It feels like we’ve been saying this for a while now, right? But with less than a week to go before it finally rolls around, the big day is bound to be here before we know it.
We all know by now that the festive season is gearing up to be a little different this year though, with the UK government having sadly conceded that “Christmas cannot be normal” amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and while it has been announced that up to three families can form a Christmas bubble between 23rd – 27th December, for a lot of people, this still means there will be friends and family members they are unable to spend time with.
This is probably why we’re all putting a little extra thought into our gift giving this time round, but for some of us though, even with all the best intentions, there are still a few presents yet to be bought.
Luckily, The Manc Store is the perfect place for those who are always on the last minute.
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If you’re looking for an opportunity to shop local and support small business this Christmas, there’s a wide range of Manchester-themed apparel pieces stocked on our site, and if you get your orders in by 17th December at 11.59pm (for Standard Delivery), or the same time on 19th December (Express Delivery), then each of these items will arrive to the front door of all UK customers before Christmas Day.
Here’s five of our favourites.
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Gail Platted Unisex Sweatshirt
£26.99
Get ‘Gail Platted’ this Christmas whether you’re drinking or not with what is possibly the greatest Coronation Street-themed jumper on the planet. With ribbed collars, cuffs and hem, this sweatshirt is a cosy solution to the cold, and is perfect for layering.
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This unisex jumper is available in sizes S – XXL, and comes in a range of four festive colours.
Coming in a stylish fit and made out of 100% cotton, this is classic t-shirt is by far one of our most popular products for kids, as is the babygrow – which is soft and cosy, fully machine washable and with lap shoulders to change your baby’s outfit easily – and are both a must-have for showing off their passion for our city.
Both the unisex t-shirt and babygrows are available in a range of sizes and colours.
Our popular ‘Worker Bee’ range comes in all sorts of variations, but one of our most popular pieces has to be this relaxed fit hoodie, which features ribbed cuffs and a front pocket, and even has a small hidden opening for earphone cord feed too.
This is our favourite hoodie of the season, for sure.
This unisex hoodie comes in a classic fit, and is available in sizes S – 5XL.
This is your chance to rep your city in our hugely-popular ‘Rainy City’ gear.
A wardrobe staple – coming in a classic style for men, and a semi-fitted style for women – these relaxed-fit t-shirts will update any look, and are part of our best-selling range, which also features sweaters, mugs and tote bags too.
There’s no better way to fly the flag for Manchester.
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This t-shirt is made out of 100% cotton, and is available in sizes S – 5XL.
Northern is hiring hundreds of new train drivers and conductors with ‘no previous experience’ needed
Emily Sergeant
Northern has just launched another massive recruitment drive, and is looking to hire hundreds of new train drivers and conductors.
The best bit? You don’t even need any previous rail experience to apply.
The train operator says it is looking to recruit as many as 300 drivers and conductors across right the north of England this year – with the new recruits all set to form part of the team that is responsible for running the over 2,500 services Northern provides to more that 500 stations throughout the region each day.
Northern says both its driver and conductor roles “require no previous rail industry experience”, as full paid-for training will be provided at its academies in Manchester and Leeds.
The company wants to welcome 108 new train drivers and 198 conductors in 2024.
Northern is hiring hundreds of new train drivers and conductors across the region / Credit: Northern
The train driver roles – which will be advertised in the coming months in Manchester, as well as other nearby locations like Blackburn, Blackpool, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, and more – come with a starting salary of £23,000 a year, which eventually rises to £54,500 after completing a 64-week training course.
The conductor roles, on the other hand – many of which will also be advertised in Manchester too – come with starting salaries of £22,000 that rise to £29,000 on completion of 16-weeks of training.
Northern says its 2024 recruitment drive is part of a “normal and ongoing recruitment process” across the region, and comes as a handful of its other team members retire, earn promotion, or move on to the next stage of their career.
No previous rail experience is required for the roles / Credit: Northern
“We have a range of rewarding roles for anyone who wants to become part of a dedicated team,” commented Tricia Williams, who is the Chief Operating Officer at Northern, as the recruitment drive launched this week.
“We are looking for customer-focused people with excellent communication skills, who thrive in a dynamic environment and may not have considered a career in rail before. We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve, and we’re proud to include people from all walks of life in our team, from military veterans and ex-police officers, to former office workers, and stay-at-home parents.”
Ms Williams said the rail operator will be recruiting all throughout 2024, and is encouraging hopeful candidates to register for job alerts on the Northern website so they don’t miss out.
You can find out more information and apply for roles here.
Featured Image – Northern
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Aldi’s viral sell-out BBQ pizza oven is back in UK stores this week
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has announced that its viral BBQ pizza oven that absolutely flies off the shelves every time it goes on sale is coming back to UK stores.
And it’s just in time for the temperatures to soar this spring and summer.
Known and loved by shoppers nationwide for “delivering delicious restaurant-style pizzas” at a fraction of the price, the BBQ Pizza Oven first went on sale in Aldi stores back in 2022, and has been in high-demand from pizza lovers to return ever since.
Described as being “practical and compact”, the oven sits atop of your regular barbecue and is compatible with both gas or charcoal grills.
Aldi’s viral sell-out BBQ pizza oven is back in UK stores this week / Credit: Aldi | Amirali Mirhashemian (via Unsplash)
Thanks to featuring both a high-quality ceramic pizza stone and an integrated thermometer, this means anyone, from the self-professed pizza professionals right through to the cooking rookies, can chef-up a 12-inch pizza in just 10 minutes flat.
Aldi says shoppers can even “save themselves some serious dough” too, as this spring and summer essential is on sale for 55% less than an equivalent product at Dunelm, so there’ll be no need to part with that extra £49.
Aldi’s BBQ Pizza Oven will only set you back £39.99 when it goes on sale this week.
You can chef-up a 12-inch pizza in just 10 minutes flat / Credit: Aldi
Available from this Thursday (21 March), and landing in the classic ‘Specialbuys’ middle aisle section of Aldis across the UK, shoppers looking to feast on hearty pizza while the sun shines will need to be quick if they want to get their hands on one though, as it’s expected to sell out fast, just as it has done in previous years.
And, as is the case with all Specialbuys, “once they’re gone, they’re gone”.
If the BBQ Pizza Oven sounds like a pizza you (pun very-much intended… regrettably), then you can find the opening times of your nearest store on the Aldi website here.