One of Manchester’s top recruitment agencies has launched a brand new platform that’s set to “revolutionise” the process for the hospitality sector.
Sixty Eight Jobs – which is founded by Abi Dunn and powered by prolific and highly-connected hospitality recruitment agency, Sixty Eight People – will provide a niche jobs board for hourly paid hospitality roles right across Greater Manchester.
Just like Sixty Eight People, this innovative new platform puts “people and their development” at the heart of everything.
Aiming to connect the most exciting hospitality businesses to the brightest stars in the industry, Sixty Eight Jobs is already proudly working with Mission Mars – operators of Albert’s Schloss and Rudy’s, Junkyard Golf Club, Blues Kitchen, Ducie Street Warehouse and Freight Island – and given the fact that the hospitality industry has been one of the worst affected amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, will look to help rebuild it in a swift and effective way.
Specifically tailored towards hourly-paid roles within Greater Manchester, Sixty Eight Jobs is a platform built by hospitality recruitment experts to ensure that the look and feel of the site fits the employers and will attract the right candidates, with exclusive content that support both in their recruitment journey.
Offering a refreshing change from “often outdated corporate, all sector boards” – which are known to provide high volumes of applications, but with low quality – Sixty Eight Jobs looks to counteract this and provide a platform with informal language, fresh imagery and slick mobile-friendly processes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CM4LQG2gmv-/
How does it work then?
Well first, all that hopeful candidates will need to do is simply create a ’68 Profile’ on the site, which only takes a couple of minutes, and from here, Sixty Eight Jobs will connect them directly with the best hospitality employers in the city, with everything from work in bars, restaurants, cinemas, hotels or coffee shops, all on offer.
For employers, there’s a range of packages available.
Each package provides employers with the ability to custom design job advertisements and share the link to all platforms, with Sixty Eight Jobs also helping to keep track of all applications by storing CV’s in one handy place.
The packages include:
STAR – £0/Month, which includes one job post per month which remains live for 28 days.
CLUSTER – A monthly subscription which offers five job posts a month, with each one live for 28 days. (FREE until 1st October, and then £50 per month).
GALAXY – A monthly subscription which offers unlimited posts a month, with each one live for 28 days. (FREE until 1st October, and then £99 per month).
As part of the Sixty Eight Jobs’ “continued crusade to support the industry”, all packages will initially be free, with the STAR package remaining free and the others incurring a small charge after 1st October.
Abi Dunn / Sixty Eight Jobs
“This past year for the hospitality industry has just been absolutely devastating,” said Abi Dunn, Founder of Sixty Eight Jobs.
“And for me to watch it happen but powerless to do anything has been really hard, [so] this is when I decided to put my time to good use and develop a brand new platform that provided a slick and straightforward way to connect exciting businesses with hospitality stars.
“Sixty Eight Jobs isn’t about making money, it’s about creating a platform that helps hospitality businesses recover, helping them secure the right people for the job.
“This is just phase one of the project,
“I aspire to turn this into an app further down the line, even looking to expand into further cities”.
Sixty Eight People
Sixty Eight Jobs will officially launch to the public on 31st March 2021, and you can find more information ahead of the launch and get started here.
Business
The Spirit of Manchester confirms bar closure as Manc hospitality takes another hit
Danny Jones
Manchester has been hit by yet another gutting hospitality closure as The Bar at The Spirit of Manchester Distillery, formerly known as Three Little Words, has confirmed they have shut down effective immediately.
The stunning spot set up as The Spirit of Manchester Distillery’s dedicated, customer-facing city centre venue and second home under the arches, opened back in 2019, offering a cocktail, gin-making and tasting experience, as well as a restaurant.
But fast forward six years, and now the once-beloved Three Little Words bar has sadly closed, largely citing the same economic pressures everyone has faced post-pandemic.
Writing an emotional farewell post on LinkedIn, Spirit of Manchester co-founder and master distiller Seb Heeley said: “This is a post I never thought I’d have to write. 9 years ago, we set out with a dream to build something that would represent the spirit of Manchester from the humble beginning in our dining room.
“We were fortunate enough that people embraced our vision, and 6 years ago we embarked on an over million pound project to bring 6 forgotten, abandoned arches beneath the iconic Manchester Central back to life to show the best the city has to offer.
“Unfortunately, COVID changed the playing field 5 years ago, and over the last 2 years, running a city centre hospitality business, we have been hit with a perfect storm of rising costs, taxes and pressure on customer wallets that has ultimately led to an unsustainable business model.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we have to close our customer-facing operation on Watson Street today. It’s the amazing team that I feel most sorry for, as it’s their commitment over the last 6 years that has made this building feel like our forever home.”
Having also housed local culinary offerings like Etana, too, it’s sad to see such an eye-catching part of the city’s dining scene fall foul to the ongoing industry pressures and cost of living crisis.
Heeley goes on to add: “If anyone on my network is looking for new recruits, I couldn’t speak highly enough of our whole team. Please get in touch with me about any opening you may have.”
Even if you’ve never been, you’ll have passed a bottle of Manchester Gin countless times. (Credit: The Manc Eats)
Heeley signs off by saying: “While this is the end for our experience centre site, Manchester Gin will continue to be made in the city and hopefully enjoyed for years to come.
“Obviously, this is a difficult time for all of us, so please bear with us while we go through this transition. Thank you.” Online orders have also been briefly paused as they look to lay out clearer plans for the future, and we can only hope they come through the other side more stable.
In what has been a heartbreaking start to the week, this marks the third high-profile food and drink casualty in central Manchester alone in the space of just the last two days, with the news of Salvi’s shutting their Deansgate Square location being followed up by another NQ closure barely hours later.
Safe to say it’s more apparent than ever that our hospitality sector needs better support and fast.
Salford City FC confirm former Manchester United shirt sponsor as latest commercial partner
Danny Jones
Salford City FC have announced a former Manchester United financial partner and well-known shirt sponsor as their latest commercial partner.
The local League Two, helmed by the consortium consisting of ex-Man United players most commonly known as the ‘Class of ’92’, now share even more in common with the Red Devils beyond just the colour of their shirt and some old personnel.
However, the Greater Manchester side has struggled to progress in recent years, so the owners have continued to look to generate further revenue when it comes to the business off the pitch; cue the return of a familiar logo and, arguably, one of the most recognisable sponsors to ever feature on a footy kit.
While it may not be featuring pride of place on the front of their shirt – that position still belongs to Fireball Whisky following their July 2024 deal – as it once did for Manchester United, Salford City have welcomed the American International Group (AIG) as a new minority equity investor.
Announcing the collaboration on social media, the ambitious Ammies wrote: “AIG’s investment in the Club is a powerful endorsement of the model we’re building, aligning world-class partners with a football-first vision grounded in ambition and long-term commitment.
“Together, we’re accelerating Salford’s next chapter and laying the foundation for lasting success, on and off the pitch.” AIG were paired up with MUFC from the 2006/07 campaign to the end of the 2009/10.
AIG are the first Fortune 500 company to back a League Two outfit in EFL history.
Beyond already being a multi-national insurance group, they were famously partnered with one of the most decorated Man United teams of all-time and therefore share part of the visual legacy by serving as the front-of-shirt sponsor for one of the most iconic shirts of all time.
We’re of course referring to the 2007 home jersey, which was worn by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Paul Scholes and more as they won the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, before the kit was kept for 08/09 as well.
Of course, the firm itself is no stranger to sporting crossovers; as well as sponsoring Manchester United at the peak of their powers, they also sponsor the likes of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, the AIG Women’s Open and lots more golf in Ireland.
Speaking on the new deal, SCFC co-chair Declan Kelly, added: “Partnering with AIG, a world-class organisation under the outstanding vision and leadership of Chairman and CEO Peter Zaffino, represents another major step forward in the evolution of Salford City FC.
“It proves what’s possible when global investment aligns with a football-first approach. AIG is committed to helping Salford achieve its vision of becoming the best small club in the world, and their investment, both financially and strategically, will help accelerate our next phase of progress.”
With Salford having called for new investors in February 2024, this is the kind of backing they were no doubt hoping for, with AIG also expected to help fund key upgrades to the Peninsula Stadium and more.
As for on the pitch, there’s been plenty of movement in the transfer market already this summer window, with the return of a highly-rated young goalkeeper being one that has delighted fans in particular.
Emily Sergeant -
30th March 2021 
