield over recent years have made a big impact on delegates. “We have representatives attending Doc/Fest from large media companies such as the BBC, Channel 4, SKY, and Virgin.” “Most of our delegates have been coming to Sheffield year after year and they are amazed at the ongoing improvements to the city. It is a great opportunity

DOC FEST 2010

Above image: Heather Croal, Festival Director

12 132009/10 CultureMADE Sheffield

to show the digital media world that Sheffield means business as a city.” “Sheffield has an excellent reputation for having a wealth of companies working within the digital, games and interactive sectors and I hope we can help many creative businesses link up with others at the festival.”

Some of the greatest beneficiaries of the festival are those born out of the city itself. Sheffield documentary maker, Eve Wood’s newest offering will be debuted at the festival this year. A cultural documentary set in the recession-

hit Thatcher years, The Beat is the Law, shows the social and musical defiance of a city – Sheffield – through in-depth interviews with artists and eyewitnesses including Jarvis Cocker and Richard Hawley, together with unique 80’s archive footage and music.

From home-grown films to worldwide names in film-making, Doc/Fest is now firmly in place as the most important date in the industry calendar. This year’s festival is set to be the biggest and most influential yet, further pushing the boundaries of documentary

and media platforms and attracting leading people to the only city in the world it can call its home.

“ SOME OF THE GREATEST BENEFICIARIES OF THE FESTIVAL ARE THOSE BORN OUT OF THE CITY ITSELF.”

ShEFFiElD’S ANNuAl DOC FEST iS NOW ThE uK’S PrEMiErE DOCuMENTAry FESTivAl, CElEbrATiNG ThE ArT AND buSiNESS OF DOCuMENTAry MAKiNG.

14 MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Culture 15

Sheffield Theatres’ new Artistic Director, and Tony award nominee, Daniel Evans, is excited by the opportunity to fulfil his childhood dream of running a theatre in a city with which he feels a ‘special connection’.

Daniel Evans is brimming with infectious energy. Perched on a stool in the centre of London’s theatre district, he delivers an excited monologue about his new role as Sheffield Theatres’ Artistic Director, and a new chapter for the company itself.

O livier-award winning actor, Daniel Evans, officially took over the role of Artistic Director in June this year and

has been charged with launching the new season in 2010. This is a tough challenge at the best of times, however this will be no ordinary season for Sheffield Theatres.

The Crucible has undergone a massive £15.3m renovation and in February, when the new season launches, will have been in the dark for two long years. The pressure is on to impress; however Evans seems unfazed by the challenge. “Sheffield is full of theatre lovers and the feeling we have from the city is excitement, they are desperate for us to open and we are desperate to start producing again.”

For a star who had just returned from a stint on Broadway in New York, where he was nominated for a Tony award for his performance in Sunday in the Park with George, many people may ask: why Sheffield? However, having appeared on-stage at the Crucible in Cloud Nine and The Tempest it seemed a natural progression for Evans to fulfil his childhood dream of running a theatre in a city where he feels a special “connection”.

Now five months in, with his feet firmly under the table, Evans has a clear focus. He is intent on producing a programme of “relevant” shows, performances that reflect the values of Sheffield and resonate with its people. “I want the people of Sheffield to identify with the productions and I want to fuel topical debates, I want the theatre to speak to the city now.”

The first play on the new programme intends to do just that, and somewhat bravely, Evans is directing it himself. “I wanted to arrive with a bang. An Enemy of the People is a strong, civic play which I think people will identify with.” Following on from there is a strong

tapestry of productions, with the world premiere of Sisters, which tells the real life stories of Muslim women in Sheffield, American play True West and a new adaptation of Alice in Wonderland – called simply Alice – by a young Sheffield-based playwright, Laura Wade.

“ I THINK, CULTURALLY, SHEFFIELD IS ONE OF THE UK’S bEST KEPT SECrETS! CONSIDER THE SPHERE OF ART AND THEATRE, AND THERE ARE COUNTLESS, SMALLER COMPANIES THAT CREATE INNOVATIVE AND CHALLENGING WORK.”

It is with the impatience of a child at Christmas that Evans announces the Crucible’s housewarming season. With building not quite yet complete and paint drying on the walls, the Crucible will open its doors briefly at the close of 2009, with performances by Sheffield legend Richard Hawley, Jo Brand and Germaine Greer, as well as a new play, Confessions of a City, that brings together real people to reveal their personal experiences of Sheffield.

For all that is beginning, Evans is already thinking what he’d like his legacy in Sheffield to be. His goal is to “continue to deliver a richly mixed diet of productions”, which is something he sees as uniquely possible in the newly renovated Tudor Square.

The commercial draw of the Lyceum, which has attracted globally

successful musicals and dance acts, with the dynamic main stage of the Crucible and its sister Studio space, makes up Sheffield’s own diverse theatre-land.

on the new Crucible building itself Evans says it is very much about improving the audience experience, with entirely redesigned bar and cafe areas, workshop spaces and a new foyer. The theatre will also benefit from more advanced rigging and improved wardrobes, which will allow for the development of more ambitious projects.

“The iconic status of the Crucible will now shine through. The theatre will be a place where people don’t just come to see performances, they will hang out in the cafe or bar and there will be workshops going on and tours. “I want it to be both an awe-inspiring and welcoming place to be.” The changes to the theatre come at a time when the city is making a mark as a home of culture, with the bid to be the UK’s City of Culture well under way.

Evans is in full support of the bid, and is, unsurprisingly, excited once again at a mention of the proposal. “I think, culturally, Sheffield is one of the UK’s best kept secrets! Consider the sphere of art and theatre, and there are countless, smaller companies that create innovative and challenging work. When you think about all the galleries and dance venues in Sheffield, and the bands that have emerged from the city over the last thirty years you start to get my point. Art is everywhere in Sheffield.”

Evans’ drive towards inclusion is clear. When he talks about ‘our stage’ you get the feeling he is talking about more than just the close-knit team in the theatre. He is talking about the city. “The theatres belong to Sheffield, and they also have great national significance. The Crucible is undergoing a transformation, as is the city itself. I cannot wait to be part of the renaissance.”

“ THE CHANGES TO THE THEATRE COME AT A TIME WHEN THE CITY IS MAKING A MARK AS A HOME OF CULTURE.”

1918 MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Culture

Standing on the top tier podium as a gold-

medal winning World Champion, Jessica Ennis

had come a long way from a children’s sports

camp in Don Valley Stadium.

Standing on the top tier podium as a gold-medal winning World Champion, Jessica Ennis had come a long way from a

children’s sports camp in Don Valley Stadium. It was there, aged 10, that Ennis first set foot on the red tarmac which would propel her to global success. A shining example of determination, talent and hard-work, Ennis this year secured Britain’s first heptathlon gold medal in the World Championship’s 26-year-history – and her own future as one of Britain’s greatest sportswomen.

Her strength and all-round repertoire, which sees her taking hurdles, high jump, shot-put, javelin, long jump, sprints and races in her stride has wowed observers and smashed records. She dominated the World Championship event at the olympic Stadium in Berlin, which resulted in a final point’s tally of 6,731 – only 100 points short of the record set by Denise Lewis in the year she won the olympic gold. Since then Sheffield-born Jessica has been marked out

The journey hasn’t always been easy and the victory in Berlin couldn’t have come a day too soon for Ennis, who sees it as her “comeback” following a devastating injury last year. Just two months before the 2008 Beijing olympics, after months of dedicated training, Jessica suffered a dramatic triple stress fracture to her right foot, which destroyed her firmly-set plans to compete. Not only was she ruled out of the olympics, but it forced her to retrain entirely to take off from her other foot in the long jump.

The injury was a major set-back, both physically and emotionally and left the 23-year old wondering if her career might be cut short. She has called the year out a “disaster”, but fiercely determined Ennis has transformed adversity into success. “It was a horrible, horrible time, I had to get back into shape after taking a lot of time off and I worked really hard. To win the World’s this year was a dream come true.” Now no mention of Ennis’ success goes without a nod towards an olympic gold in 2012.

as firm favourite to win The Sports Personality of the Year Award when it takes place in her home city and as the athlete to bring home gold in 2012.

“ THE JOURNEY HASN’T ALWAYS BEEN EASY AND THE viCTOry iN bErliN COULDN’T HAVE COME A DAY TOO SOON FOR ENNIS.”

“It’s just a very weird feeling to be at this stage of my career. I started doing athletics when I was 10 and it was always a hobby, so now to be making this my living is just amazing.” Before a two-week summer sports camp, which she reluctantly went on during a summer holiday ten years ago, Ennis had no special interest in sport. However, she quickly realised she had a talent for athletics: “Coaches would come up to me and tell me I was quick but I also just started making friends and enjoying it. I started training and when I got another coach when I was 13, it all went from there.”

“of course, now everyone is focused on 2012, it’s extremely exciting, with it being in London and after what happened before Beijing. It’s going to be tough, it will be my first olympics but I’m hoping to bring home a gold medal.” Her hopes are matched by observers and bookmakers across the country, but she is keen not to get carried away. Anything other than presumptuous, she is a grafter and despite her world-wide acclaim, her feet remain firmly on the ground.

“ NOW IN THE RUN UP TO THE SPOrTS PErSONAliTy OF ThE yEAr AWArD, PLENTY OF EYES ARE ON ENNIS AND ON SHEFFIELD.

“There are more championships to focus on before the olympics, the World Indoors and European Championships another World Championships.” “I’m just training as hard as I can to do as well as I can in those events first.” After a brief break following her success

in Berlin, Sheffield University graduate Ennis has returned home to Sheffield, where her intense training is continuing every day.

From training in mid-Winter in Chelsea Park near her home, to working with advanced technology at the English Institute of Sport, Ennis has taken full advantage of the city she carved out her career, and is full of praise for its facilities and support structures for training sportsmen and women. “Sheffield is a great place to train as an athlete. We’ve got world class sports facilities like Ponds Forge and the support I received from the English Institute of Sport was really important during my recovery – I have always seen it as an important part of my success.”

Now in the run up to The Sports Personality of the Year Award, plenty of eyes are on Ennis and on Sheffield. of course, she is modest about her nomination, but sees the importance of the city hosting the event. “I’m really looking forward to the Awards. obviously it’s been an

amazing year already and I’d love to win something but just to be nominated is an honour.”

“I’m really looking forward to going but with it being in Sheffield it’s even more special. It’s really important we’re joining in with events like 2012 and hosting the Sports Personality of the Year Awards. It’s a great opportunity for people to get involved in sports and see what Sheffield can offer.” of course Jessica’s fierce determination, success and good looks will fare her well when it comes to gaining sponsorship, and she has been in high-demand since her win in August.

At 23 she’s a World Champion at the relative early stages of her career. With the dedication and drive that saw her return from a potentially career-ruining injury, and with the support of National Athletics coach, Toni Minichiello, it seems there’s no stopping Ennis. “There’s still so much I want to achieve, I’m thrilled to be World Champion but this is just the beginning.”

ThErE’S STill SO MuCh i WANT TO AChiEvE, i’M ThrillED TO bE WOrlD ChAMPiON buT ThiS iS juST ThE bEGiNNiNG.”

2322 MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Sport

Since it was announced in 2005 that London would be the host city for 2012, Sheffield has sprung into action to take

full advantage of what will be the world’s biggest sporting event.The city has strategically used sport as part of its ongoing regeneration, identifying early on that it is well placed to take make the most of the London 2012 Games, commercially and culturally.

“ ONE OF 2012’S BRIGHTEST HOPES, JESSICA ENNIS, IS ShiNiNG A liGhT ON ThE ExCEllENCE iN SPOrT THAT SHEFFIELD CAN PRODUCE.”

Working as a partnership called ‘Lighting the Flame for Sport’, organisations and individuals from across Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region have joined together to ensure the city and its people will directly benefit.

The Games are an opportunity for everyone in the city to get involved in sport. In 2009, 7500 people registered to take part in the Great Yorkshire Run and there are a series of sporting events lined up for 2010.

one of 2012’s brightest hopes, Jessica Ennis, is shining a light on the sporting excellence that Sheffield can produce. However, she is just one of a growing number of athletes nurtured in Sheffield.

Members of GB Boxing, GB Diving, the British Table Tennis Federation and GB Volleyball all base their high performance centres in the city.

Hosting the 2012 olympic and Paralympic Games brings massive opportunities. There are thousands of contracts related to London 2012 that can be fulfilled in Sheffield, as the city region boasts businesses with unique capabilities, and the skills and expertise to deliver this work.

Leading up to 2012, athletes from all over the world will visit the UK as part of their preparations, many basing themselves in Sheffield to take advantage of its world-class facilities and sport science expertise. Sheffield’s international sporting facilities, managed by Sheffield International Venues, and sports science support at Sheffield Hallam University and the English Institute of Sport, will enable Sheffield to host international teams and build relationships with countries from all over the world. In May 2009, Sheffield and Leeds signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Serbian olympic Committee and talks are on-going with the Brazilian and Chinese olympic Committees.

Mr Gustavo Satio Harada from the Brazilian olympic Committees technical department commented:

“Sheffield is not only a beautiful city with a great youth and full of life environment, but also has state of the art sport facilities, with which the Brazilian athletes would have all their needs for their 2012 preparation fulfilled.”

Central to Sheffield’s Major Sports Events and 2012 Programme is Gary Clifton from Sheffield City Council. He has been charged with managing and developing the line-up of major events in the city. Gary said:

“Sheffield has always been at the forefront of sporting success and that’s where we want to stay. London 2012 has provided a huge range of opportunities and we have been quick to take advantage and capitalise on what is the biggest sporting event in the world.” “Thanks to Sheffield’s history of hosting major events, the city has, more recently, been working with UK Sport and the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward, to bid for several events between now and 2012. We’ve been successful in securing the FINA Diving World Series for three consecutive years, the English open Table Tennis in 2009, the World Goalball Championships in 2010 and European Fencing Championships in 2011.”

In a city like Sheffield, an event like the olympic Games can make a really positive impact, it is up to the city now to make the most of it.

On the 31st October 2009 there were 1,000 days to go until the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic and

Paralympic Games, the biggest sporting event to be held in the UK in over 50 years.

lESS ThAN 1000 DAyS TO GO

Above image: Don Valley Stadium

24 252009/10 SportMADE Sheffield

High Ambition

Jerry Moffatt is a veritable legend of the climbing world, making history over the past twenty years with some of the most dangerous and impressive climbs in the sport.

H is story began with a pilgrimage to the Peak District. It was to here, driven out of school by his search for adrenalin

and his raw passion for climbing, that he made his way aged just 17 and began to set the standard for climbers everywhere. He slept rough for two years, living as close as he could to world-class climbs and immersing himself in the scene. The now famous ‘Stoney Woodshed’ that Moffatt called his home is a generously quaint name for the stark wood shelf set into a Stoney Middleton crag. With no shelter and no money to his name, Moffatt and a group of like-minded enthusiasts lived on white bread and tomato ketchup, just enough to sustain them until the next climb.

“When I look back I was addicted. We had no money because we were all on the dole, and would hitch rides across the Peak District to different routes. “We were chasing the thrill every day.” By the age of 18, Moffatt had already climbed the most difficult routes in the country, at some of the quickest speeds and had made a name for himself as the greatest climber in the UK.

“The emphasis then was on trying to climb dangerous routes. Danger was a huge part of it, I always wanted to push the mental side of it as well as the physical. Later on, I would drive my motorbike at breakneck speeds out to the Peaks then climb a rock face with no ropes. It was always about chasing a buzz.” When Moffatt began climbing in the 1980’s there was no money to be made in the sport. There was no sponsorship

and no competitions, yet this was all set to change when he set his sights on America’s challenging rock faces. Training in Stanage, in the depths of winter and sleeping in yet another desperate location – a “horrible little limestone cave” – Moffatt honed his skill and strength.

“ THE PEAK DISTRICT HAS SOME OF THE hArDEST rOuTES iN ThE WOrlD, AND SOME OF THE TOUGHEST.”

“I always wanted to drive myself and be the best, try the hardest routes and do them in the fastest time. I knew that America was where I had to go to prove myself.” In America, his ascent of some of the hardest routes in the world put him in the limelight and gathered industry attention. It was here that the sponsorship deals began to roll in. However in 1985, after years of unrelenting climbing, a poor diet and unforgiving living circumstances, the effects of Jerry’s lifestyle took its toll.

He suffered an injury to his elbow, which was eventually diagnosed as compressed nerves and put him out of action for nearly two years. However, never one to be beaten, Moffatt came back from his injury with a vengeance and entered into the newly competitive world of climbing, and sweeping up at global events. In 1989 he won the first ever World Cup competition and in 1990 he named Liquid Amber, a first ascent which he claims to be his proudest moment to date. “When you climb a piece of rock that no-one has done before, you can name it whatever you want, and you grade it. Then other people try to repeat it. Some of mine weren’t repeated for a very long time. Even now, Liquid Amber has only been done a couple of times.”

In 2002, Moffatt named The Ace, in Stanage, a new addition to his double figured list of first ascents in the Peaks. But this marked the end of professional climbing for Moffatt, and he gave up a life of climbing to pursue business and family commitments. Now living in Sheffield, Moffatt co-owns the Foundry climbing wall and despite having travelled across the globe to climb, still has ultimate respect for the rocks to be found on his doorstep. “The Peak District has some of the hardest routes in the world, and some of the toughest. It really is world class and the scene in Sheffield and the Peaks is second to none.

“There are a few really good climbing walls, universities and colleges with massive climbing scenes, all on the doorstep of the Peak District.” He mentions taking his two young children out to the Peaks, to the place he spent so much of his youth training, but he stands firm on the idea of them getting involved in the sport. “Not a chance, it’s far too dangerous. No climbing or motorbikes, they can play golf instead.”

His autobiography, revelations, has been shortlisted for the 2009 Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature, another highlight to add to his unending success story. When it is suggested he may not win the award, a glint of Moffatt’s sheer determination shines through: “I’d cause a scene and walk out of the ceremony,” he laughs, “It was rigged!!... There’s no point in even going if I’m not going to win.”

He jokes, but you get the impression he is deadly serious and that it is this attitude which has taken him to the height of his success, ever since those cold nights in the Stoney Woodshed.

“ThE PEAK DiSTriCT hAS SOME OF ThE hArDEST rOuTES iN ThE WOrlD, AND SOME OF ThE TOuGhEST. iT rEAlly iS WOrlD ClASS AND ThE SCENE iN ShEFFiElD AND ThE PEAKS iS SECOND TO NONE.”

26 MADE Sheffield

MADE iN ShEFFiElD

Olympian Bobsleigh champion, Kristan Bromley and his brother Richard had one dedicated mission when they created Bromley Ice Sports; to develop the fastest, prize-winning Skeleton Bobsleighs possible.

T he Bromley brothers have come a long way since creating Bromley Ice Sports. They are now one of Sheffield’s strongest

innovation companies, and Bromley’s equipment has helped secure over 40 world class prizes, including two olympic medals. Kristan became the first athlete in the world to win the ‘triple crown’ of Skeleton Bobsleigh Championships in one year during 2008, and his fiancée Shelley Rudman clinched silver with Great Britain’s only olympic medal in the 2006 Torino games. She is currently world number two.

These ongoing successes have been realised through the innovation and success of Bromley Ice Sports, the growth of the company which is now Bromley Technologies, and the unique combination of sport, engineering, science and technology

behind their products – what they refer to as ‘Athlete inspired technology’.

As the company expanded in both size and scope, it needed a home that would complement its drive towards research and development success and high-end manufacturing. So, in october 2006 Bromley Technologies relocated to the Advanced Manufacturing Park, following Kristan’s appointment to an associate Professor position and Shelley’s Honorary Teaching Fellow post in Sheffield Hallam University’s Centre for Sports and Exercise Science.

Now, as well as designing and manufacturing the elite sled, Bromley Technologies is expanding into the commercial market. The company are working with a select number of key local businesses to undertake a range of projects including the development of a

range of innovative adrenaline fuelled winter sports products, and is looking to take a slice of a global sports market worth around $500bn per year.

The product range will be created using the team’s expertise in elite sport, aerospace and Formula one engineering and R&D into new high performance materials. This new chapter adds another string to the bow of a company that want to ‘continually push the boundaries of conventional thinking’.

“ REMEMBER IN BOBSLEIGH COMPETITION, YEARS OF DEDICATION ARE CONDENSED INTO A 2.5 MiNuTE WiNDOW FOr SuCCESS.”

In this vein, it is not surprising that Bromley Technologies is going

further than bobsleighs and winter sports. The company is currently undertaking a range of business activities, from motorsport to medical, ice-sports to satellites. Under the Bromley Technologies banner, the company now has two divisions in addition to Bromley Sports. The design consultancy, PES Performance Engineering Solutions and R&D focused, Team Innovation are all part of the Bromley Technologies stable and have secured their place as one of Sheffield’s strongest innovation companies.

operations Director, Mike Maddock, himself a former Skeleton bobsleigh athlete, Royal Navy diver and operations Director with a large leisure retail company, saw qualities of clear focus and dynamics in these opportunities to drive Bromley Technologies forward. “Remember in bobsleigh competition, years of dedication are condensed into a 2.5

minute window for success. There is no room for error. This philosophy is key to our core values, the pillars of our business – performance, innovation and cutting-edge technologies.

The company has benefitted from the opportunities that have arisen from locating in the AMP, somewhere that innovation is celebrated and collaboration with surrounding high-end technology businesses is encouraged. Bromley have done this with ease, and they now work closely with both Dormer and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

“ FURTHER THAN BOBSLEIGHS AND WINTER SPORTS. THE COMPANY IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A RANGE OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES, FROM MOTORSPORT TO MEDICAL, ICE-SPORTS TO SATELLITES.”

Maddock has seen the benefits of relocating to Sheffield first hand: “The Advanced Manufacturing Park is the perfect environment for any business with innovation at its heart to ensure we take the lead in our market. The businesses on the park are immersed in advanced manufacturing and understand the challenges of designing and manufacturing high performance materials which fully compliment our business”

With a 15 year pedigree, the business is now preparing to look for investment to take it to the next exciting stage and launch a number of innovative and potentially market disruptive products. With a body of core staff that has experience with McLaren, Toyota F1 and Reynard, and in medical and satellite projects, the Bromley Team is more than ready to take the next step and is perfectly placed in Sheffield’s AMP to do so.

28 29MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Innovation

In an uncharacteristic show of good fortune, Wimbledon was blessed with sunshine this year, Cliff Richard didn’t sing and spirits were high.

Part of the success of Wimbledon was due to the highly innovative and much disputed retractable roof for Wimbledon’s Centre Court, which was formally revealed to the public in June 2009. What many of the players and fans didn’t know was that this was carefully designed and created by a Sheffield company, SCX.

The Wincobank-based company worked on the project for five years, after they were aproached to create a state-of the-art retractable roof for Wimbledon. Simon Eastwood of SCX in Sheffield said: “It’s probably the most technical handling solution ever in the world!

“Most other moving machinery only uses one method of moving, but because the Wimbledon roof is bow-shaped, it has three methods of moving. “The biggest problem with that is synchronising the motors and the actuators and knowing exactly where the roof is at any one time. Technically it was an enormous challenge.” The initial brief was to make sure the roof at Wimbledon closed in 10 minutes so that at the first signs of rain, the courts would stay dry. As it turns out, rain proved only a fleeting problem but saw the roof spring into action briefly, when it managed to cover the court in just eight minutes.

The Made in Sheffield roof also allowed matches to continue after darkness fell. Andy Murray, who called the roof “beautiful” sealed the latest victory in Wimbledon history, with finishing time of 10.30pm. With advanced technology that tested the atmospherics, the whole centre court could be maintained at a certain heat and humidity for prolonged periods of time, and play could resume in record time.

ANDY MURRAY, WHO CALLED THE ROOF “BEAUTIFUL” SEALED THE LATEST VICTORY IN WIMBLEDON HISTORY, WITH FINISHING TIME OF 10.30PM.

Eastwood is proud of the work his team has done: “We’ve got a really strong technical department and we pride ourselves on solving very technical difficulties in mechanical handling.” The 3,000-tonne roof was a huge success, with legendary players and dedicated fans giving their seal of approval. Now the company is looking forward to other cutting edge manufacturing, capitalising on an innovative manufacturing knowledge which has allowed them to work on high-profile projects such as a retractable turf crossing at Ascot racecourse.

MAKiNG A NET PrOFiTSheffield has a history of producing cutting edge design, and truly great design solves real problems. Usable, problem-solving design is something Sheffield Hallam University graduates and entrepreneurs, Allen Holland and William Parsons are dedicated to. Two years ago they formed Quick Play Sports with Steven Crosby with the aim of solving sporting problems, simply, through innovation and design. Their inspiration came after years of lugging heavy, complicated goal posts to football matches, using traffic cones or ‘a pair of well placed trees if you were lucky’.

over two years they worked on an innovative design for portable goal posts. The result was Kickster, a light-weight portable football net. Kickster has become so successful that they turned down a cash investment offer from Duncan Bannatyne on the BBC’s design and innovation show, Dragon’s Den. They have already designed similar nets for hockey and lacrosse and are continuing to innovate and design new sports products.

“one of the key reasons we stayed in Sheffield and started our company here was the support we received from Sheffield Hallam University and their Enterprise Centre. They also host a competition for student business start-ups, which Will and I won in 2006 and really helped us on our way.”

Tell the world it’s Made in Sheffield. The Mark of Quality Products. www.madeinsheffield.org

rAiSiNG ThE rOOF AT WiMblEDON

30 MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Innovation 31

Why EvEry GAME iS A hOME GAME

hOME TO ThE WOrlD’S OlDEST FOOTbAll TEAM, AND WiTh A hiSTOry OF SuCCESSFully hOSTiNG MAjOr SPOrTiNG EvENTS, ShEFFiElD iS A PErFECT hOST CiTy FOr ThE 2018 WOrlD CuP.

Crossing all language barriers and cultural divides, the FIFA World Cup is one of the most widely recognised and religiously followed sporting events on the planet.

When England reached the quarter finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup

in Germany, it was watched by a domestic audience of 30 million people, and 24 billion people worldwide. over 300 million Euros were spent and 85,000 new jobs were created. Now England wants to bring this global competition home, launching a bid to host the 2018 tournament. From Gordon Brown to David Beckham, household names have been showing their support for the campaign.

In July, along with 15 other cities across the country, Sheffield began a bid to become a FIFA World Cup Host City – a place where football history could be made. A unified city campaign, ‘Sheffield 2018’ is now in full swing, being led by a high level team of delegates who are working to generate support for the bid. Hosting such a large-scale event as the FIFA World Cup

would be an unparalleled showcase for Sheffield, at a time when it has reaped the benefits from years of development and placing it on the world map as a centre of sporting excellence.

“ THE SUCCESS OF THE SHEFFIELD 2018 BID WILL HELP builD A rElATiONShiP bETWEEN ThE CiTy AND ThE rEST OF ThE WOrlD, FUELLING SPORTS PARTICIPATION AND BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.”

on top of the massive progression Sheffield has made over recent years, winning a campaign to host the World Cup can only help push the city further into the future. The bid already has strong support from partners across the city including both professional football clubs who are already making headway on expanding the city’s stadia. But the campaign isn’t just about football. The opportunities that an event of this scale can bring will benefit every person living in the city. Wayne Coyle, bid director for Sheffield 2018, is keen to stress the positive effects the campaign could

have: “The benefits economically are huge but we’re also using this campaign, and 2012, as a catalyst to drive developments that are already in the pipeline. It’s about using the event to tackle wider issues. We’re already undertaking initiatives which address social, health and education agendas. “People often talk about legacy post event but we’re talking about legacy pre-event. We’re not waiting for changes to happen. We want to use the inspiration of the event now to create positivity, whether it be through jobs or a change of lifestyle.

“There is a feel good factor surrounding the World Cup but it has to be deep rooted in creating real opportunities in the city.” It is only with the firm support of the city’s residents that the campaign will succeed, and there is already a swell of engagement. ‘Back the Bid’ days have taken place at schools and friendly football games are underway to increase awareness of the bid. When Germany hosted the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, the country’s tourist industry enjoyed a $400m uplift. Hundreds of businesses benefited from 2 million international visitors

and a total of 3.3m spectators, many of them watching on big-screens in city centres. The success of the Sheffield 2018 bid will help build a relationship between the city and the rest of the world, fuelling sports participation and bringing communities together. As a proudly multi-cultural city, Sheffield can celebrate its diverse community through the tournament, engaging with similar cities throughout the

world. The FA itself invests £38m per year into grassroots football. 32,000 schools encourage children to play with 17,000 primary schools among them. These children are the future of football in this country, and they will be inspired by having the world’s greatest players on their doorsteps. Former England Cricket Captain, Michael Vaughan, has shown his support for the bid. “I think it’s fantastic that England

is bidding to host the 2018 World Cup Bid and it would be tremendous for Sheffield to see international players coming to the city.”

“ HOSTING SUCH A LARGE- SCALE EVENT AS THE FIFA WORLD CUP WOULD BE AN UNPARALLELED SHOWCASE FOR SHEFFIELD.”

Now the Sheffield 2018 bid is relying on Sheffield to act together, showing mass support to Back the Bid and see World Cup games hosted in Sheffield. Wayne Coyle is determined that Sheffield makes it onto the list of 12 candidate host cities, to be announced in December, “We have a unique offering here in Sheffield, with a strong history of football, the rules were written here and we have the oldest team. “We want to bring football home – Sheffield wouldn’t be Sheffield without football but football wouldn’t be football without Sheffield.”

“ ThErE ArE TWO FANTASTiC STADiA iN ShEFFiElD STEEPED iN hEriTAGE, bOTh OF WhiCh ArE COMMiTTED TO PrOGrAMMES FOr iMPrOvEMENT TO bOOST CAPACiTy. ShEFFiElD PrOvED TO bE A GrEAT hOST AT EurO ’96 AND iT WOulD bE ThE PErFECT hOST CiTy FOr ThE 2018 WOrlD CuP.” GOrDON bANKS, ObE

Gordon Banks, oBE

3534 MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Innovation

liFE iN ThE superfast lane

Possibly without you realising, a technological transformation is taking place in Sheffield. Digital Region is a development of Superfast Broadband that will stretch across South Yorkshire. The network construction has now begun and will be delivered in stages over the next three years.

Once completed, the project has the potential to become the largest open-access next generation super-fast

broadband platform in the world. Rob Chorley, Transformation Manager at Thales UK, supports the development and creation of new businesses within the region and guides those businesses towards delivering new innovative services. He explains what it all means: Effectively Digital Region will turn Superfast Broadband into the ‘fourth utility’ in South Yorkshire, like gas, electricity or water, connecting 550,000 homes, 40,000 business and a very large number of local government and NHS buildings in the region and giving them access to a guaranteed 25Mb/sec internet speed.

So is it just Superfast broadband? It’s much more than that. In terms of home use, people will have access to up to four separate networks in their house, each of which can be used at the same time for different applications, but they won’t have any effect on the speed of each other.

A family could use one network for entertainment, one for business, one for medical usage and one for education all at the same time, each with different levels of security and quality. It won’t matter if your son is watching a movie and you’re doing the food shopping online, the quality and speed of the both services will be just as good. This matters if you don’t want your movies to be jittery and it really matters if you are using equipment that is remotely monitoring your health.

Who will benefit from Digital Region? Everyone in the region has the potential to benefit from this major investment. It could be through the creation of new jobs in the Creative and Digital industries or indirectly, in providing services to these people. Digital Region will give them

opportunities to work from home, maybe in a virtual call centre or undertaking administrative tasks for major companies from their own front room.

There are also benefits in terms of health, social inclusion and education. These are things that will affect the lives of the people living in Sheffield in real terms. It will create new ways of educating people, giving schools and colleges the opportunity to reach out to the homes of people. It will also allow the NHS to design new ways to deliver care by allowing medical specialists to speak with patients via their TV in their own living rooms. This is a massive opportunity for social good.

What about the businesses in the city? Well, the economic and social benefits of Digital Region are reflexive and will feed into one another. Businesses that are already in the city will have new ways to access and communicate with their customers. They can effectively plug in to a network that connects right into 550,000 homes of potential customers

and also connects to 40,000 other businesses across the region.

New companies will be able to grow in this way but, importantly, businesses from outside the city will be attracted to locating in Sheffield because the city will have a unique digital communication offering. All these new and growing companies will need support services and jobs will be created.

So will it change the way people work? of course, there’s lots of transactional work done in expensive places now but the potential to work from home is growing and with Digital Region each business can have their own private network. You could just ‘log on’ to your company’s network from home instead of going into an office or call centre, and this would apply across the whole region.

We will be in the vanguard of how people work, drawing business out of somewhere like London where it is more expensive to operate, and up to Sheffield. Sheffield could become a place synonymous with innovation and delivery of new digital services.

But surely other places have similar broadband structures? Digital Region is the first network of this scale using this technology. So Sheffield will be extremely well placed in the government’s Digital Britain plans and will be leading the way in all future UK developments, putting us at the forefront in terms of what we can offer creative and digital businesses.

If cutting-edge companies or big digital organisations want to develop and test out products, a platform like Digital Region is one of the only ways they can do that so they will come to Sheffield. Big corporates such as Microsoft or Google have got an awful lot to gain by proving that their products can be used and Digital Region provides that for them. The tech buzz in the city will be incredible.

Google and Microsoft are big names, but what about small businesses? one of the exciting parts is the innovation and technology that this will allow, which will help small companies to grow rapidly within the Digital Region. If they take hold of the opportunity, they could be

the service providers of the future. Business start-ups and developing businesses will flourish and benefit from the support structures that are set up. As well as helping existing businesses, it will encourage start-ups.

So how do we get the best out of this? It is imperative that all of the local government bodies, agencies, public services, universities, colleges and corporate organisations align behind the opportunity Digital Region brings to Sheffield. If we get a real focus on economic and social transformation supported by the next generation network, Sheffield will be firmly established on the map as the place to start your new digital enterprise.

Digital Region is a vision of the future. The weather may not be as good as California’s Silicon Valley but the countryside is nicer and the economic climate created by Digital Region will make Sheffield the natural destination for tech startups.

ONCE COMPlETED, ThE PrOjECT hAS ThE POTENTiAl TO bECOME ThE lArGEST OPEN- ACCESS NExT GENErATiON SuPEr-FAST brOADbAND PlATFOrM iN ThE WOrlD

36 37MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Business

We’re proud of SheffieldAt Sheffield Hallam University, we’re leading the charge to make Sheffield one of the most exciting places in the world to live, work and play.

Working with partners across the city, we use our world-class facilities and expertise to drive a range of inspiring developments. From sport to architecture to film and culture - we’re helping to make the world aware of everything that’s great about Sheffield.

And our 30,000 students make a huge contribution to the local economy, both while studying here, and on graduation, when many go into industry in the region.

Find out more at www.redefiningthecity.com and www.shu.ac.uk

3Squared LLP is a software development and website design company who are already seeing the benefits of Digital Region. They are leading the way in creating future—focused innovative digital technology — the kind of technology is quickly becoming synonymous with Sheffield.

Founding partner and Sheffield Hallam University graduate, Tim Jones explains: We’ve just launched our new Digital Signage product, Astron, which is a next generation digital signage application. It is innovative from top to bottom. one aspect which is exciting is the software’s facial recognition capabilities which enables people to experiment with advertising and content on demand. This assesses the viewer’s age, sex and gender and transmits tailored information and promotions as they view the billboard or advert. For example it will be possible to create a Gillette Ladies Razor advertisement that will only be displayed when the majority of the audience looking

at the screen is female and aged between 20-30. The possibilities are endless with this type of technology, like using facial expressions to interact with the adverts and screens at a train station for example, the advertisement could ask the audience to ‘smile’ if you were happy with your train service today or frown if you’re not instantly capturing the data as a poll.

We’re also looking into developing a community TV version of Astron within the Digital Region, working in partnership with local councils and public bodies to deliver public service information and other relevant content. This type of innovation will just expand thanks to Digital Region. We’re really excited about leveraging the power of the new Superfast Broadband infrastructure and using it to experiment with Astron’s technology. Digital Region has already started to open up new business opportunities and will help us as a business grow as we look to deliver our software and services further afield. It is going to enable

us to collaborate with other companies to create new and exciting digitally delivered products. It will also enable us to compete within the increasingly popular software as a service market.

ONE ASPECT WHICH IS ExCITING IS THE SOFTWARE’S FACIAL RECOGNITION CAPABILITIES WHICH ENABLES PEOPLE TO ExPERIMENT WITH ADVERTISING AND CONTENT ON DEMAND.

Because of the current economic climate many organisations are looking for alternative ways of accessing software and with Digital Region we will be able to take lead in the Software as a Service model, which allows organisations like us to deliver access to software over the internet when required, meaning no initial hardware or technical installation. Digital Region is certainly going to put Sheffield on the map as the place to be for digital innovation and experimentation.

iNNOvATivE DiGiTAl TEChNOlOGy

392009/10 Business

buCKiNG ThE TrEND

For over 40 years, leading financial and business advisors Grant Thornton have been providing services to local, national and multinational businesses from Sheffield.

Each year the international business services organisation produce a Business Confidence Survey from their

Sheffield office, which is sent out to 1,500 business leaders to understand their views on working within the region. over the difficult economic times, business confidence has typically waned however the 2009 survey showed much more positivity in the city and a view that Sheffield is beginning to drive out of the recession.

Across the city region, double the number of businesses expected to see a marked improvement in the market up to May 2010. Looking at their survey in more focus, Grant Thornton were able to identify the reasons for a return to confidence in Sheffield. The survey showed that many businesses in the city have been well suited to take advantage of the recession. The city’s extremely strong manufacturing

base has a portfolio of niche engineering companies. These export companies have used good exchange rates to bucking the trend to move forward. In addition, increased unemployment has meant that the labour supply/demand equation has been favouring businesses. With two Universities providing around 15,000 new graduates each year, and with approximately one third of the working age population qualified to degree level standard, the talent pool for local businesses is of a consistently high-quality.

“ SHEFFIELD NOW HAS A RANGE OF WOrlD ClASS SuPPliErS WHO CAN COMPETE WITH THE BEST IN A RANGE OF SECTORS.”

Although over three quarters of small businesses – those with turnover between £1m-£10m regard local sourcing as important – this hasn’t always been the case for bigger companies. The survey showed that a recent shift has seen larger organisations choosing to source locally and boost the environmental and cost benefits available. Sheffield now has a range of world class suppliers who can

compete with the best in a range of sectors. Paul Houghton, a partner at Grant Thornton Sheffield, sees this trend as a key way in which businesses should be working: “More and more local suppliers are able to provide Sheffield business with the best products and services in many sectors, and local sourcing should perhaps be reconsidered by the leaders of larger business. “Some smaller businesses have bought locally for years – perhaps the current cost pressure to reconsider suppliers will be a wake-up call for their bigger cousins.

“There are also wider implications to travel than just the monetary cost. For one person to travel from Leeds to Sheffield for the day incurs a minimum two hours travel time and an environmental cost of 18.8kg Co2 by car or 6kg Co2 by train. “Stakeholders used to be unaware of these types of statistics, but those days are past. Boards now have to justify the environmental impact of their actions. Put more positively, buying locally can not only provide the same service at a better price, but also improves a business’ green credentials.” “It is now hard to justify going to other cities for professional services when the quality in Sheffield is so high.”

GrANT ThOrNTON

41

Want bend-ability in your working life? Come to Sheffield.Recent research conducted by orange UK put Sheffield as the leading ‘Flexi-Town’ in Britain, with 32% of the city’s companies offering flexible working. That’s over twice as many as other cities like Liverpool and Brighton. orange UK Vice President of Business, Paul Tollet said “it’s great that over half of the UK working population is able to take advantage of flexible working”. The survey results show that 72% of businesses believe flexible working boosts company morale and more than half think it improves productivity and staff retention.

For those who live and work in the city, the news comes as no surprise. With businesses in sectors as diverse as sustainable energy, sport, high speed manufacturing, e-learning, nano and micro technology and digital content, Sheffield is a city where innovation is at the heart of economic success.

If you are looking to invest in, or relocate to, the UK’s most flexible place to work, Sheffield is the city for you.

Find out more at www.creativesheffield.co.uk

2009/10 Business

Sheffield is renowned for its ‘can-do’ attitude, so in the face of the economic downturn and terrible weather, our proactive city has produced one of the liveliest summers to date. Partners

from across the city have worked tirelessly together to keep Sheffield busy and vibrant. This confident and ambitious approach is truly reflected by The Wheel of Sheffield, which was brought to the city by Sheffield City Council’s City Centre Management Team, and has had an impressive 90,000 visitors since it opened – a striking illustration of a summer full of big and bold activities.

The summer kicked off in June with the Wednesday Night Live programme, pulled together by Creativesheffield to create a lively city centre environment, develop the early evening economy and drive footfall around the city. Despite the non-appearance of the predicted ‘barbeque summer’, this year has seen live music and events take place in Leopold Square, the Peace Gardens, Sheaf Square, West one and the Winter Garden, as well as many offers and deals from bars and restaurants and extended opening hours from a number of the city’s favourite shops.

“ IN THE FACE OF A RECESSION, IT IS EVIDENT THAT ShEFFiElD hAS TAKEN ThE bull by ThE hOrNS, CREATING A YEAR TO REMEMBER.”

There has been a key focus on supporting retailers in Sheffield City Centre with new events such as Memo Market and Sheffield Retail Week, and the launch of www.shop-sheffield.com and Sheffield Showcase. Memo Market, created by Creativesheffield and Lark PR in July, gathered 42 of Sheffield’s best independent brands all together in one place for the first time ever. The market helped to promote Sheffield’s independent nature which differentiates our city from others in the UK, as well as supporting our local independent businesses. We hope that Memo Market will become a regular fixture in the city’s events calendar. Sheffield Showcase, a scheme funded by Sheffield City Council to brighten up unused window displays, has offered a platform for local businesses and creative individuals to contribute to the improvement of their city and created jobs and training opportunities for Visual Merchandising students from The Source Retail Academy.

This Summer, Sheffield showed its strong music credentials with three major events taking place in the city. Sheffield Music City created an ‘Urban Glastonbury’ with a headline concert from Reverend and the Makers on Devonshire Green and appearances from Pixie Lott, Little Boots and Just Jack to name just a few. Sheffield Music City, and the associated Tramlines festival, attracted thousands of visitors to the city centre and the businesses reaped the benefits. Well done to Sheffield City Council and other partners for making this fantastic event happen!

WARP Record’s 20th anniversary celebrations, which were supported by Creativesheffield, provided a nod back to Sheffield’s musical heritage with a free Warp Films event at the iconic Park Hill Flats. Celebratory birthday parties have taken place in Paris, New York, Tokyo, London and, most importantly, WARP’s birth place in Sheffield. Sheffield also played host to a massive performance from U2 at Don Valley Stadium, one of only four gigs in the UK which was a massive coup for Sheffield. The event is estimated to have boosted the city’s economy by a massive £10m with a crowd of 50,000 people at Don Valley and Sheffield’s 2,500 hotel bed spaces filled.

This is testament to the efforts of SIV and the other partners involved. “Towards the end of 2009, the Magners’ Grin Up North Comedy festival took place in october, and was one of the largest events of its kind in England this year, with a staggering 83,000 seats. In November, Doc/Fest proved to be another hugely successful event, bringing the best in the TV and film business to Sheffield. And finally, in December BBC Sports Personality of the Year from the Arena. What a great way to round off 2009!” “In the face of a recession, it is evident that Sheffield has taken the bull by the horns, creating a year to remember. Long may this attitude continue into 2010 and beyond!”

Let us line up some inspirational venues, indulgent incentives and fabulous experiences for your delegates in Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley or Doncaster. After all, we are only 90 minutes from London!

To discuss your requirements please call our friendly team on 0871 700 2214or check out some new ideas at yorkshiresouth.com/conference

INDULGE

INSPIRE

CELEBRATE

FROM O2 TO U2... OUR CLIENTS KNOW HOWOUR VENUES AND IDEAS CAN MAKE ANY EVENT TRULY EXHILARATING.

P2128 Square Meal Ad_dev2.indd 1 26/11/2009 16:55

A SuMMEr OF SuCCESS

432009/10 Business

ShEFFiElD NEW STOriES FrOM A NEW ChAPTEr

Stories help motivate and inspire, they win hearts and minds, and if you want to stand out from the crowd they can help build a competitive point of difference.

WRITTEN BY Michael Hayman

Sheffield is a city that has an abundance of great stories and it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to this edition of MADE, which captures excellence from around the city. I grew up in

Sheffield in the 1980’s. The city has changed a great deal since then. It is not only that the built environment has changed; there are new environments for opportunity; and a new narrative for our city that is based on confidence.

It couldn’t have come at a more important time. Sheffield is facing a competitive challenge and as the reality of recession moves to the prospect of recovery the cities that are best placed to reap benefits are those who have used time wisely.

Those on the inside know Sheffield has been transformed and that it is a city on the move. It is now a strong contender on the shortlists for many looking at the UK and Europe for investment opportunity and it scores highly in the key benchmarking surveys that look at quality investment locations.

We have exciting initiatives on the horizon that will boost this appeal. Take the new Digital Region that will transform opportunities for residents and businesses alike. It will provide unparalleled internet power and places Sheffield at the forefront of the knowledge economy.

In the field of digital media and in creative businesses, some of the work that is going on in Sheffield now is absolutely transformational – it is a major point of competitive difference. In the Twentieth Century Made in Sheffield became a brand that stood for quality and innovation. In our new century this brand personality sits perfectly with the demands of new markets, where new ideas and creativity will design and deliver the jobs and prosperity of tomorrow.

“ BUT THE PROSPECT OF RECOVERY IS ONE THAT ShOulD SuiT A CiTy huNGry FOr SuCCESS WITH A GREAT STORY TO TELL”

So, Sheffield as a digital capital city will be as important to our brand tomorrow as steel has been to our identity in the past. Kids in Sheffield schools today will need to be educated for high value jobs that are only concepts with no job titles as yet. It’s part of the speed of change, a chance and an opportunity that is phenomenally exciting for the Sheffield story of the future.

This celebration of innovation is by no means only centred on technology. The BBC Sports Personality of the Year has found a great and welcome home in Sheffield. Sport is in the blood, not only at a competitive level but also at a business level where Sheffield firms are enhancing performance through design. These factors make Sheffield a destination city for world class trade and tourism, for education and as a home to talented people. If destinations are places where people want to be then we have a great deal to offer.

But we also have big challenges ahead. Some of our story does not travel far and wide. It is particularly disappointing when outdated perceptions persist. We need more people to understand the opportunity and urban renaissance that has delivered a new chapter for the city. This is a big part of the reason why brand matters as it helps communicate change.

“ SO, SHEFFIELD AS A DIGITAL CAPITAL CITY WILL BE AS iMPOrTANT TO Our brAND TOMOrrOW AS STEEL HAS BEEN TO OUR IDENTITY IN THE PAST.”

Take this fact, a recent survey stated that 78% of the value of the Fortune 500 rested on intangible assets such as brand, perception and positioning. The same factors that drive the success of Apple and Google will drive the success of Sheffield. Brand matters and we have always understood as a city the power of perception, both good and bad.

on a global stage, Sheffield is a great brand name and the Made In Sheffield brand has taken us into the homes, restaurants and boardrooms of the world. Today, people’s appreciation of the city needs to be updated and enhanced with new powerful messages about what is happening on the ground.

From the digital region, to the capital of culture or 2018 Host World Cup City bid; from hosting the BBC Sports Personality of the Year we are finding new and inventive ways to get that message through. These occasions are pivotal in winning minds to think about our city and we have developed a bid mentality to win major events for Sheffield.

The whole process of bidding itself is a positive one. It brings together public and private coalitions of the willing and the teamwork that can act as a major catalyst for change.

“ SPOrT iS iN ThE blOOD, NOT ONLY AT A COMPETITIVE LEVEL BUT ALSO AT A BUSINESS LEVEL WHERE SHEFFIELD FIRMS ARE ENhANCiNG PErFOrMANCE ThrOuGh DESiGN...”

There is no doubt that recession is a tough road to travel. It has hit the powerful and the weak, no one has been immune. But the prospect of recovery is one that should suit a city hungry for success with a great story to tell. This journey is going to require signposts that guide people with inspiring messages and new ideas. We have an exciting battle to win and that is the battle of the mind.

And the tangible benefit? Energy. Energy through investors, residents and tourism. Energy by releasing the potential of the city as a place to live, work and invest.

We hope that you will find some of that energy in the pages of MADE and we hope you want to know more about Sheffield, a city with a new story to tell.

MiChAEl hAyMAN Michael is a non-executive director of Creative Sheffield and chairs the Marketing Sheffield working group. He is a partner and co-founder of Seven Hills, a public relations and brand positioning consultancy.

He is the author of a series of award winning reports and is a regular media commentator and public speaker.

There is one thing that all great brands have in common and that is a great story. It’s a weave that unites companies and cities and in today’s world it is increasingly the case that the best story wins.

44 45MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Business

As Sheffield develops physically and culturally, with skyscrapers shooting up across the city, an iconic landmark is being thrust into the limelight and a new, design led meeting space created — or as the designers would have you think an ‘ideas factory’.

The 93ft Chimney House stands as a symbol of Sheffield’s past, rising proudly from Kelham Island’s waterways. It has now been transformed into a meeting area and exhibition space which reflects the city’s future. Previously used as an integral part of industrial Kelham

Island, the Grade II listed building has been brought back to life from dereliction to fit firmly into city life, and brings a new professional offering to the city. Described as a ‘joining-up’ point and a way to connect, geographically Sheffield is best explained as a place that is two hours from London, and next to Manchester, Leeds, and Nottingham. In the heart of Britain, the city can now offer meeting spaces that rival those in larger cities.

Sheffield is quickly making its mark as the digital home of Britain, and will soon have one of the most advanced broadband platforms

in the world. The need to provide quality, design led and inspiring meeting places will quickly follow – it seems the Chimney House can do just that. The Meeting Room itself is a space available for exhibitions, film showings, meetings, debates and anything else you can think up. It also taps into the resources of the two permanent residents of The Chimney House; creative design agency 93ft and LARK for PR and events support. These companies are there to provide advice, support and consultancy to companies using The Meeting Room if required.

ThE

C

hiM

NE

y

hO

uS

E A hOT NEW MEETiNG SPACE iN ShEFFiElD

Helen Sharman,

aged 7.

DreamBigger

Dreams.Working with local schools, colleges and communities to raise aspirations.

Image posed by model.46 472009/10 Business

liTTlE ChEF’S biG COMEbACK

Until 18 months ago, Little Chef was a brand seemingly in decline. Years of under-investment had left the Sheffield-based roadside restaurant

business looking dated and out of touch with the needs of its customers.

The long-term outlook was unsure. But if Sheffield has a knack for anything, it’s the quirky and unexpected comeback.

Witness one Tony Christie, another Sheffield name, who was propelled out of virtual obscurity back into success and popularity after ‘Is this the way to Amarillo?’ became a surprise hit.

The turning point for the Little Chef brand was the decision to team up with celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal and Channel 4 to create January’s TV documentary series, ‘Big Chef Takes On Little Chef’. The show charted the warts and all highs and lows of a complete transformation of the brand’s Popham restaurant situated on the A303 near Winchester. Heston was determined to breathe fresh ideas and a new sense of energy into the brand: “I have such fond childhood memories of Little Chef and was really excited about the challenge to put them well and truly back on the map. Everyone has a story to tell about this much loved and truly iconic British brand.”

Menus were changed, interiors were gutted and totally revamped with a bright new look and signage was replaced to create a genuinely modern take on the traditional US diner. Since Little Chef at www.little-chef.co.uk/heston Popham was

revamped last year, the restaurant has seen a 500 per cent increase in sales immediately after the programme and is now consistently up 150 per cent year on year.

one of the surprise stars of the show was Little Chef’s Chief Executive, Ian Pegler, whose meetings with Heston at the business’s Sheffield HQ had their inevitable awkward moments, creative tantrums and carefully edited soundbites. Despite all this, including being likened by some viewers to David Brent, Ian remained undaunted: “I really enjoyed watching it, as did the entire team. of course it has its ‘uncomfortable’ moments, but the programme makers have to make it watchable.”

MENUS WERE CHANGED, INTERIORS WERE GUTTED AND TOTAlly rEvAMPED WiTh A briGhT NEW lOOK AND SIGNAGE WAS REPLACED TO CREATE A GENUINELY MODERN TAKE ON THE TRADITIONAL US DINER.

Indeed, in the end, it has become difficult to fault his determination to “bring the brand back into the hearts and minds of the British public” and to the credit of the entire Little Chef senior management team they have begun to roll out the hugely successful concept across

further restaurants including York and Kettering. Plans are already in place to invest a further £2 million over the next year to bring the concept to a further five restaurants.

Little Chef’s phoenix-like rise from the ashes wasn’t entirely achieved with outside help. A Sheffield-based design and marketing communications company, Iris, also played a central role in helping to steer the brand’s future direction by redesigning the look and feel of all its marketing materials. The menus, external signage and point of sale items now reflect Little Chef’s modern, British retro feel. The agency even redesigned the brand’s logo and iconic ‘Charlie’ the Little Chef character, giving him a smart set of chef’s whites, to bring the whole brand identity up to date.

If there were still any lingering doubts about the Little Chef brand’s future chances of success, these were banished when it was announced that the revamped Popham restaurant would be included in the prestigious Good Food Guide 2010. Elizabeth Carter, editor of The Good Food Guide, said: “The minute I walked in I knew it belonged in The Guide – it was so welcoming, vibrant and had a real buzz. I’m confident other diners will think so too.”

4948 2009/10 Food & DrinkMADE Sheffield

Set in a characteristic area of Sheffield city centre, where heavy industry once reigned and now niche businesses thrive, a gastro pub is marking itself out as a destination for foodies across the region.

Kelham Island is quickly becoming synonymous with a modern, alternative Sheffield and is home to The Milestone – where cooking locally sourced produce has proved to be a winning formula for owners Marc Sheldon and Matt Bigland.

In a distinctive listed building, this now Michelin-recommended gastro pub and restaurant is offering a unique, down to earth and truly British take on cooking. And despite all the economic challenges of recent times, The Milestone is going from strength to strength by providing a real taste of Yorkshire.

“It’s a challenge to open a restaurant at the best of times and the first year always requires a great deal of hard work, but we’re doing really well,” said Marc Sheldon.

“ PEOPLE WANT rEAlly GOOD quAliTy PrODuCE COOKED WEll. WE OFFER A DIFFERENT STYLE OF COOKING.”

“We are now focusing on what we set out to achieve; sourcing as much local produce as possible from top class Yorkshire suppliers that can provide quality products.”

The restaurant, which has been up and running for 18 months now, isn’t just paying lip service to the idea of local produce. The Milestone offer exceptional pork dishes made from their own rare breed of Gloucester old Spot pigs, sourced from a farm just five miles away in Grenoside. A new initiative set up by the restaurant enables customers to bring in their home grown produce like fruit, vegetables and meat and exchange them for food and drinks.

“We’ve already been given pheasant and fruit and we’ve managed to find a local supplier for trout for next season. It’s only been running for a few weeks but we think this will snowball.”

Marc is positive about the success of their business, which they see as tapping into a really modern Sheffield: “We are definitely riding a wave. People’s expectations in Sheffield, about the kind of restaurant they want to go to, have developed. “We wanted to make our offer fully in line with our guests’ expectations and it’s now about going back to simplicity, quality and great customer service. “Fine dining is on the way out. People want really good quality produce cooked well. We offer a different style of cooking.”

The menu is constantly changing, happily at the liberty of the seasons and planned according to what produce is best at the time. It has seen them run a successful string of themed weeks like ‘Game week’ and ‘Sheep Week’ to make the most of the season. It seems The Milestone have hit on a winning formula, and have expertly differentiated their offering in a highly competitive market.

By expanding and running schemes like the cookery and cocktail school, The Milestone has maintained their customer’s interest. “We’ve had an amazing year, our profile and reputation has continued to grow and our Michelin recommendation really is the cherry on top of the cake.”

“our success is also due to the amount of hard-work everyone puts in and our passion for it. “It’s also thanks to Kelham Island itself. The area, businesses and people here is totally perfect for The Milestone concept” said Matt Bigland.

“The stylishly refurbished industrial buildings have attracted a mix of young professional residents, and workspaces for some of the city’s most cutting edge companies”. The concept is ‘bang on trend’ according to the Hardens 2009 UK Restaurant Guide, which suggests the search for quality gastro pubs and out-of-town eateries is fuelling the eating out trend. It seems to be a winning formula too; the restaurant recently received the title of ‘Restaurant of the Year 2009’ and ‘Best Bar Dining operation’ at the prestigious eatSheffield awards. The restaurant was singled out for their excellence in customer service, raising industry standards and unique dining experience.

“ WE’VE HAD AN AMAzING YEAR, OUR PROFILE AND REPUTATION HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND OUR MiChEliN rECOMMENDATiON REALLY IS THE CHERRY ON TOP OF THE CAKE.”

“The Awards recognise our efforts for creating high quality and innovative dishes, but also acknowledges the rest of our team and their outstanding contribution and knowledge about the food and drinks we offer” explained Matt Bigland. The development of Kelham Island is set to continue with further plans for restaurants and bars, which will extend the offering of Sheffield City Centre to previously untouched industrial corners of the city.

MiChEliN MEN

ThE MilESTONE

5150 MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Food & Drink

Sheffield-born Jonathan Havenhand knows a thing or two about opening a restaurant. Working in the industry for over twelve years he is the man who has decided where some of the high-street’s favourite restaurants have been set up.

Working for companies like Frankie & Benny’s, La Tasca

and Cafe Uno he was charged with finding the perfect spot to open their newest restaurants, making sure they would be an instant success. Throughout his career, despite living and working in the city, Jonathan had always veered away from opening restaurants in Sheffield City Centre. Now he is property director of Ego Restaurants, and only recently decided for the first time to choose Sheffield as a location. Jonathan explains what made him change his mind: “In the past, I had never chosen the centre of Sheffield as a location for one of my restaurants. In my eyes, it didn’t have anything to offer. It just wasn’t where you wanted your restaurant to be. But over the last three years, I have changed my tune. I bought Ego

18 months ago when I knew that Sheffield City Centre was ready for something different. opening in the Mercure Hotel, next door to the Winter Gardens and right in the Heart of the City, Ego’s Mediterranean terrace will soon look out over a brand new Tudor Square.

“ OPENING IN THE MErCurE hOTEl, NExT DOOR TO THE WINTER GARDENS AND RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY, EGO’S MEDiTErrANEAN TErrACE WILL SOON LOOK OUT OVER A BRAND NEW TUDOR SqUARE.”

“The stimulus of the Winter Gardens and Tudor Square, along with the new office developments and car parks has brought business to the centre with other restaurants like Piccolino’s and Cafe Rouge. It’s now practical and it is looking right. “This is where you need to be investing. Everything is coming together in Sheffield and those things which haven’t been finished are part of a longer term plan.”

Since opening up Jonathan says the support has been “fantastic”, and locating in Sheffield is something which has further benefits to come.

“There are still a couple of pieces of the jigsaw left, for developments to finish which will be fantastic. We’ve had a good start and as the city improves it’s only going to get better but now by being in the city centre we have an extremely flexible market. We get custom around the clock, shoppers, office workers, theatre goers, tourists, people from the Universities. “I wouldn’t have looked at Sheffield City Centre a few years ago but now I wouldn’t look anywhere else.”

SuPEr EGO

Waiting on Sheffield train stations platform 1B, alongside the commuters and travellers, a building with dusty doors and darkened windows hides a secret.

I n 1975, the final pint was pulled in the station’s first class refreshment room. Now,

after over a year of planning beer importers Jamie Hawskworth and Jon Holdsworth, are restoring the room to its former glory and opening The Sheffield Tap. The grade II listed building has been carefully reworked to give its ornate ceiling, original tiles and mahogany bar a new lease of life. “We are looking to put back what was always there,” said Jamie.

“our goal is to open the biggest beer bar in Sheffield offering the widest selection of beers from around the World. Hence we are a ‘World Beer Freehouse’. “There won’t be any of the usual multinational lager nonsense, instead a well procured selection of the best beers available. This doesn’t mean that drinks will be expensive, as in fact we are sourcing from small brewers.” Small brewers, of course, like Thornbridge, who will use The Sheffield Tap as a remote “Tap Bar”

to trial brews and new releases. Alex Buchanan, Thornbridge marketing manager is excited about providing beer to a quality new drinking hole: “When Jamie mentioned the possibility of reopening the station bar at Sheffield we were really interested and we saw it as a possibility of creating a real landmark bar.” Jamie is keen to for the Sheffield Tap to represent the city: “The location is perfect and will be a warm welcome to any traveller arriving into Sheffield Station.

“ OUR GOAL IS TO OPEN THE BIGGEST BEER BAR IN SHEFFIELD OFFERING ThE WiDEST SElECTiON OF bEErS FrOM ArOuND ThE WOrlD.”

“We are two hours and 14 minutes from London St Pancras which means that a traveller can leave Paris and be happily drinking at the bar within three hours!”

ON TAP

bOTTliNG iT

I n a city of well-kept secrets, the recipe for Henderson’s Relish is one of the oldest and

most closely-guarded. Virtually unknown outside South Yorkshire, no fry-up in the city is complete without the sauce, which has been made in Sheffield for over 100 years. Dr. Kenneth Freeman, Managing Director and Chairman of Henderson’s Relish, explains the attachment of the city to its sauce: “At least once a year a rumour sweeps through Sheffield that the owner is retiring and taking the secret recipe with him. Upon hearing this supermarket shelves are cleared as people stock up.”

There are signs, however, that Henderson’s might cease to be

such a well-kept secret. David Blunkett recently smuggled a bottle on to The F-Word, to the surprise of Gordon Ramsey who’d never heard of it, and Yorkshire Crisps, another great Sheffield food company, will shortly be launching a Henderson’s Relish flavour.

“ NO FRY-UP IN THE CITY IS COMPLETE WITHOUT THE SAUCE, WHICH HAS BEEN MADE IN SHEFFIELD FOR OVER 100 YEARS.”

Stock up on Henderson’s now before the shelves are empty!

www.hendersonsrelish.com and www.yorkshirecrisps.co.uk

“ ThE STiMuluS OF ThE WiNTEr GArDENS AND TuDOr SquArE, AlONG WiTh ThE NEW OFFiCE DEvElOPMENTS AND CAr PArKS, hAS brOuGhT buSiNESS TO ThE CENTrE.”

WE EAT A SAuCE ThE rEST OF ThE COuNTry’S NEvEr hEArD OF...

52 53MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Food & Drink

Tell a man how to drink his pint in Sheffield and chances are, you’ll be told where to go. In fact, tell anyone you’re going to change the way British people drink beer and they’ll think you’re a pork scratching short of a bag full. But five years ago, armed with a mantra of ‘innovation, passion, knowledge’ this is exactly what Simon Webster set out to do.

A long with a small team of brewers and businessmen, he set up Thornbridge Brewery at Thornbridge Hall

in Derbyshire. They had a vision to innovate and experiment with brewing, to make ‘truly modern British beer’. Now, as the industry is suffering and pubs are closing on a weekly basis, Thornbridge is bucking the trend, opening the doors to a new £2 million brewery in Bakewell.

“ I WANT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT HOW THEY CAN DRINK BEER. WE WANT PEOPlE TO ThiNK OF bEEr liKE WiNE, TO DRINK WITH FOOD RATHER THAN JUST IN PINTS.”

As a relative baby in the brewing world and already with 100 awards to its name, Thornbridge is now thought of as the “brightest brewery in Britain”. According to Simon, their newness and lack of brewing history allows them to focus on the future of beer making: “There is no other brewery like us in the UK. We don’t have a brewing legacy which dictates how we make beer and operate. It means we can brew what we want, where we want. “This has allowed us to be totally diverse in our approach to beer making.” Their rapid growth and success is something that Simon wanted to

achieve from day one, installing a high-class team of international brewers like Stefano Cossi from Italy and brewery manager Kelly Ryan from New Zealand, as well as approaching the marketing of their business with utmost care.

“We always wanted to be on the fast-track. This isn’t just a lifestyle business like many microbreweries are. We had a very definite idea of where we wanted to be.” It is the combination of this vision and a dedication to experimentation and innovation that has led to the creation of beers like Jaipur, a multi-award winning beer that has the backing of drinking experts like oz Clarke. “A lot of our brewers come from a scientific background, so we approach brewing like a chef approaches cooking, but also very scientifically. Most breweries will use three or four types of hop, for example, we probably use about 55.”

You could think of them as the Heston Blumenthal of the brewing world, and the connection between beer and food is something that Simon is keen to explore further. The brewery has now teamed up with Richard Smith, one of Sheffield’s most well-known chefs to create quality dining and drinking establishments in the city where people can share and enjoy quality craft beers with fine food. “I want to educate people about how they can drink beer. We want people to think of beer like wine, to drink with food rather than just in pints.”

The Cricket Inn, in Totley, which is the only Sheffield pub to be featured in the Michelin guide, does just this, supplying a range of Thornbridge beers which complement the food made in the restaurant. With a handful of local pubs stocking their beer, two more restaurants to their name and a third opening before

the year’s end this is a relationship that is clearly paying dividends. The brewery’s new site itself, located in the heart of the Peak District, has capacity to make twelve times more beer than their original premises; 50,000 glorious litres to be exact. However, Simon is keen to emphasise that it isn’t all about increasing volume.

“ MOST BREWERIES WILL USE THREE OR FOUR TYPES OF HOP, FOR ExAMPLE, WE PrObAbly uSE AbOuT 55.”

“It’s about diversifying our beer making and allowing us to differentiate further. We’re now working with the world’s leading Christmas pudding manufacturer for example, so Thornbridge beer will be in 95% of the world’s Christmas puddings!” Simon attributes a lot of the brewery’s success to its location in the Peak District, and he feels strongly about Sheffield’s brewing heritage. “Sheffield has a long history of brewing, it’s just been lost over recent years. We want to put the city back on the map. We’re perfectly located in the centre of Britain which makes things very easy logistically, and it’s a stunning place to come to work everyday.”

Plans are now in place to open up a specialist bar in Sheffield train station, supplying visitors to the city with a truly home-grown modern beer on their arrival. There is still a long way to go for Simon and his team to change the way that people think about beer, but it certainly seems as though he’s making waves. “I am confident we can introduce a new way of thinking about beer and the new brewery in Bakewell is just the beginning.”

iNNOvATiON, PASSiON, KNOWlEDGE... bEEr!

54 55MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Food & Drink

ShEFFiElD MuSiC CiTy2009 has been a good year for the promotion of Sheffield as a ‘music city’, with home brewed favourites like The Arctic

Monkeys launching their new album, Humbug, and returning to their roots with a sell out gig at the Sheffield Arena.

R everend and The Makers have also been putting their name about a bit. ‘The Reverend’, Jon

McClure, has popped up on our radars once again following the release of their second studio album, A French Kiss In the Chaos. Living up to his nickname, he appeared on the political programme, This Week, in June 2009 where he stood up against the increase in support for the British National Party.

Together with rising DJ star, Toddla T, who has been making waves on the dance scene and releasing his new album Skanky Skanky with celebrity girlfriend, Annie Mac, these three have really been busily putting Sheffield music back on the map.

But it’s the collaboration between Matt Helders of The Arctic Monkeys, Jon McClure of the Makers, and Toddla T earlier in the year that really pointed towards a change of gear in the promotion of Sheffield as the musical Mecca of the north. During the five-day-long Sheffield Music City festival in July 2009, all three joined forces to help promote and organise Sheffield’s first free outdoor festival, Tramlines.

The festival enrolled around 30 of the city’s favourite venues, with a main stage on Devonshire Green, a world stage in the Peace gardens, and plenty going on further afield too. The Cremorne, Shakespeare and Earl, and the Rude Shipyard all hosted events, leaving visitors totally spoilt for musical choice. The event was split over three days with free gigs and club nights to showcase the best unsigned acts. And with headline acts like Athlete, Little Boots, The Makers, Johnny Foreigner and Pixie Lott taking to the stage, it proved a great success, being described on the radio as ‘an urban Glastonbury’.

on top of all this free, live music there was also the big wheel, the Fargate continental market and a range of events in Barker’s Pool to add to the vibe. The atmosphere was described as electric, and the whole event received high praise. ‘The general consensus seems to be that it was one of the best all-round weekends that Sheffield has seen for many years.’ (Sheffield Blog).

It was reported that an estimated 10-15,000 people were in town for the festival and takings for local businesses quadrupled. So it should come as no surprise that a bigger and better Sheffield Music City

festival is being planned for next summer, which will see the return of Tramlines to Devonshire Green. Talks with a national promoter are already under way.

“ THE GENERAL CONSENSUS SEEMS TO BE THAT IT WAS ONE OF ThE bEST All-rOuND WEEKENDS THAT SHEFFIELD HAS SEEN FOR MANY YEARS.”

With strong council backing, Council leader, Paul Scriven, explains the vision behind the festival for 2010: “We are looking at the possibility of a month of events around the city – the one on the outskirts of the city as well as the events in the city centre. We want to provide a unique setting for music that creates a buzz.

“It would be good for local businesses, good for jobs and good for the feel of the city. It is something that the council is prepared to back in terms of money and making sure we get bigger and better acts than last year. As a vision this is really exciting.”

ShEFFiElD’S urbAN GlASTONbury

Below image: Jon McClure

Above image: Tramlines, July 2009

56 57MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Entertainment

homage to an electronic legacy in the city, Bell has noticed the recent changes in the city’s music scene since he started out. “I haven’t changed what I’m doing but now indie kids will get down to my music as much as people who are into grime or hip hop. Times have changed and this sound is relevant.” Bell’s inclusive, no bullshit approach to music is refreshing, especially in an industry where he says ‘too many people have a stick up their arse’. Luckily, Toddla isn’t showing signs of losing his down-to-earth charm. Not that his tight-knit network of Sheffield mates would let him, who’d more likely give him a clip round the ear than see him “get too big for (his) boots.”

Suitably, when I first try and get in touch with DJ Toddla T, 23 year old Tom Bell to his mum — I am greeted with music blasting down the phone. “Alright love, sorry can you call back in like three minutes?”

When I do he is apologetic, and I have to explain to him who I am because: ‘I get

told that I’m doing so much stuff every day, I just forget’ This isn’t hard to believe. Tom Bell is a whirlwind, with rambling enthusiasm and a contagious energy.

Under the moniker Toddla T, so called since he started playing around on turntables aged 12, he has come a long way from selling trainers on Devonshire Street and making beats in his bedroom. A lanky, blue-eyed Sheffield lad, Bell hardly cuts the image of Britain’s newest dancehall export. But he has been given the mantle of re-inventing British dance music; with his own idiosyncratic mash-up of grime, electro, bass line, hip hop and anything else he fancies throwing into the mix.

Back when Sheffield’s world-wide reputation for the finest cutlery was forged, Little Mesters populated the many Cutlery factories throughout the city.

R enting the workshops and working alone, they were masters of their craft,

producing high quality cutlery with the Sheffield stamp proudly emblazoned for all to see.

Many years later, and step forward Richard Hawley, one of Sheffield’s few remaining Little Mesters. He’s no master cutler, but he is a master of his art, and one whose work is as equally striking, recognisable and proud of its roots.

Born and raised in Sheffield, Hawley’s work always has the city’s influence permeating throughout it and for his mesmerising sixth studio album, we’re treated to a dark, yet beautifully arranged selection of atmospheric tracks. With a nod, as usual, to a local landmark.

Truelove’s Gutter is certainly Hawley’s most rounded and consistent work. Standing above the fantastic Cole’s Corner and Lady’s Bridge, there’s an incurable romanticism to it all. What would seem like a deeply personal work, is also relatable to every listener. Hawley writes and sings about, and with, real emotion, in a brilliantly nostalgic way, with hints of the great orbison, Holly and Cash. The result is a soothing record that harks back to a bygone era.

Truelove’s Gutter is a perfectly paced album, with the atmospheric opener, As the Dawn Breaks, leading into the collection perfectly. Instantly memorable, and breathtaking, is the ten minute epic, Remorse Code, possibly the strongest track of the eight. Soldier On does threaten to pick up the pace, but is eventually restrained, and as such is one of the many highlights in this fantastic release.

“ HAWLEY WRITES AND SINGS ABOUT, AND WITH, rEAl EMOTiON, iN A brilliANTly NOSTAlGiC WAy, WITH HINTS OF THE GREAT ORBISON, HOLLY AND CASH.”

This time round, Hawley takes a more reflective stance. There are feelings of heartbreak, sorrow and longing, but never does the subject matter debase the work as a whole. It is stunningly beautiful in its simplicity, resulting in a more down-tempo collection. Hawley lays emotions bare for all to hear, and although not as immediately memorable as previous works, a few play-throughs confirm this is a man at the top of his game. Hawley is a master at work, and nowhere in his catalogue does it show more than here. His finest to date.

“It’s my take on British dance music, it’s nothing deep. I’m just having fun with it. I take dance music or hip hop or Jamaican dancehall and do it the Sheffield way.” Whatever it is that Bell is doing, he’s doing it right. It has been a hectic year, with the release of his debut album, Skanky Skanky, collaborations with Arctic Monkeys’ drummer Helders and Tinchey Stryder and DJ slots across the globe.

Bell’s roots, however, stay firmly in the city. He has always cited his strongest inspiration as local music; a very specific ‘Sheffield sound’, musical legacy and collaborative atmosphere that the city creates. “It’s that bleepy Warp electronic sound and heavy bass that’s been in the underground of Sheffield since the 80s. Now there’s bass line which is a totally Sheffield thing, you just hear it playing everywhere, out of car windows all over the city.”

“Without being in Sheffield I wouldn’t be where I am today, it’s been massively important. People like DJ Pipes and Russ orton, they inspired me.”

Bell immersed himself in Sheffield’s music scene from the age of 15, but his involvement got serious when at 18, he began work at Kenwood Studios, where Dizzee Rascal

made ‘Boy In Da Corner’, and began collaborating with the likes of Roots Manuva. “You can’t come round these parts and not collaborate. It’s like a big village, everyone knows everyone and that’s how music gets made.” It is with this ability to collaborate and connect with so many genres that Bell has found his very own niche in the music industry. He remixes Hot Chip, or DJs with Sinden and all the while maintains a northern sense of humour, individuality and, most importantly, quality production.

It was the solid music scene in Sheffield that gave Bell the exposure and experience he needed to find his feet and begin making music of his own. Now his list of collaborations is endless; he has set up his own record label, Girls Music, has a US tour under his belt and his own radio show. All this and you might be forgiven for thinking Toddla T had grown out of the Steel City, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. “Kabal, the night that me and my mates DJ at in Sheffield, is still my favourite place to play in the whole world. There’s nothing like it.”

“It’s good playing new nights, like bars in LA where you reach out to new audiences but it’s not like playing in Sheff. It’s like coming back to the Mecca!” While paying

Skanky skanky

Richard Hawley

58 59MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Entertainment

u2 SuMMEr 2009

This year Sheffield’s Don Valley was transformed into an otherworldly place. A glowing claw-like structure descended on the Stadium, and with it brought an eruption of noise and light so phenomenal it were as if a god- like creature had landed.

T o most of the 50,000 visitors to the Stadium that gathered there, for one night, that wasn’t far from the truth. The

spaceship-like construction that dominated the Stadium had been painstakingly assembled to host U2’s 360º tour. Surrounded by devoted fans, Bono and the band performed on the rotating stage, a 390-tonne neon structure below a cylindrical video screen, hoisted 164ft above the city’s skyline. The show, designed by Sheffield-raised Willie Williams and architect Mark Fisher was one of only two UK dates – the other being Wembley Stadium.

In U2’s eyes at least Sheffield is one of only a handful of places worthy of hosting such a momentous concert, visiting the Steel-city

along with Barcelona, Paris, Berlin and Milan as they toured Europe with their latest album, No Line On The Horizon. It was U2’s first gig in the city since the summer of 1992, and they certainly arrived with a bang. The colossal stage and set-up took nearly 500 people a week to assemble, before Bono himself even set foot on Sheffield soil. on the night Sheffield International Venues, who own the Stadium, employed around 200 staff, everybody from cleaners to bar workers and maintenance workers – with an extra 500 pairs of hands for stewarding. Don Valley general manager Pat Smith saw the choice of Sheffield as a venue as recognition that the city as a whole has improved its profile and demonstrated its enthusiasm for the big music names. “The city has

shown that it wants to help with events like this. It’s not just Don Valley. As a city we have shown that we are welcoming. Sheffield is the right place to come.” Ultimately, he points out, it’s the artists who decide where to go, so the U2 date is a tremendous boost for Sheffield’s reputation.

“ WE HAVE WELCOMED SOME INCREDIBLY BIG NAMES TO DON VALLEY IN THE PAST FROM THE ROLLING STONES TO MICHAEL JACKSON BUT THIS WAS THE BIGGEST CONCERT WE HAVE EVER WORKED ON IN TERMS OF PRODUCTION.

of course, the mind-blowing concert was an indulgent and defining

moment in musical history, but it also had a significant effect on the city itself. It is estimated that U2’s performance boosted the local economy by up to £10m. At Don Valley alone around 25,000 gallons of beer were sold, and across the city concert-goers were quick to snap up the 2,500 hotel beds on offer with restaurants packed out as a result. Dominic Stokes, general manager of SIV Conferencing and Events, as well as City Hall Sheffield said: “We have welcomed some incredibly big names to Don Valley in the past from the Rolling Stones to Michael Jackson but this was the biggest concert we have ever worked on in terms of production.

“Sheffield is the place to come for major outdoor concerts in this country. Securing a show

of this scale is recognition for Sheffield and SIV that the city is further improving its profile and demonstrating its enthusiasm for the big music names. “our teams work hard to bring a diverse range of high profile sporting and entertainment events to our venues. When the event features someone or a group as high profile as U2 it can help promote the city’s positive profile but bring substantial economic benefits.” The concert came as part of a hugely successful series of events in Sheffield over the summer, where the city ignored the threat of poor weather and the economic downturn to produce a schedule of live events and cultural activities that celebrated the city’s individuality and strong musical heritage, an attitude which is set to continue through to 2010.

60 61MADE Sheffield 2009/10 Entertainment

WhAT’S ON iN ShEFFiElD

APril sensoria

Sensoria is the UK’s festival of film and music. Sensoria’s natural home is Sheffield – a city renowned for its creative and technical innovation and one rich in musical heritage.

APril-MAy World snooker Championships (Crucible Theatre)

The climax of snooker’s annual calendar and the most important snooker event of the year in terms of prestige, prize money and world ranking points.

peak District Walking festival

Set amid an extraordinary range of landscapes, the Peak District Walking Festival includes a wide range of over 100 walks over 10 days, with local experts leading walks on themes such as food and drink, ghosts, heritage, geology.

juNE-july sheffield Children’s festival

This two-week festival provides more than 20,000 children and young people from more than 130 Sheffield schools with the opportunity to develop their creativity and to take part in a range of cultural activities.

juNE – SEPTEMbEr Wednesday night live

Every Wednesday throughout the summer, shops and attractions will be opening late, bars and restaurants will be offering special deals, there will be free car parking at John Lewis and live music and street performances across the city centre.

july Cliffhanger

Cliffhanger is one of the UK’s largest outdoor pursuits festivals, based in one of Sheffield’s biggest green spaces. The aim of the event is to inspire and involve.

Memo Market

An eclectic mix of fashion, life and style, food, drink, art, music, all together in one place for a one-stop ‘market’ shop spot for your essential Sheffield must-haves.

sheffield Music City

Sheffield’s own urban Glastonbury. Free music events across the city and a wide programme of other city centre events such as markets, the Sheffield wheel and a giant picnic.

OCTObEr Grin up north

Born out of Sheffield’s love of a good laugh, this two week celebration of the very best in UK and international comedy includes a rib tickling blend of stand up, funny films, comic quizzes, lectures and general larking about.

OCTObEr Off the shelf

Sheffield’s annual celebration of writing and reading offers over 150 events including workshops, walks, talks, readings, poetry, competitions, storytelling, exhibitions and appearances by many leading writers.

NOvEMbEr-DECEMbEr Galvanize

This annual festival celebrates the skills of the silversmiths and jewellers, the designers and makers who carry on a proud tradition in Sheffield and includes exhibitions, tours, talks, workshops and events.

NOvEMbEr sheffield Doc/fest

Sheffield Doc/Fest takes place over five intense days in November and includes a film festival, an industry session programme and marketplace, pitching opportunities, discussion panels and in-depth filmmaker masterclasses.

MADE Sheffield62 63

Issue 001 2009/10

MADe Sheffield

MADEBusiness, ideas, culture, life, sport, Sheffield

sPORT JessICA eNNIs The golden girl of British athletics Jessica Ennis talks about coming back from a career-threatening injury. Pages 20-23

LIGHTING THe FLAMe Sheffield is already warmed up on the starting blocks to make the most of 2012. Pages 24-25

INNOVATION RAIsING THe ROOF Sheffield company raises the roof at Wimbledon. Pages 30-31

BusINess sHeFFIeLD BusINess suRVeY Despite an economic downturn, the city has shown its resilience and dynamism. Pages 43

+ 44 (0)114 223 2345 WWW. CReATIVesHeFFIeLD.CO.uk INFO@CReATIVesHeFFIeLD.CO.uk

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