Sherborne locals and visitors alike are in for a treat, as the Totally Locally Fiver Fest comes to town from the 12th to the 26th March.
Sherborne is joining over 100 towns and thousands of businesses across the UK who are joining together to bring you a fortnight of special £5 deals. The plan is to highlight the contribution to the economy that local shops and businesses bring. “Fiver Fest happens three times per year,” said Jane Wood, organiser “and it is now a big part of our Sherborne business year. The community support for local businesses has been amazing during lockdown, but it is easy to slip back into old shopping habits now that things are returning to normal. So this is a little nudge to say ‘Our local businesses are still here, we are still serving our community and we appreciate your support. And of course we are great value!”.
Why £5?
Jane says Fiver Fest is based around the now famous Totally Locally £5 message: “If every adult in Sherborne spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops and businesses, it would mean £1.9m per year going directly into our local economy. Which can lead to more jobs, a better high street, a stronger economy & a nicer place to live. Makes you think doesn’t it?!”
Totally Locally founder Chris Sands said “It’s a campaign that sees incredible offers from £5 massages to £5 veg boxes, £5 walking tours, £5 lunch deals, £5 manicures… Independent business owners are really inventive with their offers, and we encourage them to also promote their neighbouring businesses offers too. Fiver Fest is about everyone working together to promote their town as a whole. If lots of shops have great offers on, the trip to the high street is really fun!
Jane said Fiver Fest shows that a small change in your spending habits can really make a difference to our high streets. “Just by diverting £5 of our weekly spend to local independents we give them a fighting chance to thrive and to keep our High Street alive. Fiver Fest makes that easy, and it’s genuinely fun to be part of”
For any independent business wishing to participate in the Fiver Fest in Sherborne, please contact [email protected]
Salary: £28,000 – £30,000 per annum, plus pension and optional private medical plus 22 days of annual leave
Role:
The Injured Jockeys Fund is a charity whose vision is to improve the lives of injured jockeys and their families. We do this by providing immediate and ongoing help and support to all current and former jockeys who have held professional, amateur and point to point license plus apprentices and conditionals and their families. We provide an independent, confidential and sensitive welfare service, supporting injured jockeys and their families on a case-by-case basis.
We are expanding our services into the Southwest of England where we have a high population of jockeys both current and retired and are therefore looking for a new member of staff to join our welfare team. The job includes a mix of office-based work, face to face visiting and outward bound PR campaign at point to points, racecourses and local yards. Additionally, internally you will working closely with the IJF Centre in Lambourn and the Clinical and wider Centre teams post physical injury.
What’s it like to work for us?
These are some comments from the current Welfare team who would be your colleagues:
“I am extremely proud of the work that the Injured Jockeys Fund does and to be part of the team. It is an environment where I feel valued, well-supported and provided with numerous opportunities to grow and learn.”
“I think we are a demonstrably friendly and supportive team who actively strive to get the best for colleagues and beneficiaries alike. We want people to succeed and encourage everyone to blossom.”
This month’s news from the unofficial capital of the Blackmore Vale…
The shops are shaking off their winter gloom and brightening up the town with their displays, says Pauline Batstone.
It’s finally beginning to look a lot like spring, and in Stur the shops are ready to greet you with windows to cheer up a grey day. The Boutique at The Market Cross currently has a gorgeously bright and fresh window display to tempt you in for your spring wardrobe – with quality clothes and accessories at knock-down prices inside, of course. Meanwhile The Emporium in The Market Place has had a major reshuffle inside. A picture gallery is planned for upstairs to display the many pictures which have been donated – there is currently a wide range of prints, paintings, cartoons and photos in stock to give your home a new look (or maybe just provide a new frame for an upcycling project). Downstairs is the usual treasure trove of useful household items, many of which you naturally had no idea you needed until you saw them. Maybe replace that chipped mixing bowl or treat yourself
to a new jug for the daffodils? There’s an ever-changing variety of beautiful china, ‘collectables’, books (at a standard bargain price of four for a £1!) and music.
And of course the gentlemen can themselves update their look for spring in ‘Dapper Chaps’.
Important dates for your diary!
Some of the money raised from the sale of your pre-loved goods in The Emporium and The Boutique goes towards organising events for residents to enjoy, and to bring new shoppers into town. There are some great spring events planned to bring you into the town centre, put them in your diary now;
First Saturday of the month – next is 5th March (providing the weather’s not forecast to be awful!) the car enthusiasts bring their pride and joy to admire and swap stories in the Station Road Car Park. Anyone can come along – we have cars and bikes from modern to vintage. It’s very informal, no attendance fee, parking is free and we’re a friendly welcoming bunch! The public liability insurance is paid for by The Community Benefit Society.
Easter events:
There will be a Spring Quiz in the Sturminster Newton shops during the holiday period – the Stur Quiz Trails are always popular, they’re a great free activity with the kids during the holidays.
Good Friday, 15th April:
A day of solemn remembrance with a short service at 12.00 noon at the Cross erected in the Market Place, with Hot Cross Buns afterwards.
Easter Saturday, 16th April:
On the morning of Easter Saturday, the Women’s Institute will be running an Easter Bonnet Making Workshop in The Church Hall beside St. Mary’s Church, followed by an Easter Bonnet Parade up through the town to The Exchange patio area for judging – anyone can join the Parade. Also on Easter Saturday, the Mill will be open and milling.
Easter Sunday, 17th April:
In the morning, Easter Egg tokens will be will be hung around town to be redeemed for real Easter Eggs in the Church from 12.00 noon onwards.
Easter Monday, 18th April
The Mill will be open and milling.
7th May A Wedding Fair is planned to be held around the businesses in the Town; more details to follow.
2nd to 5th June The Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend – details are still being discussed by The Town Council and the Community Benefit Society so more details to follow, but;
Thursday 2nd – Beacon Lighting Railway Gardens
Friday to Sunday – The Exchange Real Ale and Cider Festival
Saturday 4th June – Car Enthusiasts Meet in Station Road Car Park
Craft Market at The Exchange
Anonymous Travelling Market in Station Road and the Market Place
Garden Fair in The Railway Gardens
Sunday 5th June – 12.00 to 3.00 p.m. The Big Lunch and Fancy Dress Parade in The Railway Gardens
13th to 19th June Sturminster Newton Literary Festival – the week-long festival includes various literary- themed events, including a Victorian Fete in the Railway Gardens on the afternoon of Saturday 18th.
July 1st to 3rd – the Boogie Woogie Festival hope to be back
20th to 29th August – SturBuzz; it’s all about bees and sustainability and fun – with a fancy dress parade on Sunday 29th (your best bee costume).
And then of course it’s the Cheese Fair on the 10th and 11th of September, there may be something about the Queen’s Green Canopy in October, and then we are back to Christmas again…
Plans for the old bank to be a new business space supporting localproducers and sellers
Plans are well underway – past the point of no return! – to give you even more ways of spending your money in the former Nat West Bank, which is being transformed into an indoor shopping destination. If you are a business person, looking for somewhere to sell your goods directly to the public, all day, six days a week, 52 weeks a year, then please pop into The Emporium and leave your details with the shop staff there so that we can get in touch with you. Alternatively, email Pauline Batstone: [email protected]
One of my favourite things in the world is a freshly made and heavily sugared doughnut, full to the brim with wonderfully sharp raspberry jam. Learning how to make them was a dangerous step for me: I was genuinely concerned I would never stop, such is my intense love for them! This recipe is not difficult to make, but it does take a little time – you need to allow for the dough to rise twice. You can also experiment with fillings – I have added lemon curd or nutella in place of the jam before, and they work well with any kind of jam or curd. I even made them with coffee jam once! I recently discovered From Dorset with Love’s peach jam which is a delight and would be wonderful as a doughnut filling. Heather x
Ingredients
480g strong bread flour
14g quick action yeast
1 tsp salt
40g butter
30g caster sugar
220ml milk
2 eggs
1litre vegetable oil • raspberry jam
extra caster sugar
Heather Brown is on the committee of the Guild of Food Writers; a home economist with a passion for Dorset’s brilliant foodie scene. Heather runs Dorset Foodie Feed, championing Dorset’s food and drink businesses, as well as working with her food industry clients.
Directions
In a measuring jug, measure out the milk and then • heat up gently (either in a microwave or on a hob in a saucepan) until warm. Once the milk is warm (not boiling), add in the butter and stir so that it melts into the warm milk. Add the yeast to the warm milk and stir well so it dissolves. •
In a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer bowl), add together the flour, salt and sugar and stir to combine.
Add the milk mixture and the eggs to the flour mixture and beat together to form a soft, slightly sticky dough. Knead the dough so it becomes very smooth (3-4 • minutes in a stand mixer or 5-6 minutes on a floured surface by hand).
Lightly oil the inside of a bowl and place the dough • inside. Cover with cling film and leave somewhere warm to double in size – about an hour.
Meanwhile, line two baking sheets with • greaseproof paper. Then cut out 12 squares of greaseproof paper and place onto the lined baking sheets (about 10cm x 10cm). Oil these lightly. These paper squares are for the doughnuts to rest • on and make picking them up later to pop into the oil a lot easier. By oiling the paper the dough balls will slip easily into the hot oil and you won’t lose • any of the rise in this process.
Once the dough is risen, lightly oil both your kitchen work surface and your hands and take out the dough (the oil on your hands will stop the sticky dough from sticking to you). •
Cut the dough into 12 pieces and shape each into a ball. Place each ball onto its own little square of oiled paper on the baking sheets. Cover loosely • with cling film and leave to prove again for 45 minutes.
As you are getting close to the end of the 45 minutes, pour the oil into a large saucepan and leave to heat up. The oil needs to reach between 160o and 180oC and I recommend using a thermometer to track this temperature. While you are waiting, cover a wire rack with a couple of layers of kitchen towel.
Once the oil is hot enough, gently pick up the doughnuts by the paper and drop them into the oil (careful the oil doesn’t splash you – it is hot!). You may need to cook your doughnuts in batches, it depends on how large your saucepan is. You want just enough to cover the surface with space to bob about (they will float).
The doughnuts will need around 2 minutes on each side; carefully flip them over in the oil to make sure they are nicely browned on both sides. Once browned, remove from the oil with a spatula and leave to cool on the paper towels (this helps to soak up some of the excess oil).
Once all of the doughnuts have been cooked, turn off the oil and leave it to cool down somewhere safe. NB. Hot oil on the stove should never be left unattended.
Add some caster sugar to a bowl and roll each cooked doughnut around in the sugar, coating each side generously.
Place your jam into a piping bag. Make a small hole in the side of each doughnut with a sharp knife and then pipe jam into the doughnut.
Heather’s Tips:
I find it is best to store the doughnuts on their sides with the jam hole facing upwards (see picture) to avoid the jam escaping! Doughnuts are best eaten the day they are made but if you do keep yours for a day, then 10-20 seconds in the microwave and a little extra sugar will revive them (the jam does get hot doing this so be careful!).
As the care staffing crisis continues to deepen, local care companies are turning to qualified international recruits to fill their staffing void.
New Apex Prime Care’s team members heading for the UK in February
The pandemic has shown us just how much our society depends upon our front line carers – the previously unrecognised, often unrespected workers who look after our most vulnerable. But there’s now a recruitment crisis in the industry, with countless jobs seemingly unable to be filled from our domestic workforce. The staffing crisis is forcing local care homes to close or turn away vulnerable elderly people in desperate need of care.
In December the government announced that thousands of additional care workers are to be recruited from abroad to fill the chronic gaps. Care workers will be added to the Home Office’s shortage occupation list, which is designed to help migrants get work visas to fill jobs where there are shortages.
Two years of challenge
Glastonbury-based Candlelight Care has been recruiting non- stop since the beginning of the pandemic two years ago.
“We saw an increase in enquiries New Apex Prime Care’s team members heading for the UK in February early on in 2020, but when the daily death figures began to rise, and furlough was introduced (and extended), enquiries fell to an all-time low” says Roxanne Brown, Candlelight Care’s recruitment officer. “We still have at least 30% of vacancies to fill, as we are now also having to compensate for losing staff due to them feeling completely burnt out from the last two years. We cover Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and East Sussex and all areas have less staff now than we did at the start of the pandemic. “Finding local people who will even respond to our calls or emails after applying, is proving ever more difficult – possibly due to the general perception of care work being ‘menial’ – it’s considered work for the unqualified, and many find domestic and caring chores demeaning. “The pay is also a challenge. We were proud to be able to introduce a pay increase for our care and support workers back in November; they are all Care Champions and deserve the recognition and reward. However it still doesn’t reflect just how valuable they are to us.”
Getting staff to stay
While recruitment is a seemingly- permanent challenge, retention is just as important to Roxanne right now “we are committed to rewarding our current staff who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and repeatedly gone above and beyond any expectations. We are so proud of all of our staff here, including those who have the stressful behind-the-scenes responsibilities!” (you can see Candlelight Care’s current job ad on p.66 here).
Some of the new Apex Prime Care team are already at work: from L-R Dave, Irish, Bonnie, Liezl, Milo. Front row is Sam on the left and Aujie on the right
Turning to the Philippines
Local care company Apex Prime Care has partnered with smiliarly family-run business BMB International Recruitment, a well- established and ethical overseas healthcare recruitment company, to combat the significant challenges they are also facing with recruiting and retaining frontline carers.
Apex Prime Care are offering cars and sourcing accommodation to smooth the transition to the UK for their new team members. They will also be on hand every step of the way to help integrate the new recruits into the team and into wider society.
Why the Phillippines?
One part of the world with a reputation for providing unrivalled levels of service and care is the Philippines; possibly because the islands have very high educational standards, and with English being the second language, there’s no problem when it comes to communicating effectively in the UK. Huge numbers of Filipino students go on to higher education, with many of them specialising in medicine, hospitality and the care industry. With unemployment so high in their own country, many Filipinos head for other parts of the world, where they can command much higher salaries than they would be able to at home. And the UK is a favourite destination, offering great opportunities for empathetic and hardworking Filipinos.
The first of Apex Prime Care’s Filippino recruits arrived in the UK in February
Apex Prime Care’s Ben Patrick said “The new team member’s qualifications are outstanding. BMB are recruiting healthcare staff with 4-year bachelor’s degrees in health or social care, plus 1 year work experience for Senior Care Workers. “19 of our 45 new team members have already arrived and are settling into life in the UK; they have been learning about our culture, exploring their new community, training with the team and meeting their new colleagues and service users. “The need for care in the community is only increasing and with health and social care experiencing one of its most difficult times in history for recruitment and retaining carers, we have started overseas recruitment to help relieve the pressures on hospitals and local authorities, and to fill the void of 120,000 vacancies in the health and social care industry.”
Needed to work on Road Surfacing sites (Surface Dressing) with contracts in the Dorset area. Wage will be up to £120 per day nett depending on experience (take-home). Start date will be from mid-March. There will be the need to work flexible hours and weekends. Full Induction and PPE will be provided.
Experience of Tipper / Road Sweeping would be beneficial, however training will be provided. Must hold a current Class 2 LGV License and CPC. Must be able to work on their own initiative and have a positive ‘can do’ attitude. Must be willing to work flexible hours and weekends.
Male or female drinks are nonsense, of course – so why is the industry still suffering under a ‘boys club’ mentality, asks Sadie Wilkins.
A dry white wine for the lady, and I’ll have a pint please. When it comes to drinking alcohol, for years society has happily categorised certain beverages as being either male or female. The gender debate in wine has always been an interesting one. We even see grape varieties receiving the stereotype treatment – Bordeaux belonging to men and the likes of pinot grigio and rosé winning the hearts of women only. Now, of course we know this isn’t true, but these outdated labels unfortunately do crop up every now and then still.
Remarkably, the labels applied to the drinking of alcohol are almost role reversed when it comes to producing, sourcing and selling wine. The ‘glass of vino’ no longer belongs to women, the very people who we previously labelled as being the stereotypical drinker.
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It’s a man’s wine world
We are proud to be a mostly female team at Vineyards, in a very male dominated arena; don’t get us wrong, we know both awesome women and men in the wine and spirit trade, who do marvellously at their jobs and know their stuff. But there is a definite sense of pride in knowing that you are helping to buck a trend. The last couple of years have been incredible for us; we’ve climbed the ranks of Harpers’ Wine Top 50 UK merchants to number five, and we moved premises to expand our business. But we would be lying if we didn’t say it wasn’t noticeable that we were the only females on the finalist award ceremony zoom call for Harpers. As we sat in anticipation for our placement, we stared back at 9 other squares for the top ten and were surrounded by men. It made us proud yet saddened in equal measure.
Shattering the walls of the industry
One thing that we love about International Women’s Day (this year on Tuesday 8th March) is the spotlight it shines on some amazing people achieving wonderful things in their given industries. This month we wanted to share the love for some of our incredible producers – who just so happen to be women. Let’s start with the awesome Kathy from Brighton Gin. Back in 2012 Kathy decided to trial making a gin – and thank goodness she did. We have stocked Brighton Gin since 2015; it’s made using 100% organic pure wheat spirit and 100% vegan. This gin really is a great addition to anyone’s drinks cabinet, distilled in small batches in Brighton this juniper- led gin really has a flavour punch but with a subtle smooth undertone.
Samantha O’Keefe, owner of the Lismore Estate, is one of our favourite producers in South Africa. Samantha has managed to keep smiling throughout the last couple of years when alcohol sales were banned in South Africa, and her winery was caught in a bushfire (thankfully not all her stock was in storage there). I am a real fan of her Age of Grace Viognier. Simply sublime, oily, fleshy peach and orange blossom notes roll onto the palate which stays ripe but perfectly balanced. Another winemaker we have been impressed with for a while has been Marinette Garnier from Burgundy House Jaffelin. Marinette is producing not only amazing still wines but also sublime Crémant too. We were lucky enough to have Marinette host a customer tasting evening a couple of years ago. She can recite the start dates of each harvest; it is that kind of dedication that leads to the most beautiful wines. Whether you are drinking her Meursault or her Vin de France Pinot Noir, you know that she has overseen the whole process.
Please feel free to pop in and sample some stunning wines that have been made by amazing winemakers who just happen to be female. Starting on Tuesday 8th March until Friday 11th March, we shall have a selection of wines open for customers to try. Don’t just take our word for it, let the wines show off themselves. Cheers!
Storm Eunice caused damage across the county on the 18th of February. But six days later the village of Bagber was still without power – Rachael Rowe spoke to the residents as their resilience began to wear thin.
Paul Read checks his lambs in Bagber: Image Rachael Rowe
Lambing season is in full swing in Bagber. Excited resident Melissa Arnold proudly tells me she has just been taught to birth her first lamb by neighbour Jason Read. But, when Storm Eunice hit recently, the scene in this Dorset hamlet was a different story. Bagber was without electricity for six days, causing significant challenges for the residents.
Life went dark
Bagber might be just a small rural hamlet, but losing electricity affected people in diverse ways. There is no gas supply in the area, which meant that there were no heating or power alternatives when the power is lost. Local businesses reliant on the internet were unable to operate. Farmers lambed in the dark with no hot water or heat. Families were unable to heat food. Most of us have managed this for a few hours – but six days?
“We felt like we had been abandoned,” said Melissa, who runs a graphic sign writing company. “All our business is conducted online. We could not get emails, new customers could not contact us. We don’t know if any new customers just never got through.” When Melissa tried to get help from SSEN, the communication was inconsistent. “We could not speak to a human being.
Everything was automated. Facebook Messenger sent automated messages. And they told us the power was back on… it definitely wasn’t!”
New lambs need warmth
Today, Paul Read checks newly born lambs, let out in the fields for the first time. “They go out after a week. Any earlier, and the fox will get them.”
Although Paul shrugs off any mention of difficulty in the power outage, it was challenging for him and his brother Jason to manage the lambing, especially at night. They had head torches, but lambing can be unpredictable, and new lambs need warmth.
Melissa Arnold with one of Jason Read’s lambs in Bagber: Image Rachael Rowe
Jo Moss recently moved to Bagber. Her son has complex special needs and finds sudden change hard to process. Jo explained: “We had to constantly explain why nothing was working to him. If we go away, for example, he needs processing time to deal with a new situation. With the power outage, we kept being told the electricity would be back on at 11pm, and then it wasn’t. Explaining that to my son was hard.”
Leaving wasn’t an option
Although Bagber isn’t that far from Sturminster Newton, which had power, there were various reasons why the residents didn’t leave. “People have pets and livestock,” Melissa explained. “Although we did eat out on some evenings, it was hard for others. One household is a family of eight, with five children, so eating out each evening would have been really expensive.” It was a similar situation for Jo Moss: “They suggested we stay with friends or relatives. But my nearest ones are a 60-mile round trip away. It’s not that easy.”
Community support
Local businesses were very supportive. “Dikes (Stalbridge’s independent supermarket) did a home delivery within two hours of my electricity coming back on,” said Jo, “And Thyme after Thyme were fantastic. They gave me a free cup of tea and let me charge my phone.”
No communication
But why was messaging from a utility company so inconsistent? And why did it take the intervention of the BV magazine and MP Simon Hoare to get anything fixed? The residents understand there are larger communities and that electricity can and is lost in storms. They also recognise that teams from SSEN were working flat out to restore services.
What they weren’t anticipating was the inconsistent communication and being unable to communicate with a human being. If anything could be improved to cope in a future scenario, the Bagber residents agree that communication is top of the list.
Poet William Barnes was born in Bagber in 1801: Image Rachael Rowe
The six-day Bagber power outage would have tested tolerance levels for most of us. But it also reveals the diverse needs of people in rural areas, and why consistent communication is essential. Rural communities have businesses and vulnerable people with special needs just like anywhere else. In an age where technology has transformed how we live and work, there is still a need for accurate and consistent communication, preferably from a human being.
We are looking for a property administrator for our Salisbury office. The candidate will be an excellent team player with solid organisational and communication skills, both verbal and written. They will demonstrate the ability to work under pressure, a willingness to learn and an excellent telephone manner.
The candidate will have previous experience of working in a fast-paced environment and be able to provide a high level of service to clients. Self-motivated with the ability to demonstrate reliability and flexibility is essential, as well as being comfortable and capable of working as part of a team. This is a full-time role (including 1 in every 5 Saturdays) which involves supporting the sales team and includes day-to-day contact with our clients and potential buyers, matching buyers to properties and booking and undertaking some viewings.
Key deliverables
Registration of new buyers.
Preparation of property brochures.
Coordinating marketing and advertising locally and with nearby offices.
Management of the KYC and anti-money laundering processes as required by the Group, liaising with the internal on-boarding and compliance teams where necessary.
Management of the invoicing process for the team.
Assist with invoicing and debt collection ensuring that invoices are paid in a timely manner and debt is kept to a minimum.
Keeping window cards/brochure displays/office systems up-to-date.
Liaising with potential buyers and arranging viewings/managing diaries.
Maintaining client files and the Residential client database.
Where required establish and maintain trusted relationships with our clients to facilitate and accelerate the on-boarding processes.
Implement strategies for continuous improvement of business processes and increased efficiency.
Any other ad-hoc administrative duties as required by the team.
Person specification
Ability to prioritise and co-ordinate tasks efficiently ensuring all deadlines are met.
Ability to convey a high level of attention to detail.
Demonstrable experience of supporting a team of professional fee earners.
Excellent IT skills (Word, Excel, MS Outlook) and experience of using KYC systems or similar.
A strong communicator, both verbally and in writing with experience of customer service.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels.
Punctual and flexible in relation to working hours and duties.
Prior experience of interpreting policies and procedures associated with AML regulations.
Experience of undertaking client due diligence, including completing independent searches and sanction checks.
Takes a proactive approach to administration, ensuring that where possible, efficiencies in processes are made.
Maintains a positive attitude towards routine tasks.
Accurate and exceptional attention to detail.
Understands and appreciates the importance of using discretion when dealing with sensitive information.
An interest in working real estate/estate agency environment.
BNP Paribas Real Estate is committed to providing a work environment that fosters diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, gender, age, creed, sex, religion, national origin, disability (physical or mental), marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, or any other legally protected status.
BNP Paribas Real Estate is proud to be an inclusive employer, as recognised by our RICS Inclusive Employer status and membership to Stonewalls Diversity Champion Programme.
