Two million workers are set to benefit from the rise of the National Living Wage which increases from £7.20 an hour to £7.50 on 1st April. The rise will benefit employees who are aged 25 and above and comes into place 12 months after the benchmark was first established. The National Minimum Wage, which began in 1999 and now covers workers aged 16 to 24 and apprentices, is also rising by 5p or 10p an hour depending on age. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Imam Qaiser Mahmood Malik of Sheffield’s Baitul Afiyat Mosque has called for preaching at mosques to be open to all. Speaking at a special sermon at the Sussex Street mosque Malik paid tribute to those that died in the Westminster terror attack and called on mosques to demonstrate an open door policy. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Trafalgar Warehouse hosts the travelling Rum Festival this weekend in Sheffield. The Caribbean and Cuban themed event features live music, dancing and street food as well as over 100 different varieties of rum to taste. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Kitchen Nightmares star and restaurateur Justin Rowntree reunited with his former nemesis Gordon Ramsay this week on ITV’s The Nightly Show. Rowntree was the boss of Sheffield’s Runaway Girl restaurant and jazz club when Ramsay visited in 2011 to give it the full Kitchen Nightmares treatment. Whilst Rowntree clashed with the celebrity chef he ultimately took on board his advice, relaunched the restaurant as Silversmiths, won a host of awards and has never looked back. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Historic street lamps originally invented to burn off dangerous sewer gas are being restored thanks to an agreement between Sheffield Council and Historic England. JE Webb’s cast iron Sewer Gas Destructor Lamps were designed to burn methane and other stagnant gases which regularly accumulated in urban Victorian sewers. There were once over 80 lamps erected in Sheffield between 1914 and 1935 and now about 25 are left, 20 of which are Grade II listed. Some of the original lamps have been lost or damaged over time and will now get new lanterns and arms. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
When Sheffield Libraries needed help to move the furniture for their new Reading Room, they called on England’s Strongest Man, Paul Smith of Sheffield. Comfortable chairs alongside classic furniture, including the original City Librarian’s huge 1930s desk, as well as rarely seen collections are all to be part of the new look room, which will also host clubs and activities based on the collections. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Streets Ahead contractor Amey have defended their road resurfacing work despite complaints that some new surfaces are starting to crack and crumble. Sheffield Council’s highway maintenance programme aims to shake off Sheffield’s ‘pothole city’ reputation with resurfacing underway for hundreds of roads. The 25 year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) project aims to improve Sheffield’s roads, footpaths and pavements but has faced sustained criticism over controversial tree-felling operations. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Tigers launch the speedway season at Owlerton Stadium with a challenge against Somerset Rebels. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
A marathon 24 hour lecture has been organised at the University of Sheffield to raise funds for the charity Inspiration for Life. The charity aims to promote lifelong learning, and encourage the public understanding of science through publications, lectures and other events. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake spoke to organiser Catherine Annabel.
Plans to uncover some of Sheffield’s riverside history are moving forward at Castlegate thanks to new funding from the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency has awarded a £50,000 grant to Sheffield City Council to develop designs for Sheaf Field, which could ultimately see the River Sheaf de-culverted as it passes the former Castle Market site. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!