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Innovative eyewear brand IOLLA is opening a new store in Manchester next month

Scottish brand IOLLA is expanding, and bringing its fresh take on eyewear retail to our city centre.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 21st July 2022

One of Scotland’s best-loved eyewear brands is expanding, and has picked Manchester as the location for its first-ever English store.

IOLLA may originally be known to Mancunians for designing Tommy Shelby’s specs in the hit BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders, but now, following success in its native country, the innovative glasses brand is bringing a fresh take on eyewear retail to the shopping and fashion scene in our city centre, and will be opening its doors in St Ann’s Square.

The independent brand has introduced a new way to buy eyewear by offering affordable, quality glasses and sunglasses for a single price point.

What makes IOLLA different to many other high street glasses labels is that the brand prides itself on keeping its pricing “simple and honest” by refusing to include any hidden costs or added extras – which means that prescription lenses and coatings are all included within the standard £85. 

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On top of that, IOLLA showrooms are known for allowing customers to browse, try-on the collection, and place their orders in a fun and relaxed environment. 

When the new IOLLA Manchester store opens in early August, customers will get the chance to experience an in-store ‘styling session’ with an IOLLA eyewear expert – who will use their expertise to help people find the perfect pair.

IOLLA
IOLLA

As IOLLA doesn’t offer eye tests, customers planning on visiting the showroom are encouraged to have their prescriptions to hand before placing their order through the digitally-enabled platform, either in person or online. 

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All of the brand’s glasses and sunglasses are handmade, uniquely-designed, and built to last by using the best-quality components and materials available. 

IOLLA guarantees there are several styles of its glasses to suit everyone, meaning that customers can develop their very-own ‘eyewear wardrobe’ full of multiple pairs of eyewear that is unique to their own personal style and taste. 

Innovative glasses brand IOLLA is bringing a fresh take on eyewear retail to Manchester / Credit: IOLLA

“We are incredibly excited to be launching our first store outside of Scotland, and where better than Manchester?,” said Stefan Hunter – CEO at IOLLA.

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“One of the fashion capitals of the UK – and the perfect launch location for IOLLA south of the border.

“We can’t wait to bring our range of high quality, affordable glasses to the city, including our MacDonald frames, inspired by Tommy Shelby’s glasses worn in series five of Peaky Blinders. We know Manchester has a link to the show already, so feel confident that they’ll be a popular choice with locals.

“With an enormous range of frames and colours, we guarantee that there are several options for everyone.

“This will enable you to find plenty of styles handpicked for your own personal look.”

The Scottish brand will be opening its first showroom in England in St Ann’s Square next month / Credit: IOLLA

IOLLA Manchester is opening on St Ann’s Square in the heart of the city centre in early August, with exact dates to be confirmed, so keep your eyes peeled.

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You can find out more and shop the brand before it opens here.

Featured Image – IOLLA

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How apprenticeships at Salford City College help people build, or totally relaunch, their careers

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson

Stepping foot onto a new career ladder can be intimidating, whether you’re straight out of school or have been in the world of work for years. 

It’s why so many people choose apprenticeships as a way to build an occupation they can be passionate about. 

An apprenticeship is a job with training. It’s a real job, with hands-on experience. You will have a contract of employment and an apprenticeship study programme to support your development.

And apprenticeships aren’t just for those who are beginning their careers. 

Salford City College. Credit: Supplied

Apprenticeships at Salford City College deliver a wide range of apprenticeships at many levels, including programmes for those already working at a management level.

One such person is Sarah Scanlan. Last year, she moved into a more senior role at Salford City Council and went down the apprenticeship route to invest in her personal development to advance her leadership skills.

She said: “I saw this as a great opportunity to invest in me.

“I had limited experience of managing people, and so I really felt the need to broaden my skill set.” 

Sarah undertook her apprenticeship during the pandemic but found that studying in this way still provided a lot of support. 

Sarah and Jordi with assessors Lydia and Karen. Credit: Supplied

Sarah added: “It’s been really helpful to know that there is so much support on hand from the College, no matter what day or time, there’s always someone to help you when you need it.

“My assessor Karen has been the biggest help to me throughout this whole process. Whether it’s at eight o’clock in the morning or six in the evening, she has been there to answer all of my burning questions.”

Sarah also had the task of supporting another apprentice at a much earlier stage of their career path, sharing her skills and knowledge with Level 3 Business Administration apprentice Jordi Matthews.

“Apprenticeships are challenging but immensely rewarding,” Sarah said.

Jordi said: “I chose to do an apprenticeship as I left University, and I thought that it was a great opportunity to get into the world of work and to get onto the career ladder.”

Kris Buckley, who undertook an accountancy apprenticeship at Salford City College. Credit: Supplied

Another person who embarked on an apprenticeship later in life is Kris Buckley, who had previously worked as a section leader in a supermarket before undertaking an accountancy qualification. 

He said: “Working in an industry that wants and relies on experience, I feel privileged that my employer has invested in my development through an apprenticeship.

“With every big decision, there will be reservations, but deciding to pursue my apprenticeship was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Read more: Mani from The Stone Roses is throwing a fundraising party with his wife following cancer diagnosis

Now almost finished with his apprenticeship, Kris said: “Having completed my level 2 qualification at Salford City College, undertaking an apprenticeship with the College felt like a positive next step, having experienced the expert and professional training they deliver.

“I am looking forward to the future and climbing up the ladder in my career.”

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If you would like to follow in the footsteps of Sarah, Jordi and Kris and start an apprenticeship, then contact the Apprenticeships at Salford City College team on: 0161 631 5555 or [email protected]

Featured image: Unsplash

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Adventure golf, escape rooms, 2-for-1 cinema tickets, and more at Printworks this summer holidays

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Adventure golf, escape rooms, and 2-for-1 tickets to catch the newest blockbusters are just some of the things families can be getting up to at Printworks this summer.

With schools across Greater Manchester now out for the summer holidays, the city centre’s landmark entertainment complex is promising “family fun and fantastic food” – with a wide range of activities and offers for parents, carers, and guardians looking for exciting ways to keep the kids occupied to make the most of.

From film buffs, to puzzle masters and tee-off champions, Printworks assures there’s “something for everyone” of all ages to get stuck into over the next six weeks.

The venue’s escape room centre Escape Reality is offering massive 25% off all escape rooms between Monday – Thursday this summer, and you’ll have an hour to tackle a series of puzzles and challenges inside “uber-real” and “movie-inspired” escape rooms to make sure you get out in time and maybe even gain a place on the coveted leaderboard.

You’ll just need to use the discount code ‘HEATWAVE25’ at the checkout when you book online until 31 August to claim a 25% discount.

Escape Reality and Treetop Adventure Golf are ideal places to take the kids while schools are out / Credit: Printworks

For those looking for an “epic adventure” this summer, Treetop Adventure Golf has got an exclusive ‘Family Saver’ deal currently running, and it lets families with at least one child aged 12 or under choose to play a round of 18 holes for just £32, or 36 holes for £50.

The Early Bird deal will also be running every Monday to Friday throughout the summer holidays for those early morning risers, where you can tee off before midday and play two courses for the price of one.

If films are more your thing, then Vue’s ‘Mini Morning’ sessions – which are running every morning in the summer holidays from 10am – give both adults and kids the chance to experience big screen entertainment from just £2.49 per ticket, with a whole host of family-friendly flicks and some of the latest blockbusters ready to watch

2-for-1 cinema tickets are available at Vue all summer long / Credit: Printworks

Not only that, but you can also still make the most of ‘Meerkat Movies’ throughout the summer, and enjoy 2-for-1 film tickets every Tuesday or Wednesday with the Meerkat app by entering your code when booking tickets online, or showing the code to a Vue staff member when buying tickets at the cinema.

Read more: Adults-only ball pit, bingo, drag brunches and more coming to Printworks

If all that action has got you working up a hunger, then there’s plenty of children’s meal deals at different Printworks restaurants to tuck into afterwards.

wagamama and Frankie and Benny’s are two of the Printworks restaurants offering children’s meal deals this summer / Credit: Printworks

Frankie and Benny’s, Nandos, wagamama, and Chiquito are some of the chains with offers on.

At Frankie and Benny’s, kids can choose a drink, main, side, and dessert from just £6.49, while at Nando’s, there’s a set menu for under 10s for just £5.95, and at wagamama, kids can become part of the koclub and tuck into tasty mini dishes from just £4 each, and at Chiquito, a main, side, dessert, and drink costs just £6.99.

The kids meal deal at O’Neills will only set you back £4.50, and they can pick a classic main meal, a side and a portion of veg, and finally choose a sweet treat to finish.

Find out more about summer at Printworks here.

Featured Image – Printworks

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