News

Northern Gamechanger Awards – inspiring Manc finalists announced

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 8th July 2022

40 local individuals and businesses have been announced as finalists for the brand new Northern Gamechanger awards.

The all-new awards programme will celebrate the forces for good in our business communities and honour leaders in the region making a real difference in their fields.

Unlike most awards ceremonies, there aren’t defined categories here – rather, finalists are recognised for their work in a number of areas, from sustainability and social mobility to diversity and decarbonisation.

The 40 finalists announced today include some of the most familiar business names in the region, including TalkTalk, HideOut Youth Zone, Go Thrift, UA92 and The Juice Academy, as well as brilliant individuals.

Simon Mellin of The Modern Milkman and Heard Storytelling are among the Northern Gamechanger finalists.

The awards themselves are set to take place on 14 September.

ADVERTISEMENT

10 total Northern Gamechangers will be announced then, chosen by judges including The Manc Group managing director Anna Gledson, Capital & Centric co-founder Tim Heatley, founder of SA Consulting Sharon Amesu, and drector of Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre Amer Gaffar.

The brand-new awards programme is the brainchild of north-west based business consultancy, Elevate, and was launched after noticing the little recognition available for those making a real difference.

ADVERTISEMENT

Katie Robson, co-founder and director of Elevate, said: “Seeing so many individuals and organisations across the region being nominated has been brilliant.

Read more: New Manchester awards ceremony will champion ‘Northern Gamechangers’

“We already knew there were plenty of people using their influence for good, but this has really highlighted the game changing attitudes of the north’s pioneering business community.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We can’t wait to champion those people who are making a real difference – the main reason we wanted to launch Northern Gamechangers, was to shout about the fantastic work people are doing in the realms of sustainability, charity, diversity and many more.”

There’ll be accessible ticket prices for the ceremony itself, which will be a fun and relaxed evening of celebration and networking – with no white tablecloths in sight.

Programme sponsors include leading independent PR agency, The PHA Group, which last year launched its northern base; Manchester Central, the city’s thriving exhibition and conference centre; and Appleyard Lees, Intellectual Property specialists.

You can purchase your ticket for the Northern Gamechanger awards here.

The full list of the Northern Gamechanger finalists

  • Abi Dunn, Sixty Eight People
  • Abigail Herron, Aviva Investors
  • Adam Farricker, HideOut Youth Zone Manchester
  • Adam Pope, Spencer Churchill
  • Agent Academy
  • Carl Walker, Go Thrift
  • Catherine Wilks, Slalom
  • Chris Roberts, Safe As Houses
  • Christos Tsaprounis, Autotrader
  • David MacDonald, Cullen ECO Friendly Packaging
  • Dr Ruth Brown-Shepherd, FSB West Yorkshire Academia-Industry Network
  • Duane Cormell, Realm Recruit
  • Emma Louise-Fusari, Inhouse Health
  • Fund Her North
  • Gary Woodhead, CurveBlock
  • Georgia Fitzgerald, Juice Academy
  • Grace Dyke, Yellow Jigsaw
  • Hannah Cox, BetterNotStop
  • Heard Storytelling
  • Helen McHugh, TalkTalk
  • Helen Seagrave, Electricity North West
  • Holly Holland & Laura Pomfret, Financielle
  • HOME Team
  • Husain Bensaud, HBL Associates
  • Isobelle Panton, University Academy 92
  • Jason Laing, ProMake
  • John Eckersley, Castefield Partners
  • Katie McIntosh, The Remedy Kitchen
  • Lauren Rosegreen, Invisible Cities Manchester
  • Lee Chambers, Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing
  • Liam Starkey, The Inclusive Hub
  • Lyndsay Hymas, Slalom
  • Manchester PA Network
  • Max Whiteley. Accounts & Legal
  • Rebecca Hartley, Saving Grace Events
  • ReCon^2
  • Simon Mellin, The Modern Milkman
  • Sophie Walker, Dsposal
  • The Royal Exchange Theatre
  • Tiffany Thorn, BiVictriX Therapeutics

Featured image: Heard Storytelling / Unsplash / Modern Milkman

News

‘I’m proud of the joy we spread’ – Much-loved Manchester cake shop announces closure

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson 'I'm proud of the joy we spread' - Much-loved Manchester cake shop Loaf announces closure

A gorgeous little cake shop in Manchester city centre has announced its sad closure, five years after launching as a lockdown project to raise money for the NHS.

Loaf, the hot pink cafe on Oxford Road and just across the river in New Bailey in Salford, will shut its doors for good later this month.

Its founder Aiden Ryan has poured his heart out with a heartbreaking statement, describing Loaf’s closure as ‘incredibly tough’.

In his message to followers, which you can read in full below, Aiden detailed everything from rising costs, cashflow issues, and a personal mental breakdown.

“I’m not sharing this for sympathy,” he wrote. “I just think honesty matters.”

In the five years Loaf has operated in Manchester, there have been plenty of highlights, from those days fundraising for the NHS, to opening its doors on Christmas day to those who struggle with loneliness.

And there’ve been commercial successes too, with these pretty miniature loaf cakes making their way onto the shelves in Selfridges.

But now Aiden has said that Loaf will shut for good on 30 April, urging people to pop in for ‘one more mini loaf or just a goodbye hug’.

Loaf’s farewell statement in full

I’ve made the incredibly tough decision to close Loaf MCR.

Loaf began in 2020 as a small lockdown idea to raise money for the NHS—and somehow grew into a bold, pink cake business that lived in a shipping container, then cafés on Oxford St and New Bailey St, and even Selfridges! It was more than I ever dreamed of.

But behind the scenes, it’s been a really hard year. We lost essential funding, faced delayed payments and invoices, battled rising costs, and unexpected hits – including a supplier taking thousands from our account without permission. It led to cashflow issues we couldn’t recover from.

There were delays in paying important bills—things I never imagined would happen (even tips and pension contributions for staff). It was a living nightmare and it weighed heavily on me. At the same time, I was facing big personal challenges, which led to a mental breakdown the middle of last year. I couldn’t function. And when your business needs you 24/7, everything starts falling fast.

A Twister-inspired special at Loaf
A Twister-inspired special at Loaf
The Willy Wonka loaf cakes at Loaf
The Willy Wonka loaf cakes at Loaf

I’m not sharing this for sympathy, I just think honesty matters. Running a business isn’t always big wins and instagram moments—it’s often stress, silence, and sacrifice.

Still, I’m proud. Of the joy we spread. Of the community we built. And of myself—for knowing when to stop and look after mine and my team’s health.

To my loafly team: you were the heart of this. Thank you for everything. To our suppliers, landlords, partners, and customers—thank you for believing in Loaf.

Our final day is April 30th. If you want one more mini loaf or just a goodbye hug, we’d loaf to see you.

As for what’s next… who knows? For now, we rest. Thank you for being part of our story. I’ll carry it with me, always.

Lots of loaf,
Aiden & Team Loaf

More food and drink news

Featured image: The Manc Group

News

Line of Duty season seven could be on the way with filming date ‘confirmed’

Danny Jones Danny Jones Line of Duty series 7 rumours

In yet another big TV twist for the BBC drama, the rumours of a Line of Duty season seven are seemingly ramping up once more, with a new filming date now reportedly ‘confirmed’.

For those who watched the smash hit crime thriller the first time around and remember that—let’s call it a divisive ending—there were many fans who wondered if, or at least how, the series could come back.

Well, as it turns out, the writers might have just figured out how to do it (maybe they were planning it all along?), with multiple outlets now claiming that not only has “most” of the next season been written, but a start date for principal photography on the latest chapter of Line of Duty has already been earmarked.

Again, take this all with a pinch of salt for now, but we won’t deny it’s an exciting proposition.

If it does come back, the next question is: how many members of the cast will be returning?

First broke by The Sun, a source is said to have told the newspaper: “This is the news Line of Duty fans have been waiting for since the sixth season left them deflated when it aired back in 2021.”

The insider says that the BBC wanted to commission more episodes to further the story and Line of Duty’s unbelievable success, but that the sheer profile of the show meant that stars Vicky McClure, Martin Compston and Adrian Dunbar were offered new projects.

There had previously been reports of the beloved British cop drama coming back for just three episodes back in December 2022; that being said, there is no clear indication thus far as to whether or not these latest reports are a continuation of the previous ‘leak’.

Either way, the source went on to add that “several meetings” have been held with creator Jed Mercurio and the production team since then and “they’ve finally managed to clear space in their calendars next year to commit to making the show.”

We know one thing: it was prime water cooler chat for a good chunk of our time in the office, and we can only hope there’s some truth to these most recent rumblings.

More than a dozen years on from when the series first started, the talk is that the cast and crew will be returning to Northern Ireland – where the latter seasons of the show were largely filmed – and could be starting as soon as January 2026.

Another development that has added fuel to the fire, besides the stars being seen together on numerous occasions of late, is McClure’s (Kate Fleming) recent interview on RTÉ Radio 1’s The Oliver Callan Show, in which she gave a very measured answer on the subject.

“What can I say? I read the same news you all read!” she says, adding, “Nothing has changed. No news, I’m afraid. I don’t know where that came from. […] The thing is, if I had something to tell you I would, but I don’t! I don’t want to tease people unnecessarily.

“It’s great that they [fans] want it, but they’re stories at the end of the day. We don’t want to rule it out.” 

It’s not the only modern British TV success story that viewers could be in store for more of…

Stephen Graham sheds light on the ‘possibility’ of a second season of Adolescence
Most people would love more Line of Duty, but do you want another series of Adolescence?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — BBC

More News

Affiliate

AO Arena announces ‘In Conversation’ event with Luke Una

Pep Guardiola says Man United fans should be ashamed of Phil Foden mum chant

News

Pep Guardiola says Manchester United fans should be ‘ashamed’ after ‘sick’ chant

Audio

Sugababes at Co-op Live – tickets, times, setlist and more for UK tour

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches