This story is sponsored by Children’s Corner Childcare.
Companies from across the region were recognised at the Yorkshire & Humber Family Business Awards last month, but none had a better night than Children’s Corner Childcare.
The group, which runs 10 childcare settings, including one in Harrogate, all rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, was the only double winner of the evening.
It not only scooped the Business Services award, but operations manager Nicola Stanworth also won the only individual award of the evening, for Employee of the Year.
Nicola beat a field of 16 finalists from every sector across the region. She said:
“I was over the moon – I never expected to be singled out like that for doing what I do. To know that other people recognised all the effort I put in was an amazing feeling.
“I’m completely dedicated to Children’s Corner. I started working here as a 15-year-old while doing my GCSEs, and had a part-time role here while I was doing my teaching degree at Leeds Metropolitan University. Once I’d graduated, Early Years education called me, and I came here full-time.
“I have a diverse role, looking after all the operations and logistics, and I never switch off – it’s just how I’m built!”
Children’s Corner was set up in 1995 by former police officer Lesley Dawson and her husband Allan when they couldn’t find a nursery they liked for their first son. Nearly 30 years later, two of their three sons also now work in the company, making it a truly family-run enterprise.
Nicola Stanworth was named Employee of the Year at the Family Business Awards.
Nicola said:
“We treat all the children as individuals and focus on making them independent, to prepare them for their next steps in life. We keep our sites fresh, and replace all the resources regularly, and everything’s included in the price, such as healthy meals, milk and nappies.
“Parents can even keep up to date with their children’s progress with the Children’s Corner app.
“A lot of people say our nurseries feel like a home from home.”
Children’s Corner is now recruiting across all its nurseries, and is looking for only the best candidates with a small number of opportunities still available at their Harrogate nursery.
All the company’s key staff have recognised childcare qualifications however Children’s Corner were also recognised at the House of Commons this year as one of the Top 50 SME’s in the UK offering Apprenticeships with a number of apprenticeship opportunities also available for anyone looking to get into the Early Years sector.
Nicola said:
“Working at Children’s Corner is fantastic anyway, but in addition to the usual benefits, we offer childcare discount, a four-day working week, and even the possibility of study trips abroad, through our charity arm in Malawi. If you’ve got the skills and qualifications join the best nursery group in the region, get in touch.”
Find out more:
For more information about childcare with Children’s Corner, go to www.childrenscornerchildcare.co.uk.
If you’re a childcare professional and are interested in joining the Harrogate team, take a look at our current vacancies.
Business Breakfast: Boroughbridge man named AA Patrol of the YearExcellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!
Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.
Entries close on January 19, 2024.
An AA man operating from Boroughbridge has been named Patrol of the Year at the breakdown organisation’s annual awards ceremony.
The award is the AA’s highest accolade for its roadside patrols across the UK, and Chris Wood will now spend the next 12 months as the public face of the UK’s biggest drivers’ organisation, representing it within the motor industry and to the media.
Chris said:
“I can’t quite believe I’ve won this award. I was so proud just to be nominated among so many outstanding patrols, so when I heard I’d been shortlisted as one of the finalists I was absolutely gobsmacked.
“To be named Patrol of the Year is unbelievable – it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I’m really excited to see what lies ahead during the coming year.”
The judging process began in late September with nominations from across the UK, before six finalists were put through intensive technical and driving tests, panel interviews and mock radio interviews at the AA’s head office in Basingstoke in November. The awards were held at Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham.
Dean Keeling, managing director of Roadside Services at the AA, said:
“The AA Awards ceremony gives us the opportunity to recognise the efforts of the AA people who go above and beyond to help others and the Patrol of the Year award is the epitome of this.
“Chris exemplifies the values which set AA patrols apart with the skills to turn around a broken-down driver’s day and get them back on their way despite the challenges of working at the roadside in all weathers.
“His award is a true testament to his hard work, outstanding service and dedication and is a well-deserved accolade. Congratulations to Chris and all our finalists and award winners.”
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Snowplough maker named Bodybuilder of the Year
Ripon-based Econ Engineering is celebrating after scooping a major award at the ‘Oscars’ of the commercial motoring and road haulage industry.
The UK’s leading supplier of winter maintenance vehicles won Bodybuilder of the Year at the Commercial Motor Awards in Birmingham, where the cream of operators, dealers and suppliers competed for the top honours.
Econ, which supplies 85% of the nation’s winter maintenance vehicles from its assembly plant in Ripon, beat Lothian Vehicle Bodybuilders from Scotland and Cambridgeshire-based TVS Interfleet to the award.
A team from Econ was at the Road Transport Ball on Thursday, held at Birmingham NEC‘s, Vox Conference Centre to pick up their award.
Managing director Jonathan Lupton said:
“Words cannot describe how proud I feel right now to have come away with such a prestigious award.
“We know how hard every member of our team works to ensure that we maintain the high standards that Econ are renowned for, and this award goes to each and every one of the Econ family.”
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Growth hub hosts business support event at Ripon Cathedral
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- Business Breakfast: Care equipment firm to move away from Harrogate
First Harrogate Self Care Week to take place in January
The first ever Harrogate Self Care Week will kick off the new year, with a programme of free events to boost health and wellbeing.
Launched by Harrogate Business Improvement District, the week, which runs from January 22 to 27, will feature a range of self-care workshops, activities and classes, along with a themed market to help visitors work on their ‘body, soul and mind’, according to organisers.
Harrogate Turkish Baths will get the ball rolling on Monday, January 22 by hosting a free two-hour session in the frigidarium, steam room, heated chamber and plunge pool.
Throughout the rest of the week, the programme will include a mosaic-making event at Artizan, flower-arranging with Helen James, various yoga classes, a dynamic session with Ebru Evrim, gym training with F45 and gong bath therapy.
To close on Saturday 27, a pop-up health and wellbeing-themed market will be held in the Victoria Shopping Centre, with a range of traders and stalls on offer for visitors to explore.
Matthew Chapman, manager of Harrogate BID, said:
“Since William Slingsby discovered the first spring in 1571, Harrogate has been a flourishing spa town that has been supporting both self-care and wellbeing.
“We are proud to be working with BID members and partners on this new campaign to showcase our present day offer, which remains world renowned.”
Harrogate BID has partnered with self-styled “holistic wellbeing warrior” Kitti Johnson for the new event.
A certified yoga instructor, crystal bowl sound healer, reiki and shamanic practitioner, Kitti has taught workshops on energy healing, journaling, anxiety, the chakras and essential oils for a number of years.
She said:
“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to raise awareness of all the wonderful wellbeing services and ways that people can look after themselves as part of Harrogate’s first ever Self Care Week.
“We have a wide variety of classes and workshops for people to discover new ways to take care of their wellbeing and to kick-start a healthy, happy mind, body and soul for 2024.”
Further details on the programme are set to be released in the New Year.
Any businesses or independent providers in the BID area wishing to get involved, or anyone looking for further information, should email the BID team.
Read more:
- Novelist Ruth Ware to curate Harrogate crime writing festival
- Annual Christmas Tree Festival returns to Knaresborough
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate BID appoints communications officer
Your Harrogate owners have multiplex licence revoked by Ofcom
The company that owns Your Harrogate radio station has had its small-scale DAB multiplex licence for Wetherby and Harrogate revoked after mounting transmission costs made the venture economically unviable.
But Your Harrogate will continue to broadcast on the local DAB multiplex for North Yorkshire, with no disruption for listeners.
Nick Hancock, who is content director and one of the co-owners of Your Harrogate, told the Stray Ferret:
“This is really a back-end issue. It’s a bit like renting a house for ages and then having the chance to buy it. The small-scale DAB multiplex licence for Wetherby and Harrogate would have meant we owned it.
“The local DAB multiplex actually has better signal strength and better coverage, so the listener won’t notice any difference. It was just an ownership issue.”
The regulator, Ofcom, awarded the licence in 2022 to Wetherby and Harrogate Local DAB Limited, which is owned by Your Harrogate directors Nick Hancock and Adam Daniel, plus Alan Everard from Wetherby Community Radio and Mark Oldfield, chairman of Harrogate Hospital Radio.
The company, which operates as Your Harrogate, said it had £25,000 set aside to launch the multiplex. In its application it said:
“Our transmission proposal is one that is realistic, compliant, and economically viable.”
Small-scale DAB multiplex licences cost just £500 per year, as well as a non-refundable £500 application fee. But other expenses, described by Mr Hancock as “transmission costs”, escalated in the intervening period, ultimately making the project unviable.
Ofcom may revoke a licence if it believes a service will not launch within 18 months of an award, and after it heard Your Harrogate could not continue with its plans, it exercised this option.
In a statement, it said it would consider re-advertising the Wetherby and Harrogate multiplex licence “should we receive any expressions of interest”.
But Mr Hancock said:
“We were the only people who applied for the licence in the first place, so I’d think it’d be unlikely Ofcom will advertise it again, to be honest.”
Your Harrogate launched in February 2021 to fill the gap in local radio left by Stray FM, where Mr Hancock had been a well-known presenter. Stray, which had covered the district since 1994, rebranded when owner Bauer Media announced it was making it part of the national network Greatest Hits Radio.
Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) radio allows the bundling of a number of radio stations together in a multiplex. Each multiplex can then be broadcast using an individual frequency from a transmitter. A DAB radio can then single out each radio service from the multiplex for the listener.
This bundling into multiplexes allows for more radio stations and requires less power to broadcast, making it more cost-effective. But it can also give lower-quality sound and the signal can drop out more frequently.
Read more:
- Your Harrogate set to launch tomorrow
- Harrogate district to get new local radio station
- Harrogate radio station Stray FM to close
Business Breakfast: Care equipment firm to move away from Harrogate
Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!
Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.
Entries close on January 19, 2024.
The owners of a Harrogate-based care equipment specialist have announced plans to move its offices away from the town.
Vivid Care said its decision to move away from Linkside House on Forest Lane Head to new premises at Thorp Arch, near Wetherby, is part of a strategic change of direction for the family-run business.
Vivid Care supplies specialist seating, care beds, falls response devices and mobility equipment, and is part of the CoreCare Group. It will be moving its Harrogate showroom to an appointment-only showroom at Thorp Arch at the end of the year. Vivid Care’s employees will join colleagues at the new site from CoreCare Group sister companies, including Innova Care Concepts, Dependall Logistics, and Aquadapt Home Installations.
The current retail showroom in Harrogate will close on December 21, and the new appointment-only showroom will open at Rofta House, Thorp Arch on January 2, with retail sales continuing online.
Formerly Yorkshire Care Equipment, Vivid Care has 50 years of experience in supporting the NHS and care organisations to provide independence and enhance the lives of those with care needs. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the team worked closely with colleagues at sister company Innova Care Concepts to help the NHS with the setup of the Nightingale Hospitals.
Managing director Tristan Hulbert said:
“It’s the right time to enact the next stage of our strategic plan to move our offices to be in our group headquarters in Wetherby.
“As part of this move, the head office building is undergoing new investments with a refurbished office, new video conferencing facilities, a redesigned canteen, and a new state-of-the-art showroom.
“It will allow us to continue our growth in supporting our NHS, reduce our carbon footprint, and promote further collaboration across the CoreCare Group as a whole.
“We’d like to thank all our loyal Harrogate customers for their custom over the past 27 years, and look forward to welcoming them by prebooked appointment to our new space in Wetherby in the new year.”
Phone-to-walkie-talkie firm announces deal
Mobile Tornado, the Harrogate business whose push-to-talk over cellular (PTToC) technology can turn mobile phones into walkie-talkies, has announced a reseller agreement with Hampshire-based Foresolutions.
Foresolutions provides integrated technologies for workforces in the aviation, construction and infrastructure sectors.
Nathan Williams, managing director of Foresolutions, said:
“We like Mobile Tornado’s technology because it is easy to use, has exceptionally low latency and is feature rich. It has superb options for lone workers and emergency situations. It fits perfectly with our ethos of offering our customers a ‘single plane of glass’ that has multiple applications.
“We are seeing more and more organisations adopt push-to-talk over cellular for critical communications as mobile networks become stronger and stronger. More than eight out of 10 premises in the UK are now able to access 5G. We are also seeing increasing take-up in aviation – the main ground-handling crew at one of Europe’s busiest airports has been using PTToC for the last year.”
Foresolutions was founded in 1979 and is a family-owned business with clients across the UK.
Andrew McNamara, channel sales manager at Mobile Tornado, said:
“We are excited to be joining forces with Foresolutions, a long-established provider with a blue-chip customer base. We are looking forward to working together to help more UK organisations increase safety, reduce costs, boost productivity and improve efficiency among their workforces.
“We totally support Foresolutions’ ‘single pane of glass’ ethos. Today’s users have expectations about what a single device should be able to do and don’t want to be saddled with lots of different devices for different applications in challenging operating environments.”
Read more:
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- Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesses collect chocolate for people in need
- Business Breakfast: Ripon bucks national footfall trend – data
Well-known Harrogate family business mourns death of founder
One of the best-known butchers in the Harrogate area died on Monday, more than 50 years after founding his family business.
Ian Audsley, 84, was a well-known figure both in food retail circles and in his local area in the south of Harrogate.
Mr Audsley launched his business in 1970, and his shop on St Winifred’s Avenue West, JE Audsley Family Butcher, long ago widened its customer base far beyond the Saints area of the town. Now run by his son, John, it continues to command loyalty among many of its clientele.
A notice issued by his family said:
“His commitment and passion have shaped the character of our establishment, and his unwavering dedication has made it a cherished part of the lives of countless individuals.
“Ian’s impact extends far beyond the business he founded; it encompasses the relationships he nurtured, the moments he shared, and the lives he touched. His genuine kindness, infectious spirit, and commitment to community service have left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Read more:
- Fundraiser set up for well-known Harrogate woman who has died
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- EXCLUSIVE: Stray Ferret reveals not a single litter fine in Harrogate district for past three years
Unique service takes the guesswork out of buying a handmade rug
This story is sponsored by Emma Mellor Handmade Rugs.
Home improvers looking for the perfect rug need no longer struggle to visualise it in their own home, following the launch of a unique new service by a shop in Harrogate.
Emma Mellor Handmade Rugs only sells beautiful hand-knotted, naturally dyed rugs, woven from wool or silk. Each is a one-off, so choosing one can be enjoyable but also a challenge – which is where the company’s new home viewing service comes in.
Owner Emma Mellor will bring any rugs a customer has selected online or in the Harrogate showroom to their home, so they can see them in situ before making a final choice. And if they decide to buy one, delivery has already been made. Emma, who lives locally, said:
“I started the home viewing service because I know from my own experience that you might find a rug you love in the showroom, but it can be really difficult to visualise it in your own home.
“Rugs are quite ‘alive’ textiles, and their colours can appear to change in different settings, depending on the light, the dimensions of the space, and what other fabrics or textiles you have in the room.
“You need to find something that will complement what you already have, rather than clashing with it. It’s a very personal service.”
Emma Mellor Handmade Rugs, on Albert Street in Harrogate.
Emma Mellor Handmade Rugs, which also has a shop in York and an office in London, sources most of its pieces from Nepal, Afghanistan and Morocco, but it also has some antique Persian rugs. Sizes vary from small mat-sized pieces to oversized rugs right up to 7m by 4m, or bigger.
Emma said:
“My target customer is anyone with really good taste. They believe in good quality, they don’t believe in the throwaway culture, and they’re interested in colour.
“These are all individual pieces – each one is unique – so when you buy one, you know that no-one else will have one like it.”
All the rugs Emma sells are certified by GoodWeave International. The certification means they’re guaranteed to have been made ethically, with no child labour involved.
Emma Mellor also pays her weavers a premium above market price, to ensure they can support their families. This also ensures their age-old skills don’t die out.
The company is just about to bring out a new range of rugs designed by Emma herself and fresh off the loom in Nepal.
Emma said:
“The weavers really are the most incredible artists. Out of a ball of wool, they can create wonderful works of art.
“I feel really privileged to sell these pieces, which are made by people far more skilled than I’ll ever be.”
Find out more:
To see – and feel – our latest range of handmade rugs, come to our showroom at 13/15 Albert Street in Harrogate, which is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10.30am to 4.30pm.
Alternatively, you can find all our ranges on our website, www.emmamellorhandmaderugs.com.
To book a home viewing appointment, call us on 01904 622822.
Business Breakfast: Harrogate firm wins dealer excellence awardExcellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!
Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.
Entries close on January 19, 2024.
An office supplies company from Harrogate has beaten stiff competition from the south at a national awards ceremony.
Supplies Web Ltd, which is based at Claro Court Business Centre, won the dealer excellence award for companies that turn over less than £5 million a year at the national BOSS Awards, which were held in Manchester and attended by more than 450 people.
The BOSS Awards are held annually by the BOSS Federation, which is the trade association for the business supplies industry.
Paul Graves, director of Supplies Web, said:
“Delivering a sustainable and ethical solution is imperative to us and we are looking forward to building on this in 2024 and beyond, helping our designated charities, communities, and the planet.”
Supplies Web beat competitors from across the south-east and East Anglia and was singled out by judges for its strategic approach, combining organic growth, acquisitions, and diversification to achieve achieved a 18% growth from 2022 to 2023.
Judges also highlighted the company’s overwhelmingly positive feedback, with 62% of customers giving a perfect 10/10 in customer surveys.
Supplies Web started from two home offices in 2009 with a vision to put the customer first, save them money and provide reliability and efficiency.
Managing director Grahame Barnes said:
“Rather than just words, we wanted to deliver unique services for businesses of all sizes and solutions that would benefit them. We had the passion and that drove us through the journey.”
New face at Harrogate law firm
LCF Law in Harrogate has appointed a new solicitor to its personal law team.
Nicole Narey previously spent five years at another Yorkshire law firm, where she completed her training and worked as a private client solicitor. She said:
“My role is a varied and interesting one. Within our team of 12 lawyers, we all have our individual disciplines, and mine involves Court of Protection work.
“Assisting people at a difficult time in their lives is highly rewarding and I’m looking forward to developing this aspect of LCF Law’s legal services throughout Harrogate and beyond.”
Neil Shaw, partner and head of personal law at LCF Law, said:
“Nicole is very personable and professional, and she helps clients ensure their affairs are all in order and safeguarded. Her experience working with the Court of Protection will be an asset to our team and will continue to ensure that we secure the best outcomes for our clients.”
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesses collect chocolate for people in need
- Business Breakfast: Ripon bucks national footfall trend – data
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate BID appoints communications officer
New independent school in Harrogate toasts first Ofsted inspection
Staff and pupils at a new independent school in Harrogate are celebrating after it passed its first ever Ofsted inspection with flying colours.
Strive for Education, on North Park Road, is a special school which caters for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders and social, emotional and mental health needs.
It was registered with the Department for Education in February this year and inspected in November. Ofsted rated it “good” in all areas except for behaviour and attitudes, which it said were “outstanding”.
The report said:
“The atmosphere at the school is calm and caring. During unstructured time, pupils and staff socialise together in a relaxed setting. This helps pupils to feel comfortable and safe. Staff have created a homely atmosphere which is rare to see.”
Strive for Education has 23 pupils aged 14 to 19, half of them attending on a part-time basis.
Andy Brown, headteacher and co-owner of Strive for Education, said:
“We are delighted with our first ever Ofsted report as an independent school. We feel it accurately reports on the quality of the education and care we provide and the incredibly high standards we set out to achieve.
“Having a three-day inspection is an intense experience, but we feel that this has enabled Strive to improve even further.”
Read more:
- Harrogate parents join special needs education protest
- Harrogate school invites ex-pupils to 50-year landmark carol service
- Knaresborough father fights for autistic son to join twin brother at SEND school
Mind Harrogate relaunches counselling service for individuals and businesses
This story is sponsored by Mind in Harrogate District.
Mind in Harrogate District is relaunching its counselling service following a full refurbishment of its premises.
The mental health charity, which is based at the Acorn Centre on Station Parade, now has three brand-new counselling rooms with low lighting, comfortable seating, and soundproofed walls to ensure clients’ privacy.
The service is open five days a week, from 9am to 7pm.
People coming for counselling have an initial assessment with a qualified professional and will then be matched with one of Mind in Harrogate District’s counsellors according to their needs.
Tina Chamberlain, CEO of Mind in Harrogate District, said:
“Our service is very responsive to individual needs. The vast majority of the people we support come to us with multiple issues, including anxiety, depression, low mood, trauma, stress, a sense of loss or bereavement, or difficulties in their relationships.
“Life can be messy – it’s not neat and compartmentalised, and difficulties in one area can often spill over into other areas of life. We’re here to help people make sense of it all. They might not be in a really bad place – they often just have one or two areas where they need help and support.”
Tina Chamberlain, CEO of Mind in Harrogate District.
Counselling at Mind in Harrogate District costs £45 per session, with concessions for people receiving benefits. Clients can book up to 20 sessions, all at the same time each week.
The counselling service is accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Yvie Lois, counselling coordinator at Mind in Harrogate District.
Tina said:
“Our counselling service is very competitively priced and people using the service can be confident that the funds generated are reinvested into supporting mental health and wellbeing services in the local community.”
Mind in Harrogate District also offers a workplace wellbeing service, including counselling sessions for employees. Sessions are charged at the same rate as for private individuals.
Yvie Lois, counselling coordinator, said:
“Our mental health is affected by all aspects of our lives which impacts on how we experience work, relationships and life. We have noticed an increased awareness and understanding surrounding mental health, which has empowered people to reach out for support.
“You don’t have to do it alone. Counselling offers a safe, confidential environment for people to talk and process the issues that are affecting their lives”