It may have only been around in our city for a couple of months now, but Brigad already looks like it’s fast becoming the future for freelancers.
In you’re unfamiliar with this innovative new app and what it’s all about, Brigad first burst onto the hospitality scene all the way back in 2016, and went on to make a deserved name for itself both here in the UK and with our overseas neighbours in France, before it finally launched in Manchester earlier this year.
Brigad prides itself on being a company with a mission, and the goal is “to make work attractive and accessible to all”.
It’s a platform that allows businesses in our city to be put in touch with verified self-employed professionals in just a few clicks – which ultimately saves precious time, as the entire administrative process is automated, and also gives freelancers to the chance to choose work freely every day from a large number of well-paid assignments that work ideally for their timetable, lifestyle, career path, and income.
Given that the hospitality industry has had to overcome a lot more than other sectors post-COVID, and with the staffing crisis within the sector now said to be reaching points of over 3,000 ongoing open vacancies, Brigad could not have come to Manchester at a more ideal time.
Having already connected around 4,000 freelance workers with opportunities across London, the company is adamant that there is no time to waste in applying these resources to the great city of Manchester, and says its presence here is vital to “ensure efficient post-pandemic recovery” of the city’s hospitality industry.
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But, if you’re a freelance professional in Manchester hospitality who’s keen to change the way you work, then what exactly is Brigad all about? How do you use it? And what do you need to know to get started?
Let’s break it down.
Brigad is on a mission to make work “attractive and accessible to all” / Credit: Arnaud Caillou | Brooke Cagle (via Unsplash)
How does Brigad work for freelancers?
Brigad is all about collaboration.
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It’s a platform that puts end-to-end collaboration between hospitality businesses and qualified self-employed professionals right at the forefront, and is all about empowering hospitality workers by helping to connect them to temporary freelance shifts with a decent and fair minimum hourly payment.
To get started, you’ll simply need to download the app from your app store, and sign up by completing your personal information and uploading a copy of your ID.
How do I use the app?
Once you’ve officially signed up, you’ll first need to book a slot with a member of the Brigad team, who will introduce the app to you and discuss your experience and skills in order to give you the best experience, all before you take on your first mission.
After you’ve successfully accepted your first mission, you’re then set to earn on average 15% more than the industry standard income – and all with no obligation to accept regular shifts.
All that’s left now is to turn up to your first mission, and let Brigad know how it goes by leaving the business a review – which gives other Brigaders an insight into what it’s like to work at the business.
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This, once again, encourages helpful and collaborative communication.
It puts end-to-end collaboration between hospitality businesses and qualified self-employed professionals at the forefront / Credit: Arnaud Caillou
Is it flexible? What happens if I need to cancel after signing up for work?
Brigad offers freelancers a great deal of flexibility as there is no minimum or maximum number of shifts required to be a ‘Brigader’, and this allows you to have complete control over the way you wish to work, with no impact on your career in hospitality going forward.
Businesses can also choose to favourite freelancers who have fit in with their establishment particularly well, and this means you’ll receive their shifts before other Brigaders.
This means regular work with no contract – the dream, for many.
But if you do need cancel your shift last minute though, for whatever reason that may be, you will need to be mindful that this could affect your ability to receive missions in the future, as last-minute cancellations are a great inconvenience to businesses, and most of the time, they are unable to find a replacement for you.
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Any tips for signing up to work? And is there room for career progression?
Brigad says it always recommends calling the business you have signed up to work for in advance to check how early to turn up for your shift, what to wear, and if there is anything extra you need to bring with you, as this not only helps you to be as prepared as possible, but businesses particularly appreciate it too and it creates a good first impression.
Remember to be your best self too, because as a self-employed professional, businesses will also be leaving a review on you.
Once you have established yourself on the Brigad app with good reviews and frequent shifts, the company says it can offer the opportunity for career development through earning the ‘Super Brigader’ badge – which means you can then receive 1-1 advice from an advisor to ensure your career is developing as you’d like.
Brigad connects workers to temporary freelance shifts with a decent and fair minimum hourly payment / Credit: Arnaud Caillou
Where can I find out more information and sign up?
If you’re keen to find out more information and discover how Brigad can help shape the future of your freelance hospitality career across Manchester, then make sure you head on over to the company’s website here.
The family-run gem doing tapas, craft beer, cocktails and live music just outside Manchester
Daisy Jackson
A good neighbourhood restaurant should be somewhere you can pop in to at any time of day, for just about any occasion.
Whether it’s coffee and a bake after the school run, a tapas night with your mates, a cosy cocktail with your partner, or even somewhere to end the night listening to live music, Gin & Brews is one such neighbourhood gem.
This brilliant family-run venue opened in an old bank in Garstang in 2023 and quickly spilled over into the unit next door, expanding its offering as it went.
It’s gone from a cosy bottle shop and microbar to a true neighbourhood haunt, with fantastic deals (like two pizzas and a bottle of wine for £25 on Thursdays) and cocktails made with their own distilled spirits.
The food is a big part of the appeal, particularly the tapas.
There’s bread and oils, chorizo and prawns, goat’s cheese and loaded potatoes, with plenty designed for sharing – you might want to order more than you think you need, but at £12 for three dishes, that’s no hardship.
You can get three tapas dishes for £12Lemon curd French toast
Then there’s the homemade honey and sea salt butter. It’s the sort of butter you try once and immediately want to tell everyone about.
For daytime visits, the brunch menu brings out perfectly poppable eggs and seriously good French toast, with the lemon curd a particular must-try.
And if you have dietary requirements, Gin & Brews is unusually well set up for gluten-free diners, with almost everything on the menu gluten free – even the beer – plus a generous selection of gluten-free bakes.
The drinks offering is where things get particularly interesting.
The team make their own spirits under the Garstang Gin name, with the distillery growing from just three spirits to an impressive 46.
It’s a natural progression for the owner, who previously worked in the drinks industry before leaving to set up her own gin distillery.
They distill their own Garstang Gin spirits for cocktailsInside Gin & Brews
Those spirits now make their way into the cocktails at Gin & Brews, giving the bar plenty of its own character and making it a particularly good shout if cocktails are your thing.
There’s also a constantly changing selection of craft beer, with the range switching up regularly, alongside the bottle shop, so there’s always something new to discover.
For somewhere that has grown so quickly, Gin & Brews still feels firmly rooted in its community.
Much of what goes onto your plate is sourced from businesses on the high street, including local butchers and egg suppliers. Even some of the cakes and cookies are made by one of the members of staff.
It feels fitting for a venue in Garstang, which is recognised as the world’s first Fair Trade Town.
Bakes at Gin & Brews are made by a member of staff
And while Wednesday and Thursday evenings are already busy, the team are keen to bring more people through the doors during the day. They certainly have the offering for it.
There are coffee-and-cake afternoons, brunch dates, tapas lunches, craft beer, cocktails and plenty of gluten-free treats to take away.
Then, when the sun goes down, the music comes on, with live performances at weekends and regular events bringing the place to life.
If you’re looking for a reason to venture out of Manchester for something a little different, this might just be it.
Gin & Brews has only been around for a few years, but it already feels like one of those places that has been part of the local scene forever.
And if the homemade butter doesn’t convince you, the cocktails probably will.
Magical Christmas experience in Manchester will bring The Polar Express to life
Daisy Jackson
A magical new Christmas experience is coming to Manchester this winter, bringing The Polar Express to life.
The fully immersive walkthrough experience will invite you on an enchanting journey to the North Pole, as you whizz past beautiful landscapes – all without actually leaving Manchester.
The all-new BELIEVE! THE POLAR EXPRESS Experience brings the beloved story to life, following the Hero Boy and Hero Girl.
Taking place at the O2 Victoria Warehouse, the experience begins in Hero Boy’s bedroom, before you step foot into the iconic The Polar Express carriage as a passenger.
Then you’ll be glued to the windows as you whizz through the Caribou Forest, past icy lakes, and dazzling Northern Lights displays.
Entertaining passengers every step of the way are beloved characters like the Conductor, Hero Boy, Hero Girl, and the mysterious Hobo.
You can get your golden ticket punched, warm up with a complimentary hot chocolate and a cookie, and be swept along by the festive tale.
Passengers will meet beloved characters from The Polar ExpressYou can visit the nice-o-meterAnd meet Santa himself
At the ‘North Pole’, the magic continues, with a Pyjama Party, a Letter Writing Station where you can send a note to Santa, visit the Naughty or Nice Machine, and craft a special Christmas decoration to take home.
You’ll even get the chance to meet Santa Claus himself…
While THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride has welcomed over 1.7 million riders in 2024, BELIEVE! THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Experience is a brand-new experience – no moving train, no stations.
Instead, the wonder of the story is brought off the tracks and into a hands-on environment.
The magic of The Polar Express will be brought to lifeFollow Hero Boy on his journey to the North Pole
Photo opportunities are available throughout the experience, and little ones (or grown-ups, we’re not judging) are encouraged to wear pyjamas to fully embrace the story.
BELIEVE! THE POLAR EXPRESS comes from Warner Bros., Discovery Global Experiences, Rail Events Inc., and Plus Live Events.
BELIEVE! THE POLAR EXPRESS takes place between14 November and 31 December at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, with tickets now available and expected to sell out quickly HERE.
A Relaxed Performance Day for guests with neurodiverse conditions will also be held.
Emily Sergeant -
7th June 2022 
