Made in Rochdale trade fair a hive of activity

Fresh & Fruity - Winners of Best Stand at the Made in Rochdale trade fair

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Heywood Civic Centre was a hive of activity for the Made in Rochdale trade fair on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 March. The venue played host to around forty local women entrepreneurs showcasing their businesses and there was an exhibition of local artists. Skylight Circus entertained the visitors and the African Barbeque added to the festival atmosphere with their food and music.

A seminar programme included David Wacks from Wolfson & Co presenting a ‘Legal Health Check’, Treasured Time showing how everyday activities can help children with school work and Gymophobics with an introduction to ‘The balanced Food Plate’. Saturday entertainment was provided by Rochdale Borough Youth Band and Tower FM.
The stands were judged by Penny Sharp and Councillor Gartside, they said that choosing the winner was a very difficult decision as the standard of all the stands was so high, and the variety of services and products made it very interesting talking to business women about their businesses. The winner was Fresh & Fruity which is a local market garden offering the supply and maintenance of plants and floral displays to corporate clients and for special occasions.

Nicola Shindler was the keynote speaker and spoke about her own business and how she was one of the first females to set up her own production company, Red Production Company. She encouraged the women entrepreneurs to keep following their dreams for their own companies and not give up, even when things get really tough, which they do in every business, even her own. Ms Shindler also said how lucky women in Rochdale were to have an organisation like the Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) and now the Rochdale Women’s Enterprise Network (RWEN) to encourage each other and share ideas and also have someone to moan too when things got too much.

The exhibitors spanned a range of sectors including sculptors, finance, web design, hotel and catering, bridal, beauty and holistic therapies, toy makers and mobile barbecue services.

WEI Project Manager Barbara Davidson said: “Rochdale gets such a lot of bad press; events like this demonstrate that a great deal of creativity and strong work ethic exists within our community.”

The event was sponsored by the HSBC, NatWest, Costco who provided all the refreshments, Mann Salwar and Rochdale Online.

If you are interested in joining the Network, starting your own business or would like to showcase your business in 2009, please contact Jane Glaysher-White or Barbara Davidson for more information.

Email: jane.glaysherwhite@rochdale.gov.uk or barbara.davidson@rochdale.gov.uk

Tel: 01706 646471