All aboard for Pride celebrations

NORTHERN is celebrating Pride Month alongside colleagues and the communities across its rail network. The train operator will be taking part in events across the Northern network, including:- Halifax Pride, on:- 19 August, and Manchester Pride, on:- 26 August 2023. Those attending these parades will spot many of Northern's employees who will be taking part in the celebrations, promoting and celebrating diversity and inclusivity within the workplace.

Tricia Williams, chief operating officer at Northern said:- "We're proud to be supporting Pride Month and it is a cause that our colleagues care deeply about. We work hard to promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the whole of Northern in all our departments and among those we serve. We will be celebrating alongside our colleagues and customers, while also supporting Pride events in the North of England."

Northern has an equality, diversity, and inclusion policy, outlining its commitment to developing an inclusive working environment and being truly representative of the communities it serves.

Earlier this year Northern was highly commended for the Best in Inclusion category at the Greater Manchester Good Employment Awards.

The Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter is a voluntary scheme aimed at raising employment standards across the area. It champions commitment to equality, fair pay, and giving employees a say in how their workplace is run.

The train operator has also recently been recognised by a leading customer experience award scheme for using the lived experience of its passengers to co-create practical solutions to make travel more accessible to all.

The train operator picked up the Inclusively title, which it accepted jointly with its strategic customer experience and innovation partner, Hellon, at The Forum Awards held in Nottingham.

Northern is the 2nd largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.

North West England's wackiest potato combinations revealed... including:- baked beans on crisps

RESEARCHERS have uncovered North West England's wackiest potato food combinations; such as ice cream and fries, baked beans on crisps, and curry powder in mash. A survey of 2,000 adults found 42% potato-lovers in the North West of England admit to eating their different concoctions in private in case people judge them.  Other strange ways folk have consumed their tatties include mayonnaise with gravy on roasties, and chips with melted chocolate on top. 

53% would agree the tasty 'tuber' is their favourite vegetable; and 57% say chips are the best way to eat them. And despite the judgement from their peers, 60% still remain loud and proud of their potato eating and cooking habits, holding no shame. 

Molly Borys, Marketing Manager, at Albert Bartlett, which commissioned the research, said:- "We're a nation of spud lovers. But we didn't quite realise some of the weirder ways people tend to enjoy them, although we've experimented plenty ourselves. As far as we're concerned there's absolutely no shame attached; if you want to coat your roasties in marmalade, go right ahead." 

The results also found 36% of people from the North West have been mocked for their quirky potato preferences as many as 4 times over the last year. 

However, when 46% introduced someone to the way they eat their spuds, 85% of these confessed to actually enjoying it. 

Over a 3rd would consider themselves as:- 'foodies' and 41% would say they're pretty experimental when they get in the kitchen. And bread (13%), rice (26%) and potatoes (32%) are the favourite ingredients to use when getting creative. 

Britain, Spain and France are among the list of the nations that have the best recipes and dishes for the beloved vegetable. 

While 32% believe it's 1 of the best ingredients to experiment with and come up with novel recipes. 

When it comes to roast dinners, 25% say the classic parts that make the perfect plate, such as:- chicken, roast and gravy, have changed over the last 5 years. 

The top reasons were it's less 'stodgy' now (45%), having more variety in terms of veg (36%) and aren't afraid to move away from the:- 'big 3' (Pork, Beef and Chicken) as the main elements of the dish (34%).

55% admit it would be difficult for them to axe potatoes from their diet. 

While 28% say they would prefer to stop eating bread if it meant they could eat all the taters they liked. 

Stevie McLaughlin, Head Chef at Restaurant Andrew Fairlie and Albert Bartlett ambassador, commented:- "I'm delighted that the UK rates highly as a nation with great potato recipes. It's something we've known for a long time as potatoes are so versatile. But it looks like Brits also love to experiment. As a chef I'm all for trying out new flavours and some of these strange potato combinations have piqued my interest� although I may be leaving a few of these untouched!"  

The 25 weidest ways people from Norh West England eat potatoes:-