Tag Archive for: #prospectsunwrapped

Unwrapped – Finalist in the Farm Shop & Deli Awards 2023

/in , , , /by

Farm Shop & Deli Show has unveiled the regional finalists in its 2023 Retailer Awards – comprising some of the UK’s best loved specialist retailers, pillars of their respective communities and champions of great produce and sustainable practice. 

An esteemed panel of judges have taken into consideration the ways in which retailers have played an important role in supporting and developing their staff, before creating their shortlist of regional finalists, whittled down from hundreds of entries. Executive Director of The Prospects Trust said “opening the invite to a national award at such a prestigious trade show made us whoop with delight. The trade show at the NEC was where our initial ideas took shape, finding the scales, till, the refill wall and even suppliers over 4 years ago. Unwrapped is a social enterprise GREENgrocery combining the best deli style food, creating a new way to shop local, seasonal and sustainable for Ely, Cambridgeshire, we have our fingers crossed we may even scoop an award”.

The 68 successful businesses span 12 categories and nine UK regions, with some regions awarding ‘Best retailer’ to both small and large retailers. Prospects Trust Unwrapped Shop Manager Clare Rees said “its just super to be shortlisted and share the accolade with my great team of staff, Co-workers, volunteers and of course our supportive customers, we have even scheduled some much needed maintenance work in the shop while we close to attend the show”.

Co-workers (people with additional needs) are part of the workforce at Unwrapped

Back for 2023 the Awards will be selecting their ‘Newcomer of the Year’ as well as the return of the ‘Retailer of the Year’ accolade. These and the regional winners will be revealed live from Farm Shop & Deli Show, at the NEC Birmingham on Tuesday 25th April 2023, in what promises to be a thrilling celebration of the sector. A small team from The Prospects Trust Unwrapped are attending the show and are excited to take part in the award ceremony on Tuesday.

Take a look at the shortlisted finalists here: https://event.farmshopanddelishow.co.uk/live/en/page/finalist-shortlist

The finalists by region in full:

East Anglia

The Prospects Trust Unwrapped

Fodder

Friday Street Farm Shop

Poplar Nurseries

River Colne Food Co

The Goat Shed Farm Shop & Kitchen

The Grundisburgh Dog Delicatessen Ltd

The Norfolk Deli

Midlands

Aubrey Allen

Bells Farm Shop

Broad Bean Delicatessen

Canalside Farm, Shop & Cafe

Croots Farm Shop

Delilah Fine Foods Ltd

Drapers Lane Delicatessen

Farndon Fields Farm Shop

Harp Lane Deli

Reunion Deli

Stoughton Grange Farm Shop and Distillery

The Chuckling Cheese Company

Welbeck Farm Shop

North East

Coghlans at Barningham

Cut by Farmison & Co

George & Joseph Cheesemongers

Mainsgill Farmshop

Piper’s artisan sausages

Samuel Valentine – The Urban Food Hall

Yolk Farm

Northern Ireland
Clive’s Country corner

Colemans Farm Shop

Cunningham Butchers, Food Hall & Steak House

Millar Meats and Fine Foods

Quails fine foods

North West

Bells fishmongers ltd

Cheshire Smokehouse Limited

Chorlton Cheesemongers Ltd

Country Harvest

Gazegill Organics

Kami’s West Derby

Lovingly Artisan Bakery

Low Sizergh Barn

Roast Mutton

Scotland

Belhaven Smokehouse

Kj’s Bothy Bakery

Macauley’s Fruit and Veg Merchant

The House of Bruar

The Kedar Pantry

South East

Cheese Etc, The Pangbourne Cheese Shop

Cobbs Farm Shop, Cobbs at Winchester, Cobbs at Englefield, Cobbs at Manydown

Cowdray Farm Shop & cafe

Flock & Herd Butchery and Deli

Hampshire Artisan Foods Ltd – trading as Hampshire Deli & Farm Shop

Macknade Food Hall

Melrose & Morgan

The Grumpy Goat

The Hungry Guest

The Kitchen Food Company

Valentina Deli

South West

Bay Leaves Larder

Darts Farm

Durslade Farm Shop

Flourish Foodhall & Kitchen

Great Cornish Food Store

Greendale Farm Shop

Pipers Farm

Wales

Bodnant Welsh Food

Forage Farm Shop & Kitchen

Nolton Cross Farm Shop

To find out more about Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards, visit https://www.farmshopanddelishow.co.uk/awards.

About The UK Food & Drink Shows: 

The UK Food & Drink Shows unite four shows under one roof, covering the complete supply chain in three comprehensive days of insight, innovation and inspiration. Farm Shop & Deli Show joins National Convenience Show, Foodex Manufacturing Solutions and Food & Drink Expo, to create an unmissable proposition for progressive food and drink professionals across the industry.  

While the content of each show has been tailored to meet the exacting requirements of its respective audience, The UK Food & Drink Shows are united by four overarching themes: Health & Nutrition, Sustainability, Technology and Consumer Insight; issues faced unilaterally that will filter down into every part of the show discourse. Find out more about Farm Shop & Deli Show at: https://www.farmshopanddelishow.co.uk/

Farm Shop & Deli Show is part of the UK Food & Drink Shows, run by William Reed Business Media.

Smiliest Server Award scooped by Prospects Trust Unwrapped Staff on behalf of the Co-workers

/in , , /by

In Ely’s beautiful riverside Maltings at what is now the East Cambs annual glitterati calendar event of the year, The Ely Heroes Awards, our very sun shiny smiley Gem represented the whole team of Unwrapped and won the prestigious Smiliest Server of the Year award. Supported by Shop Manager Clare and fellow Retail Support Worker Mandy, Gem shone like the absolute gem she is (and maybe shook with nerves) as she was presented with the Ely Hero award on Friday 23rd September 2022. Gem wanted to accept the award on behalf of all of the amazing Co-workers (people with additional needs) she works alongside at Prospects Trust Unwrapped, in the heart of Ely. Gem works Monday to Wednesday, helping Co-workers serve customers the doorstep wedged toasties, flaky vegan sausage rolls and cappuccino smiles Unwrapped is now famous for in our super city of Ely. Gem is also known to belt into song, get Co-workers dancing on the shop floor and always brings a bit of pizzazz to a Monday morning. If you haven’t seen Ely’s Smiliest Server in action we suggest you get refilling and refuelling at Prospects Unwrapped today!

To show how The Prospects Trust retails differently
Gem and Co-worker making barista pro coffee at Unwrapped, Ely

Farmer Mark formally represented The Prospects Trust at the event from turning Hero to Judge for this year’s awards. Back in 2019 Mark scooped Colleague of the Year and this year he had the humbling task of interviewing all the candidates in the Caring Companion category. Mark has been a dedicated member of social care for most of his working life and he was delighted to meet inspirational figures making the care sector even more caring.

The Prospects Trust wishes to thank all of the people, organisations and businesses who continue to make Ely Heroes Awards the most beautiful experience for our local super people and a huge congratulations to everyone nominated in this years awards.

Unwrap Your Potential in Retail this Autumn!

/in , , /by

Course 1 – Retail Unwrapped – 6 week course from 12 Sept 2022

Cambridgeshire Skills Course Code: CSX3D102  

Starting: Monday 12 September 2022 

Duration: 6 sessions over 6 week(s)

Time: 10:00 

Location: Lighthouse Ely  

Cost: See Description.  


For over 19s looking to step into retail

How to Enrol

Description

This (informal/accredited) course will start to build your confidence and introduce you to some of the skills and knowledge you will learn on the Award in Retail. You will learn to set personal learning goals, plan for progression in learning and work and refresh your skills ready for accredited learning.

To join this course you will need to be working in either a paid or voluntary job. You can apply to work with Prospects Unwrapped as part of this course package. For more information and to apply for a placement with Prospects Unwrapped please see:
https://prospectstrust.org.uk/prospects-trust-unwrapped/

You can still apply for this course if you have your own work placement.

Entry Requirements
There are no requirements for the course.


What will this course cover?
Your tutor will help you to set your own, individual learning goals that will support you towards achieving your qualification/course aims.

During the course you will cover:
– Set your own personal learning goals
– Plan for your own progression in learning and work
– Improve your communication and team working skills
– Start developing your skills for work in a retail environment

What could I do next?
You could progress to the Award in Retail.

You could also progress to an accredited IT, English or Maths course or onto another course which will help you advance in both the work environment and lifestyle.

TO ENROL FOR THIS COURSE:
Please click the How to Enrol button above
Or, call our friendly and dedicated Admissions Team on 01353 613013  

Time and duration

Start Date: 12 September 2022
Start Time: 10:00
Day: Monday Morning
First Lesson Duration: 05:00
Total Weeks: 6

Location

Lighthouse Ely  
13 Lynn Road  
Ely
Cambridgeshire  
CB7 4EG  

Course 2 Prospects Unwrapped – Award in Business and Retail – 10 Week Course from October 2022

Cambridgeshire Skills Course Code: CSX3D101  

Starting: Monday 31 October 2022 

Duration: 12 sessions over 12 week(s)

Time: 10:00 

Location: Lighthouse Ely  

Cost: See Description.  


How to Enrol

Description

This informal course will start to build your confidence and introduce you to some of the skills and knowledge you will learn on the Award in Retail. You will learn to set personal learning goals, plan for progression in learning and work and refresh your skills ready for accredited learning. To join this course, you will need to be working in either a paid or voluntary job. You can apply to work with Prospects Unwrapped as part of this course package. For more information and to apply for a placement with Prospects Unwrapped please see:

https://prospectstrust.org.uk/prospects-trust-unwrapped/
You can still apply for this course if you have your own work placement.

Entry Requirements
There are no requirements for the course.

What will this course cover?
Your tutor will help you to set your own, individual learning goals that will support you towards achieving your qualification/course aims.

During the course you will cover:
– Work in a real working environment
– Learn how to keep yourself and other people safe at work and work with food safely
– Improve your communication and team working skills
– You may have the opportunity to work towards a Food Safety Certificate

What could I do next?
You could apply for an introductory retail job. The job would be likely to be supervised with a low level of responsibility and could involve you working in a team and on your own.

You could progress to an accredited IT, English or Maths course or onto another course which will help you advance in both the work environment and lifestyle.

TO ENROL FOR THIS COURSE:
Please click the How to Enrol button above
Or, call our friendly and dedicated Admissions Team on 01353 613013  

Time and duration

Start Date: 31 October 2022
Start Time: 10:00
Day: Monday Morning
First Lesson Duration: 05:00
Total Weeks: 12

Location

Lighthouse Ely  
13 Lynn Road  
Ely
Cambridgeshire  
CB7 4EG  

Unwrapped deliver a Hamper of Happiness to Highfield School Ely’s key workers

/in /by

Ely’s first zero waste greengrocery and refill larder, Prospects Trust Unwrapped, made a special top of the class delivery to its friends at Highfield Ely today while on their busy home delivery rounds.  Highfield School learners have been part of the social enterprise since it opened last September and the team at Unwrapped wanted to send some treats to their frontline friends.

Prospects Trust Unwrapped had to transform its retail offering practically overnight with the early warnings of Covid-19 and in just once month has turned from a “buy just what you need” busy and bustling shop into a non-contact home delivery service of larder bulk buys.  As a registered charity that supports people with additional needs, their mission is #survivetothrive until the time that Unwrapped can reopen and continue to provide innovative social care placements in the shop.

Tom Cockerton, Manager of Prospects Trust Unwrapped said “we have been astounded, and at times overwhelmed, by the swell of customer orders and loyal support to our social enterprise.  It helped that for a short while we were the only shop in Ely to have toilet rolls and bread yeast, which we still have in regular supply.  Our customers are now making weekly orders of our fruit and veg boxes stocked with seasonal and organic produce as well as their core staples of porridge oats and coffee beans.  I like to think in a small way we are not just providing critical groceries we are also keeping in touch with our customer fan base”. 

Prospects Trust Unwrapped closed its café and put a temporary halt to training placements at the end of March before the national lock down began as a quick measure to keep everyone safe, especially their Co-worker trainees. Overnight the shop created a basic online delivery form, using the skills of a returning Uni student and harnessing the whole of the small workforce, launched Unwrapped Home Delivery.

Customers can now select all their regular store cupboard basics and get their family’s five-a-day weekly veg & fruit online.  The staff team prepare the order and give a phone call to the customer to let them know when to expect a non-contact doorstep delivery.  Clare Rees, Unwrapped Support Worker said “we are proud that we can still continue to provide that friendly personal service, something our shielding and vulnerable customers really need in these times.”

Maz Baker, Development Manager for The Prospects Trust said “as a small charity we are facing the hardest of times, as are so many other frontline services and social good causes.  Nobody is excluded from the challenges of Covid-19 but as a charity we want to #StrivetoThrive.  We felt it was right to reach out to other organisations that are providing frontline care to keyworker children, and, our special friends at Highfield School.  The best way to survive is to support each other.  We hope that people will continue to support us by shopping with us at Unwrapped”.

The Prospects Trust has launched a charity appeal, #Survive to Thrive to help the 30 year old charity weather the lockdown and be ready for a bumper harvest with the Co-workers (adults with additional needs) once they are safe to return to their day placements at Snakehall Farm, at Unwrapped and on the Garden Team.  Donations can be made https://localgiving.org/appeal/survivetothrive/ or via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tilly.tractor/posts/2936117949758755.

Prospects Trust Unwrapped was selected as an Aviva Community Fund good cause before the outbreak of Covid-19 and due to the challenging circumstances, Aviva has extended their Crowdfunding period, donations to support Unwrapped can be made online at: https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/refill-not-landfill

Two more sleeps (or not)

/in /by

While you are all dreaming of refilling your reusable containers strange things are going on in Ely. Shopkeeper Tom is putting the finishing touches to Prospects Trust Unwrapped and we need a few shout outs to the people who are getting us across the finishing line:

A big shout out to our local Mayor, Cllr Mike Rouse, who will be turning the key on the 4th and who has captured our faces in the front cover of the Elyi Magazine.

Sean from SG Auto Tint in Soham who at 11pm is preparing our window decals. We hope Tom is practicing his barista skills and keeping Sean fuelled up on the Hot Numbers caffeine?

The new Unwrapped Staff Crew – Clare, Paul and Kin who have been training on the till, kitting up the kitchen and sprucing up the shop – as well as keeping Tom company.

The wonderful volunteers from the Lighthouse, the local Ely Job Centre cohort, SE Electrical Services, Ruth at Re-imagine and our firm Farm Friends from Emmaus and of course Ken – our now resident decorator!

The amazing local businesses, from Cutlacks & Samovar down the hill to 68 Market Street around the corner, the sustainable champions from longstanding farm wholesale company COFCO and the exciting new Cambridgeshire Sustainable Food Hub, lot of our new suppliers including Yare Valley and Gourmet Brownie – we look forward to working with them and many more as the shop builds up a footfall of customers.

A huge wow from Eco Ely – Hayley and her social media subscribers have been keeping us in the loop and drumming up local support.

A big thank you to the start up funders and donors, from Cambridgeshire Community Foundation/Cambridgeshire County Council’s Innovate and Cultivate Fund, Enterprise East Cambs and our crowdfunding family – seriously without your financial backing we would still be working on the business plan.

A recognition to those that have already paved the way in Zero Waste – our neighbouring businesses across the border in Norfolk – a wave to Graham at Ethical Ernie, Cata at Re.Source and Elizabeth at The Green Parrot for sharing their stories in creating refill larder shops of their own. We also wish to thank all the other like minded indes sharing their stories on Zero-Waste Start Ups on social media.

And finally here’s to working in partnership with Thera, Mencap, Cambridgeshire County Council and the Learning Skills Department in creating a hopefully sustainable and innovative project that becomes the norm for Ely. Now our plea is to the residents of Ely – please come shop little, light and often in our new shop, support our trainees in their learning and eat local, seasonal and ethically. Together we really change change the world (one tiny corner at a time).

The Big Green Swish

/in /by

Friday 19th July from 7pm at Prospects Trust Unwrapped 13 Lynn Road, Ely

An amazing eco-event comes to Ely! The first opportunity to showcase our new shop (minus our produce but lots of pop up stalls and clothes rails instead). This is a fabulous community collaboration with our new friends at EcoEly, Ely Swish and Spotted in Ely. Come for a wardrobe refresh that won’t break your bank balance nor the environment, grab the next size up to make room for delicious cake and slurp a cuppa while chatting to our local producers, awareness raisers and the team members behind the event!

Book your Swish Ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-big-green-swish-tickets-64422541556

Re-Toy Story – Pre-loved Toy Sale on 20th July 11:30 to 2pm @Prospects Trust Unwrapped Ely

/in /by

Prospects Trust Unwrapped hasn’t yet swung open its doors for trading but we are looking forward to a few pop-up fundraising events in our new shop space. Our second fundraising event is our Pre-loved Toy Sale. We are taking over the Lighthouse Community Room just in time for the school summer holidays. You can clear out the toy cupboards & children’s book shelves and replenish with new to them (but preloved before). Either book a sellers pitch with a £5 donation towards Prospects Trust (Reg. Charity No 1048584/Co. Ltd by Guarantee 3087221) or attend the event as a buyer, remember to bring your bags & boxes! There will be refreshments on sale and you will get an opportunity to take an early sneaky peak at the new shop.

Prospects Unwrapped’s Toy Sale will be held at Lighthouse Ely, 13 Lynn Road, Ely CB7 4EG. Click here for “Where to Park” and to find details of this event on Facebook: Facebook Event – Toy Sale and Insta

With a little help from our friends

/in /by
Mace Group Volunteers Get Shop Fit!

The Ely shop is taking shape thanks to 100s of donated hours from great corporate groups and our firm friends (you know who you are). This week the wonderful Steve, Rupert, Martin and Giorgia from Mace left no job undone! Farm friend Ken H has been on the tools from the day we turned the key, he has painted the place from top to bottom. Lots of support from the Lighthouse Community has meant that Manager Tom has been kept busy but also supported. We have transformed the abandoned space into a really retro retail space on a shoestring budget and lots of up-cycled furnishings. We cannot express our gratitude to all who have helped unwrap Prospects Trust Unwrapped.

We are still looking to fit out the Farm Food Servery, we need a new kitchen, sinks and catering kit. We can recycle pre-loved units, giving them a lease of life in our vital food hub. Offers of help to be sent to tom.cockerton@prospectstrust.org.uk or call the Farm Office on 01638 7414551

Unwrap your potential

/in /by

Prospects Trust Trainee Placements are now available, starting from September 2019, we are bringing a new way to learn on to the high street of Ely. We are looking to recruit 20 new Co-worker Trainees to be our first cohort to gain accredited qualifications in retail and food safety.

Trainee Placement Poster

Take a look at our flexible training programme, with 2 day placements starting from £50 per week. Download our Placement Pack or contact us on 01638 741551 for more information.

Prospects-Trust-Unwrapped -Trainee-Co-worker-PlacementDownload

Weigh in Weigh in – Zero-Waste Heavyweights in Ely

/in /by

Prospects Trust at Snakehall Farm has been the home of “naked” cucumbers since 1989. For 30 years we have never shrink wrapped our cucumbers and we have always sold locally grown organic produce direct to our customers in our little “veg shed” on the farm.

Now we are bringing our old idea to Ely. By September 2019 our Ely customers will be able to source their local, organic, eco and seasonal products plastic free in a brand new shop – Prospects Unwrapped.

We have just purchased the most amazing scales and till system to make this unpackaged way to shop easy peasy (fingers crossed). You will bring your own containers, weigh & tare, print label, fill and weigh again – then repeat! Don’t worry we will always have a helpful staff & trainee on hand to help.

We have also been donated this rather eye catching retro scale – as a feature of our shop! Don’t worry trading standards our new scales are much more accurate than this.