As a franchise for Costa Coffee we are passionate about finding the right people for our business.
We currently have Store Manager opportunities in the Gillingham and Shaftesbury areas of Dorset and are looking for someone committed to achieving results and giving their best every day.
Ideally, you will have management experience in the coffee industry but what is essential is a passion for customer service and an ability to confidently lead a team of individuals. The role will require a sound knowledge of team management, stock control, labour percentages and an ability to achieve a set of KPIs. Effective communication skills with both team members and senior management is critical for this position.
The Store Manager position is full time (42.5 hrs per week). We offer an attractive base salary of £28,000 and a potential £17,000k bonus per annum. We provide all training, both in our dedicated training centre at Boscombe and back in store.
Forcing yourself out for some fresh air each day is more essential than ever in the winter months, when it’s all too easy to choose curling up in the warm instead of pulling your wellies on. This particular walk is a regular favourite of ours – it’s much shorter than our usual hikes, and perfect for short midwinter days.
The first time we walked it was an unforgettable joy – we headed out on the afternoon of New Years Eve and we took it oh-so-slow. The light was glorious, the air was crisp, the shadows long, and we simply breathed in the dying embers of the year, making plans for better days ahead.
Beautiful low winter sunshine through the woods on the Roman road in the Vernditch Chase.
We’ve been asked for some shorter routes, and at just over four miles on wide easy tracks, this one’s for almost everybody. You will not be disappointed – though we can’t guarantee you the spectacular frozen landscape oir glorious sunset!
Beautiful icy reflections on the Cranborne Droves Way near Cow Down Hill.
Starting on the Ox Drove, there is always ample space to park under the trees. Then it’s a simple saunter along the drovers track, enjoying the views and the forest, until a short right cuts diagonally across to the Roman road on Vernditch Chase (we always cut this corner during the winter as the Roman road gets horribly sloppy – in the summer do square the corner along the edge of Knighton Wood).
Stunning winters light casting mesmurising shadows on the golden leaf carpet in the Vernditch Chase on the Cranborne Droves Way.
Then it’s a simple bridleway all the way back up to the road, and a short uphill back to the car – keep an eye out for the white deer.
A view across to Chickengrove Bottom, such a beautiful winters day.
As the sun finally starts to set we find ourselves back at the start at Cow Down Hill – thankfully we’re smart and there’s a flask in the car, and we have time for a hot chocolate while we watch the last of the winter sun before heading home.
The New Year will see the start of a new monthly column in the BV Magazine, celebrating the importance of local food production and the work of the organisations and businesses that promote it.
Local Flavours will feature news from the food and drink scene across the Blackmore Vale (and a little further), with interviews, the latest products, information on where to buy the best local and seasonal food and drink, updates on special or regular events, some tasty history from Dorset’s archives and kitchens – and the occasional recipe to stimulate you to try something new. And we’re thrilled to have persuaded Fanny Charles, author of the original Local Flavours column and long time editor of the original Blackmore Vale Magazine, to write it! Fanny was one of the founders and organisers of Screen Bites Food Film Festival, co-founder of the Dorset Festival of Food and Art, was Dorset Food and Farming Hero 2017, and is a judge and co-ordinator for the Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste Awards.
What’s the story behind Dorset’s famous Blue Vinny Cheese? When and where is your nearest farmers market? What label tells you something’s genuinely been made in Dorset by a local producer? You’ve heard of black garlic – but what would you do with it? Who was Sir Kenelm Digby – and why is he important in food history? You see “Free from …” labels and signs in supermarkets and there are allergy warnings on pub and restaurant pub menus. Many dishes and bakes are defined as gluten-free, but what does it mean to be coeliac, and which Dorset bakers have built their careers on creating fabulous pies, tarts, cakes and cookies which are safe for sufferers of this incurable condition?
From some of the world’s greatest cheeses (OK we’re prejudiced, we love farmhouse Cheddar – and Blue Vinny, of course) to award-winning gin, from organic farm products to the area’s best food festivals and fairs … Local Flavours will be serving up some interesting and appetising treats.
To celebrate the launch we’ve spoken to some of the myriad of local artisan food producers we have featured since launching the BV three years ago – and with their help we have put together a hamper filled to the brim with local produce, worth more than £400 for one lucky BV reader to win for Christmas!
We need to thank the following producers for their generosity and support:
To be in with a chance to win the Local Flavours Dorset Hamper, just answer the question in the widget box below – and as there’s gin and wine in the hamper we also have to check you’re over 18, sorry!
There are more chances to win by completing the other entry options if you so wish – they’re entirely up to you! The closing date for this competition is 14th December 2023 and only entries received on or before that date can be included. The prize will go to the first randomly chosen entry, and we will arrange to deliver the hamper the weekend of the 15th December. Good luck!
In this episode Terry gets to grips with some of the biggest issues currently pressing Chris Loder MP, Cllr Spencer Flower shares the music which is his memorial to his daughter, Penny Nagle talks to Jenny about a new producers market and Terry discovers the story behind award-winning Orris Leather in Wimborne.
Cllr Spencer Flower shares his life’s journey from a boy to a single mum on a Gillingham council estate to becoming the leader in charge of a £348m budget for Dorset Council as he chooses the music he can’t live without in Dorset Island Discs
In the second part of his interview, Terry talks to West Dorset MP Chris Loder about topics as diverse as the current state of government, the relentless drive to a cashless society and speed cameras on the A30.
Penny Nagle, well known for her Feltham’s Farm cheese, talks to Jenny about the new Horsington monthly market which is her brainchild, where local growers and producers are celebrating homegrown produce, promoting sustainability and fostering a real sense of community.
Dorset craftsmen Ed Waldron and Chris Holbrook have been internationally recognised as two of the world’s best under-40 leatherworkers – but it all sorted as a bit of a hobby.
Dorset Council is calling for the local community, organisations and businesses to back care-experienced young adults as they transition to adulthood. Care leavers often face the challenges of pursuing education or employment while developing life skills, without the family and friend networks that do so much to support other young people. Hall & Woodhouse has been a tremendous resource for Dorset’s care leavers, providing employment opportunities for young people who may have faced challenges entering the workforce due to their backgrounds or low self-confidence. The local firm organised information days and activities, including a cooking skills workshop, at their head office and brewery site in Blandford, leading to some care leavers securing jobs with Hall & Woodhouse across Dorset. Anthony Woodhouse, Chairman for Hall & Woodhouse, expressed his delight at being part of the Dorset Council Care Leavers programme and the opportunity it presented to support young talent in hospitality. Last year, Sky launched Sky Up, a programme created to tackle digital inequality, providing vital skills training through a dedicated £10 million fund. As part of Sky Up, the Tech Grants initiative helps young people leaving the care system by providing them with devices, connectivity and training. Working with Spectra and Dorset Council, 50 local young people received a technology bundle including laptop, rucksack, & digital active pen, and 18-months internet connection. The Dorset care leavers were also invited to a wellbeing event held at Bournemouth Football club, with a stadium tour and workshop teaching new ways to manage stress and anxiety. The young people also attended a celebration event at Sky’s head office – the day included a campus and Sky Studios tour and talks from Simon Thomas (Soccer Sunday host) and inspirational care-leaver, Ashley John-Baptiste. They took part in workshops and attended a session on future possible career opportunities at Sky and the media industry. Cllr Byron Quayle, Dorset Council’s Portfolio holder for Children, Education, Skills and Early Help said; ‘We want our care-experienced children and young people to thrive, develop their full potential and enjoy a settled adulthood. ‘We are grateful for the opportunities and support that Hall & Woodhouse and Sky offer to our young people – they are making such a difference. ‘We’d like to encourage more local businesses and organisations to consider how they could be part of Dorset’s initiative. If you’re willing to help, please do get in touch.’
To find out more or to offer support and opportunities, please contact [email protected]
Of, Shaftesbury formerly of Farrington sadly passed away on 16th November aged 81 years.
Loving Father and Grandad.
Funeral Service at St Peters Church Shaftesbury on Thursday 7th December at 10am, followed by a reception at the Grosvenor Hotel, Shaftesbury.
Family flowers please, but donations if desired for the Lullaby Trust and the Terrence Higgins Trust may be sent to Grassby and Close Funeral Service, 4 Innes Court, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10 1BB, Tel: 01258 471024.
Donkeys are a frequently misunderstood desert animal, says Sally Cooper, owner of Mr Pebbles, the man-donkey who steals hearts as well as glasses
Mr Pebbles at ten months old
The time has come – I have to accept that my latest baby is now not a boy, but a man … ish. Mister Pebbles is a 14-month old donkey. We initially called him Fluffy – yes, due to the long white hair of the tiny fluffball. Now, however, it is becoming eye-wateringly clear that he is very much a man-donkey. Confirmed recently when the visiting arborist asked me why I had a five-legged donkey! I don’t think that it is an exaggeration when I say that as a country we are very much under the spell of the donkey. Most of our visitors stop to speak with the donkeys before knocking at the door to see us mere humans. but as a nation we really don’t know much about the real life version of this much-loved cartoon creature. For starters they are equids, not equines – far better described as more like dogs than horses. It is naturally a desert animal, so it’s not a good idea to treat donkeys in the same way as a horse. For a start, they aren’t waterproof so they always need access to a roof over their head. Grass is not their natural choice of fodder, either – they need a lot of fibre, so tree branches and leaves (mine prefer willow), cut nettles and lots of thistles (apparently delicious). Woe betide any unknowing donkey owner who doesn’t feed them enough chunky fibre – they’ll soon start to eat the stable, the fence and the gate …
The noise, the naughtiness Influenced by their desert background, donkeys are also great stampers. If they find a dog that is not a family member in their field, they latch onto it like an Exocet missile and will stamp at (or on) it with their front legs. To be fair, you never know when you will need to stamp on a snake do you? Then there is the bray, that Eeyore sound. The noise, the volume, the pleading eyes … our neighbour’s donkeys are a mile away and they can talk quite happily to ours without leaving their field. Well, deserts are big places! This of course also explains the huge ears. Bonus fact: once they start to bray they can’t stop! Their absolute favourite pastime is humans. In order to keep you engaged they will try anything – removal of your glasses and dropping them in the water trough … standing in the middle of your exit route … shadowing your every side-step … or simply putting your coat zip in their mouths and walking in the opposite direction. I challenge anyone having a bad day not to feel more upbeat after a donkey chat.
Mr Pebbles with Rodney Images: Sally Cooper
Always a double act So the time has come for Rodney, our older donkey, to escort Mister Pebbles to the vet for castration. Donkeys are relaxed when in pairs and should never be separated – the vets always expect a double act. I can’t help thinking that Rodney will have a wry, knowing smile on his face as they go in!
Hours of work: 11.25 hours per week. 1:00pm- 3:15pm
Monday-Friday
Term time, fixed term only
Salary: Grade 15.3 £11.79 p/hr
We are seeking to appoint a part-time teaching assistant to join our team of dedicated teaching support staff. This is on a fixed term basis until 31st March 2024 (Longer term available, pending additional funding). The role will involve running interventions, under the direction of the SENCo, on a 1:1/small group basis to support Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils with learning in core subjects. The successful applicant will be adaptable in their role and able to show the necessary initiative and subject knowledge to support pupils.
Previous experience working in a school is preferable. You will be part of a happy, positive and inclusive learning environment. The applicant must be self-motivated with good communication skills.
The school welcomes applicants who are motivated to positively impact and enrich children’s lives and support the wider life of the school.
Milborne Port Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and all staff/volunteers must share this commitment. All appointments are subject to the necessary DBS and pre-employment checks. No CVs accepted.
Completed application forms should be returned by email to: [email protected]
Toots Bartlett reflects on the highs and hurdles of the 2023 eventing season, with decisions to make about her talented horses’ futures
Toots on Freestyle R, who is to move to pure dressage – she has made the tough decision to sell him
And just like that the 2023 eventing season is over! Perhaps a stranger season then most with the weather effecting a huge part of the spring campaign, but we managed to have a successful last few events. After a bad fall at Cornbury horse trails we had a few weeks off before Cor Y Taran finished his season with a win at Swalcliffe in Oxfordshire. He went on to jump clear at his first CCI3-S at Bicton last weekend. He’s an incredibly exciting horse! Being only seven and with very little time and experience behind him he coped amazingly in all three phases, and he made the tough cross country course with its long hills and sticky, muddy ground feel very easy. He will now have a very deserved month off out in the field (where he will be joined by my lovely four-year old) for a holiday, allowing tired muscles time to repair and relax. My plan for next year is to get Cor Y Taran to Blenheim for the 8/9yo CCI4 Championship next Autumn – I will make a proper winter plan with both my trainers on how and what we need to do to achieve this goal.
Tough business decisions Freestyle R has taken a new path recently and we are exploring the route of pure dressage with him – an area he has always specialised and excelled in. I’m having an interesting time learning pure dressage movements such as multiple changes and pirouette work. He achieved a very exciting 70 per cent at an Advanced Medium recently, givingh him the win. He is now training towards Prix St George and he is such a quick learner. Sadly Freestyle is going onto the market – although I am loving learning new tricks on him my focus will always be eventing, and I know he will give someone a huge amount of pleasure and success in pure dressage. Horses like Freestyle – safe, sound, kind, rideable and with a balance of mind and action – are incredibly rare and although I know he can fly in a new career and partnership it will break my heart to say goodbye. I feel this is the first proper ‘business’ decision I have had to make as I try and establish myself and it has not been an easy one! Charlie has won 11 out of 11 of his recent competitions, whether dressage or combined training, and this little horse has so much talent and scope. He is a stunning horse to look at and is jaw-droppingly beautiful under saddle. He belongs to my sister and he too needs to move on to a new partnership to allow me to bring in some youngsters to produce to event. It is very hard producing such lovely animals to then sell them, but as I grow older and understand more about building a business, it has slowly become a sad inevitablity. As the 2023 event season draws to its close I have more time on my hands for more freelance riding. If you have any horses you would like schooled/ jumped or merely exercised please do get in touch. I have had many seasons schooling hunters and improving them as well as youngsters. tootsbartletteventing.com
