Quadrant Newsletter

Welcome to the latest edition of Quadrant Update. You will have received this because you asked for it, because one of your cards ended up one of our desks or because we have worked with you at some point. Either way if you don't want to receive it anymore, simply unsubscribe in the footer. Otherwise enjoy!

Magellan’s team keeps on course

It’s not just the cakes that are rising at Magellan’s café, the staff are on the up too! Manager Lesley has moved on to a new challenge but her team are stepping up to fill her place. Tracey has become acting manager and Karen assistant manager. Together with Sue, Sharon and Chris they’ll make sure Magellan’s gets better and better. Chef Michael Price from the Gourmet Kitchen will be visiting one afternoon a week to give them tips and new ideas and they’re undertaking a Level 2 NVQ Hospitality Services training scheme. Customer feedback is always appreciated, so call in and see Tracey or email them at: cafe@quadrantsheffield.com

Shrinking our carbon footprint

Working in a ‘green’ building it’s easy to get complacent abut the environment but thanks to a new assessment of our energy usage we’re aiming to reduce our carbon footprint even more. The Carbon Trust, which funded the report, says that saving energy saves money as well as the planet and our assessment has made seven recommendations to help us. We’ll start by drawing up a formal energy policy with set targets and we will be looking to get tenants involved as well. Then we’ll be looking to monitor how we do. For more details contact Jim in the Management Suite ext 0114227005.

Three years old and growing fast

Quadrant tenants, Great Places, celebrated its third birthday this month and is going from strength to strength. The company started life as Parkway Homes but changed its name last year when it joined forces with the Manchester housing group, Great Places. Currently the company is investing £44m in 1,500 homes across Wyburn and Richmond – that means new windows, central heating, new kitchens and bathrooms for hundreds of homes. Great Places has also just finished building 10 new homes in the heart of Wybourn - the first homes to be built there for 80 years. Plans for the future are equally ambitious; the company plans to build 400 new homes within the region. To find out more contact gilly.watts@greatplaces.org.uk

Quadrant gets the cycling bug

We’re having to install more bike racks, thanks to the BikeBoost scheme, which winds up this week. Thirty people took up the challenge to cycle into work at least twice a week for three weeks on loaned bikes and those who continue to commute by bike are being offered a 10% discount on new bikes. Quadrant manager Jim Coleman is one of the converts. “I’ve biked in seven times, 4.5 miles each way, which means I’ve done 63 miles,” says Jim. “I’ve really enjoyed it so am going to keep on biking once the scheme ends. But I have to admit that, for the time being at least, I’ll be a fair weather cyclist.” Bikebost’s organiser Louise Gold can be contacted on Louise.Gold@sheffield.gov.uk

Something in the water?

Quadrant tenants seem to have boundless energy and are putting it to good use. Sallie Chapman from Open College Network is limbering up for the Yorkshire Three Peaks Walk on July 3 which will cover 26 miles and climb a total height of 2153 metres - or 7424 feet in old money. She’s raising money for Marie Curie and would welcome sponsorship on http://original.justgiving.com/salliechapman1 Meanwhile, Keven Maye from UK Online, who gave up the life of a couch potato just a year ago, has just completed his first triathlon - swimming 500m, cycling 14km, then running 7km at Tadcaster. He’s already signed up for his next triathlon in the Dearne Valley next month and this time it’s the full Olympic distance. Keven raised £165 for PACT, the children’s cancer charity, on www.justgiving.com/Kevin-Maye

Take a breather – health tip

Breathing is essential to life. Life begins with a person’s first breath and ends with the last, yet most of us breathe shallowly and haphazardly. Since we breathe between 16,000 to 20,000 times a day it can be a powerful tool in gaining some degree of control over stressful situations. So, several times during the day become aware of your breathing. Just take one deep breath, feel the energy coming in and revitalising your body. Breathe out and relax. Use frequently through your daily life e.g. before answering the phone, when you stop at the red lights and between different tasks. You should be able to fit in approximately twenty one-breath relaxation exercises during your entire day. karen@relaxing-alternatives.co.uk

Helping hand with staff matters

If you need advice on staff management, training or recruitment then help is on the way – free of charge. Opportunity Sheffield is a scheme being run by The Source and will help you navigate your way around the myriad of courses and training schemes that are available. It is being financed by Government and European funding and aims to help small to medium sized businesses deal with a host of staff-related matters, from recruitment and keeping your workforce healthy and happy to dealing with any problems that arise and advice on handing redundancy. If there’s funding for courses, Opportunity Sheffield will help you access it. Contact Stephen Hinchliffe on 07584 391443 or email: stephen.hinchliffe@thesourceacademy.co.uk