Shropshire Jelly is expanding
Jelly Co-working days are becoming so popular that more and more Jelly locations are springing up all over Shropshire.
February sees the start of Whitchurch Jelly based at The Lodge at Dearnford Lake. As well as offering delicious locally sourced food, home-made soup and cakes, Dearnford Lodge also offers a relaxing walk around the lake after lunch.
Particularly popular with home-workers, Jelly Co-working days offer an opportunity to work alongside other business people for a day in a corporate environment but on individual projects. Jelly days also provide information and signposting which is particularly useful for businesses in rural areas. Jelly organisers generally have a good knowledge of local business networks and access to useful information so, for anyone thinking of starting their own business, attending a Jelly day can be really helpful for getting business advice – and it’s free.
The basic format for all Jelly days is the same: turn up with a laptop, take a seat, do some work, have a bit of a chat, go home. That’s all there is to it. You do however have to book as places at all Jelly locations are limited and at venues that sell food it is only fair to buy lunch in return for the use of a workplace and free wi-fi all day.
There are now seven Jelly co-working groups in Shropshire with regular days every month:
Shrewsbury Jelly has found a new location and is kindly hosted by Shropshire Council at the Shirehall – meetings take place on a Monday towards the end of the month and are run by Ben Proctor ben@benproctor.co.uk.
Ludlow Jelly meets on the first Tuesday of the month at the Ludlow Food Centre, Bromfield, SY8 2JR organised by Michaela Hardwick michaela@beyondbrilliance.co.uk.
Oswestry Jelly meets on the second Monday of the month at The Lion Quays Hotel, Moreton, Oswestry, SY11 3EN, organised by Heather Noble heather@salt-solutions.co.uk.
Bridgnorth Jelly meets on the last Tuesday of the month at The Falcon Hotel, St John's Street, Bridgnorth, WV15 6AG and is organised by Suzie Pearson suziepearson@live.com.
The original Shropshire Jelly will have a new location in the Spring and is now meeting temporarily at Grays Hotel in Telford town centre (just off J5 of the M54). Shropshire Jelly meets on the third Wednesday of the month organised by Jan Minihane jan@thenetadvantage.co.uk.
North Shropshire Jelly is held on the first Wednesday of the month at Coton Oaks Internet Cafe on the B5476 between Wem and Whitchurch, SY13 3LQ (just south of Tilstock). 9.00am – 5.00pm. The next meeting is on Wednesday, 1st February, 2012. To book contact bar@strawberryfields.com or go to http://northshropshirejelly2012.eventbrite.com
The first meeting of Whitchurch Jelly will be held on 16th Feburary, 2012 at Dearnford Lodge 9.30 am – 4.30 pm www.dearnford.com and if all goes well this will become a regular event on the third Thursday of the month. Dearnford Lodge can be seen from the Whitchurch bypass and is accessed off the Tilstock road.
If you are self-employed, work from home, or would like a change of location from your usual office routine, then you can join a Shropshire Jelly day – it’s free. Further information about Jelly, its origins and opportunities, can be found at http://wiki.workatjelly.com/Shropshire
