Creative Exchange is a South Yorkshire programme which is creating hundreds of jobs and training opportunities for economically excluded communities.

Originally from the Lake District and now living in Handsworth, she first arrived in Sheffield to study communications studies at Hallam University.

Her career in the region's creative industries has included key roles within Universal Music, city-based organisations Eventus and NonstopFoundation, as well as running her own record store and artist management company.

Her team are counting down to the debut of Get Connected 2, a free, day-long session of interactive workshops, networking and speakers highlighting the region's creative businesses and voluntary and community projects. It takes place next Thursday at St Mary's Church and Community Centre, Bramall Lane, from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Places can be booked via https://secure2. symphonyem.co.uk/creativeexchange or contact the CE:SY office on 275 2622.

Stag Works, John Street

If you're musical, you're likely to have passed through the doors of Stag Works. There is something so charming about this shabby chic old cutlery works that is home to many musicians and creative businesses. Having rehearsed here myself, you can stand in the courtyard at night and listen to a cacophony of sounds bouncing off the walls as the different bands rehearse. Stag Works is a now one of the Creative Exchange: South Yorkshire projects and I think we'll see a refurbishment of the building back to its original glory as a result.

Island Hut, London Road

I adore West Indian food and, although I can cook some dishes myself, nothing beats popping in for salt fish fritters, stewed chicken, rice and peas and a dumpling! I developed a taste for it when working at the Non-Stop Foundation. We would all eat together at All Saints Community Centre. Tasty, spicy and filling; it's called 'soul food' for a reason.

Burton Street Foundation, Hillsborough

I have a wonderful connection to this project, having been based here to deliver a cultural strategy for the area. Today, they are funded by Creative Exchange: South Yorkshire, a programme managed by the CIQA. Creative activity is in the heart of the organisation which is now also home to Harmony Training, a fantastic organisation that supports people to enter the music industry.

Size?, Division Street

I'm quite girly these days but I used to wear trainers all the time and so I still enjoy the feeling of purchasing a brand new pair of box-fresh kicks. Size? on Division Street has the best selection – I like to pop in on a Friday and be the first out in a new pair of Adidas.

Dulo, Cemetery Road

I live a little out of town so I usually drive in but this is my local pub. Dulo always has a great atmosphere and it's a welcoming place where all my friends get together.
They have some great events on down here out the back in the marquee and my friend Dan J is the resident DJ, playing funk, hip hop and house which in my mind is the perfect way to start the weekend.

Devonshire Green

My creative career was started here by being part of the Sheffield Hallam University Student Community Action team that ran a summer event on Devonshire Green, way back in 1997. I booked all the bands and DJs and learnt all about festival management during the six-month planning process. It went swimmingly on the day, with 5,000 attending. Several years later I helped to promote a big multicultural event there called 3DOM. Devonshire Green remains a favourite place of mine for sunshine, friends, music and chilling.

Record Collector, Broomhill

I love vinyl and I have an old connection to Record Collector as I it used to be one of my accounts when I was a rep for Universal Music. I used to take great satisfaction swapping BoyZone CDs for rare electronica 12 inches! I once organised an in-store signing here for the Bluetones and we had 700 people through the doors on a rainy Sunday. I love the way music makes a fan out of all of us in some way and I'll never sell my old records, even though they're dusty and sometimes skip.

Flower Meadows, Parson Cross

Thanks to Green Estates, the development land in this area has been transformed into beautiful wild flower meadows. The first time I saw them, I stopped my car in the middle of the road. The flowers have transformed the estate and are loved by all the residents. I ran a photography project when working for Eventus to deliver the Cultural Strategy for the area and now have a permanent reminder of the flowers on my desk as we produced some postcards of the images.

Site Gallery Cafe, Paternoster Row

The cafe here is the best in the Cultural Industries Quarter. They serve a mean cappuccino and freshly-made tortilla and salad, both of which are a big hit with my team at the CIQA. It's nice to see that the old adage 'service with a smile' hasn't gone out of fashion in this part of the city.

Platillos, Leopold Square

I have been a regular customer at The Wig & Pen since it opened and I welcomed the opening of its sister restaurant and bar, Platillos, with its modern design and colourful stylings. Their food and wine selection is impeccable. Try the Moroccan lamb or the chilli-infused beer.