The iconic Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair (GNCCF) returns to Victoria Baths for its 17th year, with 200 contemporary designers expected to showcase and sell their wares.

The event takes place from Friday, October 18, to Sunday, October 20.

Makers and artists selected for their outstanding designs and flair, will be at the award-winning show, giving visitors chance to take home some beautiful crafts.

Guests can look forward to GR Hawes’s exquisite handcrafted glass sculptures, a joyful
celebration of colour and culture in British Pakistani artist Nehal Aamir’s ceramics, bespoke contemporary furniture and lighting design by Nick James and the latest collections from acclaimed jewellers Yvonne Gilhooly and Jennie Gill.

They’ll be joined by over 40 newcomers including knitwear designer Millicent Sanders, fresh from exhibiting at the Venice Biennale, and recent Royal College of Arts graduates, jeweller Lois Lo and goldsmith Hiumin Zhang.

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair puts a spotlight on the breadth of
contemporary craft and design talent in the UK today and celebrates emerging talent.

The upcoming show sees the return of Green Grads – a showcase of 20 UK graduates working across product design, craft and design engineering with innovative and sustainable ideas to heal the planet, and new for this year – Great Northern Graduates, a collective of 12 UK graduates creating outstanding work.

Feeling creative? Try your hand on a potter’s wheel or play with clay in free
workshops offered in partnership with Stockport’s Yellowhammer. With many makers also demonstrating their craft and the chance to chat with them about their work, the GNCCF is sure to be an inspiring and unmissable day out.

Ann-Marie Franey, fair founder and director, said: “Craft says something in a world
dominated by a throw-away culture. It says that something was made with love, great skill, and designed to last. Every year we’re so proud to bring an unrivalled line up of designer- makers to Manchester from all over the country and provide you with an opportunity to meet the makers and buy something with more than just monetary value.”

Victoria Scholes, development director of GNCCF, shares: “It’s a privilege to provide a
platform for so many new and established artists and makers to share their work with the thousands of visitors who come through our doors every year. You won’t see anything like it in the North, with each maker selected for the quality, desirability, and innovation of their work.”

For the full maker line-up and to buy tickets, visit: www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk/gnccf/2024-gnccf-exhibitors.aspx

A networking group that aims to help women “build meaningful connections” is
launching in Cheadle this month.

The Cheadle Women in Business Network (WIBN) group is set to meet for the first
time at The Red Lion, Stockport Road on Thursday, October 10.

Organisers expect it will be a sell-out event.

WIBN franchise owner Susie Sprigg (48) said: “The incredible interest and support I have received has been truly remarkable, though not entirely surprising.

“During the pandemic, I experienced first-hand the remarkable support within the
female business community. After losing my husband at the age of 52 the previous
year, I was in desperate need of connection, community and hope. I found all of that
and more through the Chester WIBN group online, who helped me to heal from my
grief.

“I first felt a strong urge to create my own in-person groups when the world began to
reopen. What started as a single group has now expanded to nine, and I have no
intention of stopping. I am committed to this work for life because I recognise how
vital it is for women to have a safe, inclusive space where they truly belong.”

Susie (pictured) has appointed two leaders to run the Cheadle group, which will meet from noon until 2pm on the second Thursday of each month.

Angel Scott-Bottoms is originally from Ohio, but recently became a UK citizen after living in South Manchester for the past seven years.

“Being a part of WIBN has helped me to feel more at home in my new home,” said
Angel (50) who launched her private therapy practice after retraining at the Manchester Institute for Psychotherapy.

“I believe that the true opposite of joy isn’t sadness, but isolation. That’s why building
meaningful connections is, to me, the best way to choose joy. My hope is for the
group members to truly know, like and trust one another. This is how we can create a
sense of community – something we all need more of in our lives.”

Kerrie Walton (51) who will co-lead with Angel, added: “I had spent 30 years in the
corporate world before starting my own leadership, coaching and mentoring
business. I knew I had to start networking locally, but it terrified me. My second
attempt was at a WIBN launch in Altrincham, where I met the wonderful Susie and
Angel, and discovered that networking can be relaxed, welcoming and fun! Plus, I’ve
grown my business as a result.

“What I’m looking forward to the most about the Cheadle launch is bringing that
supportive environment to a new group of networkers – both beginners and more
seasoned.”

Offering national networking opportunities online and in-person interactions at local
groups run by franchisees, WIBN will celebrate its twentieth anniversary next year.

“We’re nearing 1,000 members nationally,” said Susie. “Every day, more women are
joining us. The primary benefits are the sense of belonging and the opportunities for
growth.”

Mental health in the construction industry is set to be top of the agenda in 57 Jewson
branches and JPS hubs across the country next week, as they collaborate to host ‘The Big Brew’.

Designed to raise awareness of mental health challenges in the construction industry, The Big Brew is an annual campaign which encourages builders and tradespeople to come together over a hot drink to support one another.

It is the fourth year Jewson has championed the initiative from Band of Builders, its official charity partner.

Jewson and JPS are now encouraging general builders and specialist tradespeople to drop in to their nearest branch during the event on October 10,  to chat with branch teams and find out more about the free and confidential counselling service that Band of Builders offers.

For a second year, the event will be held in conjunction with On The Tools, the UK’s largest online construction community in the UK. Direct from Jewson Castleford, On The Tools will live-stream a panel discussion about how to break down the stigma surrounding mental health, with representatives from Jewson, JPS and Band of Builders. The stream will be available on the Jewson Facebook page.

Last year, On The Tools undertook research which found that 93% of UK tradespeople have experienced mental ill health in some way. The findings also showed that tradespeople are 26% more likely than workers in other industries to experience these challenges, and that less than a third (32%) of employed UK tradespeople who have struggled with mental health problems have access to free counselling or helplines from their employer.

Mark Esling, chief commercial officer for Jewson, said: “This is set to be our biggest ever Big Brew, with more branches getting involved each year. Jewson is proud to partner the trades, and this annual event shows just how seriously we as a business take the wellbeing of our customers, and the proactive steps we take to support them.

“Poor mental health is something that can affect anyone, at any time, and the figures from On The Tools show this to be staggeringly true of those working in the construction industry.

“On October 10, our doors will be open to those in need of an extra hand or a listening ear, and we hope lots of customers reach out to us, knowing we care about them as people, as well as professionals.”

Anyone working in the construction industry who’s struggling with their mental health can text BOB to 85258 24-hours a day, to connect with a Band of Builders representative and receive free support.