Western Studios, Leeds Ltd

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Leeds is the largest city in the largest county on the UK mainland. It is a former imperial textile centre. Now, it is a major UK financial centre. The Working Hours Podcast documents the city’s experiences through COVID and Brexit. It covers creeping technological unemployment. It also explores new and ongoing resource wars, the ongoing removal of the welfare state, and the accelerating ecological emergency.

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Listen to Working Hours:

Work Is A Treasure Hunt – Working Hours

Recorded on 11/09/2025Jessica Spencer runs Aladdin’s Cave Jewellery, a third-generation family run business in Queens Arcade Leeds, alongside her mum, Roberta. The shop has been in the same location for over 45 years.From being a little girl, Jessica always loved 'treasure hunting'. She’s always loved the stories that antique and vintage Jewellery pieces carry, the idea that someone wore and cherished each piece long before it reached their shop. That’s why Aladdin’s Cave focus on sourcing unusual, one-of-a-kind treasures for people who want something with meaning, not just another mass-produced trinket. The shop itself is crammed full, every corner bursting with curiosities and a window display packed to the brim! it really does feel like stepping into a treasure trove. From Art Deco engagement rings to Victorian mourning jewellery, and even quirky little finds like silver napkin rings, their collection is a celebration of history, beauty, and craftsmanship.Run in the early days by Jessica’s grandpa and auntie, before her parents took it over in the late 90s. Sadly, though, Jessica’s Father died in 2003, which is when Jess stepped in and started her antique jewellery journey proper. She had just finished a Broadcast Journalism degree at Leeds Uni and was still trying to make it in the highly competitive TV industry. Jessica says, “I always thought I would go back to it, but over 20 years later I'm still here, and love my job now, way more than I did in my 20s and 30s”. For a long time, Jessica worked in the shop itself, but after maternity leave and having two kids it made more much more sense for her to work from home and concentrate on the website, marketing and everything needed behind the scenes. Her favourite part of the job though, is still sourcing beautiful antique jewellery at auctions and fairs. From everyday jumble sales and car boots up to the more prestigious end of art and jewellery fairs. Jewellery really is in Jessica’s blood.You can find Aladdin's Cave online at:https://www.instagram.com/aladdinscaveleeds/https://www.facebook.com/aladdinscaveleeds/https://www.aladdinscavejewellery.co.uk/

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Why is Working Hours? Creator and host Simon Treen says:

Working Hours exists for many reasons. Primarily, to create a depository of first-hand knowledge and experience about labour and employment in my home city. This effort will span this pivotal decade in the human story. At this crucial moment for our species, what are we doing here in Leeds? Why are we doing it and what does it mean for our shared biosphere?

I want to demonstrate the breadth and depth of working roles that are available to all of us. Our media has a narrow obsession with only ever showing us cops, spies, factories, shops, and media workers. Whatever people do, someone is getting paid to do that thing. I hope to demonstrate that reality.  

My goal is to record at least an hour of experience and opinion on my guests’ work. I aim to create a total of one thousand interviews with Loiners over this whole decade. My interviews are designed to encourage my guests to think. They reflect on their own work, hopefully in new ways.

It’s not scary, but it is fun. Some of my guests have even described their Working Hours interview experience as “work therapy”.

I’d love to chat about your work and I always need guests. You don’t even have to be employed or paid to be my guest! If you live or work in Leeds, get in touch. You can be the star of the show if you are over 18. You just need to live, work, or have been born in an LS postcode.

Book your interview now!

If you would like to take part but you wish to remain anonymous then, please email me securely at westernstudios@protonmail.com

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