John Grainger, Author at The Stray Ferret

Landmark Ripon clock finally repaired after months of standstill

The Victoria Clock Tower in Ripon is now correct more than twice a day, having finally been repaired by North Yorkshire Council.

The landmark clock at the junction of North Street, Palace Road and Princess Road has been plagued by problems in recent years, sometimes running too fast, sometimes too slow, and most recently not at all.

While most people passed by without giving it a second thought, for others it was a source of concern.

Local resident Bernard White reported the problem to North Yorkshire Council in August, and followed it up at the beginning of November. He told the Stray Ferret:

“The clock’s been out of commission as much as it’s been in commission for the last three or four years. This time, it had been broken for about four or five months.

“I wrote to the council to ask for an update and they told me it was a faulty pendulum. They came this week and repaired it and it seems to be working fine now.”

The Victoria Clock Tower was commissioned to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and in the following June it was officially unveiled to a huge crowd at a civic ceremony. The Grade II listed building passed into council ownership in 1974.

Mr White added:

“The clock’s a feature in itself – the only other clock I know of in Ripon is at the town hall. It was built as a clock, and it should go as a clock, so it’s wonderful to have it back in working order.”

As we reported earlier in the year, the clock was due to be repaired in in March. It is unclear whether it was but had since developed another fault, or whether it never was fixed, perhaps due to the handover of responsibility for its running from Harrogate Borough Council to North Yorkshire Council on April 1.

The Stray Ferret has contacted North Yorkshire Council for comment.

Yorkshire Water’s £1m pay-out to charities branded ‘pathetic’

News of Yorkshire Water’s record £1 million payout to environmental charities to atone for polluting Hookstone Beck in Harrogate has met with mixed reactions, with one local politician branding it “pathetic”.

As we reported yesterday, the utility company polluted Hookstone Beck in 2016 with an unauthorised sewage discharge, killing fish and breaching its environmental permit.

Following an investigation, it offered the Environment Agency an Enforcement Undertaking to pay £500,000 to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and £500,000 to Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. The Agency accepted the undertaking, making it the largest civil sanction it has ever accepted.

Yorkshire Water has also completed a £1.85 million sewer network upgrade in the area as part of the enforcement terms.

But Tom Gordon, parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats, slammed the agreement. He said:

“This is a pathetic pay-out for a firm which raked in over £500 million in profit last year. Conservative Ministers need to get tough on this polluting firm and fine them far more, as well as ban their insulting bonuses.

“It is a scandal that Yorkshire Water’s exec bonuses are more than double the amount offered for killing animals and destroying rivers in Harrogate.

“This reeks of a pathetic bribe, which Ministers have fallen for – hook, line and sinker.”

Mr Gordon’s adversary, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, who is a colleague of the Ministers referred to by Mr Gordon, was more phlegmatic. He said:

“This is a significant sum in respect of an incident over seven years ago. These incidents should not happen and I am aware through my regular contact with Yorkshire Water on water-quality issues that substantial investment has been made since this event.

“The fact that such a large penalty has been paid by Yorkshire Water shows the seriousness with which the government takes pollution. I am pleased to see that the money is being spent locally – importantly on improvements to the River Nidd catchment and at Staveley Nature Reserve to support wildlife habitats.”

Photo of volunteers from Nidd Action Group sampling water quality in Oak Beck.

Volunteers from Nidd Action Group sampled water quality in rivers and becks across the district over the summer.

Meanwhile, Nidd Action Group (NAG), which was set up in Knaresborough in 2022 to stop sewage pollution and make local rivers safer, said it was disappointed the deal had taken seven years to strike, but hoped it would serve to change water companies’ behaviour.

David Clayden, chairperson of Nidd Action Group, said:

“NAG deplores the huge amount of sewage (treated and untreated) that continues to enter the river Nidd, often via becks that meander through parts of Harrogate and Knaresborough (2,000 spills and 12,000 hours in 2022, according to the latest data available).

“NAG’s recent two citizen science surveys, in August and October, have confirmed continuing high levels of E. coli bacteria and phosphates in parts of the Nidd Catchment, including many becks.

“One of our sampling points was on Hookstone Beck, and our surveys this year showed high concentrations of both forms of pollution, causing risk to human life and to the ecology in and around the becks, even after extensive work has been carried out.”

“NAG is disappointed that resolution of these incidents has taken so long, but hopes that this ‘charitable donation’ acts as a meaningful deterrent to the neglect of our rivers and results in significant improvement of our becks for the healthy enjoyment of these formerly attractive local assets.

“NAG looks forward to working with The Environment Agency and with Yorkshire Water to review the current evidence gathered by local citizen scientists and to ensure much needed improvements in the Nidd Catchment.”

Business Breakfast: Century-old nurseries rebrand for growth

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.

One of the UK’s largest commercial horticultural nurseries, Johnsons of Whixley, has changed its name to Johnsons Nurseries following a company rebrand.

The third-generation family business achieved a record sales turnover of £18.8 million in its last financial year and hopes the rebrand will boost its plans for growth. Its website address has also changed, from nurserymen.co.uk to johnsonsnurseries.co.uk.

Graham Richardson, group managing director at Johnsons Nurseries, said:

“We have used the generic term ‘nurserymen’ as part of our branding for years, and it has been an accepted historical collective term that describes the profession and not a deliberate specific reflection on gender within the workforce.

“We are proud of the diversity of our workforce and the contributions that all of our employees make.

“However, we are acutely aware of this being perceived as outdated and intend to phase out the term over time as we introduce our new brand. This is also an opportunity for us to solidify our place in the market and ensure that the quality and reputation of Johnsons’ products are maintained for future generations of our workforce, customers and stakeholders.

“Our values remain the same as we aim to continue the legacy of professionalism and reputation that Mr Johnson and the Richardson family have built.”

Johnsons was founded in 1921 by war veteran Eric Johnson and then purchased by John Richardson in 1964. It now employs 140 people, including 11 family members, at its 150-acre nurseries east of Knaresborough, in the Vale of York.

Industry ‘Oscar’ for car dealership

A Boroughbridge used car dealership has picked up a prestigious accolade at the 2023 Car Dealer Magazine Used Car Awards, which are often described as the Oscars of the motor trade.

Alexanders Prestige, based in Roecliffe, won the Days To Turn trophy, which was awarded by assessors looking for an efficient and well-run sales operation, with cars leaving dealers’ forecourts soon after they arrive. The quick turnaround of a dealer’s stock indicates high levels of pre-sale preparation, fair pricing and good levels of customer care.

James Baggott, editor-in-chief of Car Dealer Magazine, said:

‘‘In judging the Days To Turn award, we collaborated with Auto Trader to find the dealers who are selling their cars the fastest.

‘‘Their data team looked at nearly 13,500 dealers to help us identify the best – with those nominated then subjected to our own rigorous checks and mystery shopping.

‘‘Alexanders Prestige absolutely aced the mystery shopping round, and its online feedback showed countless customers had received similarly impressive levels of service and communication. This is a well-deserved win for the team.’’

Rossett sixth form back on site in 2024, says trust head

The sixth form at Rossett School in Harrogate will be fully operational from its own on-site facilities from September 2024, the Stray Ferret can reveal.

It was reported earlier this year that the sixth forms at Rossett and Harrogate Grammar School were to merge, but this was not the case, according to Richard Sheriff, chief executive of the Red Kite Learning Trust, which both schools belong to.

Mr Sheriff told the Stray Ferret:

“A merger was never on the cards. It was always about a partnership – both schools choosing to work together in the interests of the young people they serve.”

Over the last year, Rossett School’s Year 13 students – upper-sixth formers – have carried on being taught at Rossett.

But Year 12 students – lower-sixth formers – have been taught at Harrogate Grammar School, because a dip in pupil numbers at Rossett meant there were not enough pupils for the courses.

Mr Sheriff said:

“From September 2024, we’ll have a larger group of students, so we’ll be offering more courses at Rossett for both Year 12 and Year 13 students.

“Rossett and the Grammar School may not both offer all courses, but students at one school may be able to do a course at the other school if it’s not offered at their own. For example, we don’t offer A level PE at Harrogate Grammar School, but we do at Rossett.

“Sharing resources like this allows us to offer a broader curriculum across the two schools.

“The collaboration between the two schools is fantastic. We all have the same values, the same mission, in our DNA. We’re all just trying to do things together for the benefit of the community.”

In recent years, the school roll at Rossett has shrunk from around to 1,500 to about 1,000. But Mr Sheriff said the decline in numbers had been halted and was being reversed. He said:

“We really expect numbers in Rossett’s sixth form to grow as the school grows. Rossett went through a difficult period, but we expect them to rise again.

“We’ve got a great new head in Tim Milburn, a new executive board, and trust is coming back among parents and in the wider community.

“Housing is going up all over the town, and we want those children to have a really good choice of schools. They can’t all go to Harrogate Grammar School.”

Rossett School is benefiting financially from the presence of Red Kite Learning Trust’s offices and facilities within its grounds.

The Trust was previously located at Harrogate Grammar School, but there was little free space at the school. In contrast, Rossett’s diminished roll meant it had underused buildings, so the Trust decamped there and pays to use its buildings, giving the school a new revenue stream.

Through its training arm, Red Kite Education, the Red Kite Learning Trust is one of the largest teacher training providers in the country, with more than 160 trainee teachers.

From its base at Rossett School, it offers national professional qualifications for headteachers, executive leaders and middle leaders, early career framework support for teachers in their first two years of teaching, and training and support for business managers and teaching assistants.

As many as 800 adults at 150 different schools are in some kind of training through Red Kite.

Yorkshire Water pays record £1m to charities after polluting Harrogate beck

Yorkshire Water has paid a record £1 million to environmental and wildlife charities after polluting a Harrogate river, following an investigation by the Environment Agency.

The utility company polluted Hookstone Beck with an unauthorised sewage discharge from Hookstone Road combined sewer overflow, killing fish and breaching its environmental permit.

It submitted an Enforcement Undertaking to the Environment Agency, proposing a charitable donation totalling £1 million, which is the largest ever accepted by the Agency.

It has paid £500,000 to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and £500,000 to Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. It has also completed a significant £1.85 million sewer network upgrade in the area as part of the enforcement terms.

Claire Barrow, Environment Agency area environment manager in Yorkshire, said:

“We always consider enforcement options on a case-by-case basis and Enforcement Undertakings allow companies to put right what went wrong and contribute to environmental improvements and outcomes.

“This significant £1 million civil sanction will be invested back into the local area to enhance the environment for people and wildlife.

“The Environment Agency investigation also led to significant improvements to the sewer network in this area to prevent repeat incidents and ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.”

A photo of polluted water flowing into Hookstone Beck.

Polluted water flowing into Hookstone Beck. Photo: Environment Agency.

The Stray Ferret has extensively covered this issue. As we reported in July 2023, it agreed to pay £235,000 to Yorkshire Wildlife Trust following an illegal discharge into Hookstone Beck in 2015. Two years ago, we also reported on a “sea of bubbles” that appeared in the beck.

And the problems are not confined to that particular watercourse. Earlier this year, the Stray Ferret revealed that Yorkshire Water had discharged sewage into the River Nidd 870 times in 2022, and levels of the harmful bacteria E. coli are “concerningly high”.

An Enforcement Undertaking is a voluntary offer made by companies or individuals to make amends for their offending, and usually includes a payment to an environmental charity to carry out environmental improvements in the local area.

Hookstone Road combined sewer overflow has an environmental permit which allows a discharge into the beck when the storm sewage facility is full due to rainfall or snow melt.

On August 31, 2016 the Environment Agency received a report of pollution in Hookstone Beck. Investigating officers traced it to the overflow at Hookstone Road, which had blocked and not alerted Yorkshire Water due to faulty telemetry equipment.

The investigation found that almost 1,500 fish had been killed and water quality affected for 2.5km downstream. A series of further blockages and discharges took place in the following months.

A detailed Environment Agency investigation was undertaken, this included the use of devices called sondes in the river to measure the impact of ammonia and an assessment of Event Duration Monitoring data that revealed the company was in breach of its environmental permit.

As part of the Enforcement Undertaking requirements Yorkshire Water has already carried out a significant £1.85 million improvement and rebuilding project to the overflow and surrounding sewer network to bring it back into compliance with its environmental permit.

A photo of cloudy water in Hookstone Beck caused by pollution from an unauthorised sewage release by Yorkshire Water.

Photo: Environment Agency.

A spokesperson for Yorkshire Water said:

“This incident was initially caused by a plank of wood that shouldn’t have been in the sewer network and took place seven years ago. We acted quickly to stop the pollution but understand incidents of this kind are distressing and when things go wrong, we understand we have a responsibility to make it right and to prevent these things from happening at all.

“Unfortunately, it has taken seven years to reach an agreement with the Environment Agency to donate funds to local wildlife charities that will directly benefit Yorkshire, but we are pleased to have finally provided funds to the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust.

“We’re committed to protecting the environment and our procedures and processes have evolved significantly since 2016, contributing to a halving of pollution incidents in the last five years. Following this incident in 2016, we spent almost £2 million to improve the sewer network in the area to prevent repeat issues.”

Individuals and organisations that pollute the environment will soon face unlimited penalties under new legislation being brought forward by the government. The current limit of variable monetary penalties that the Environment Agency can impose directly on operators will be lifted, following a government consultation which received widespread public support.

This will offer regulators a more efficient method of enforcement than lengthy and costly criminal prosecutions, although the most serious cases will continue to be taken through criminal proceedings.

Water Minister Robbie Moore said:

“This record penalty paid by Yorkshire Water demonstrates that those who damage our natural environment will be held to account.

“Our Plan for Water is all about delivering more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement right across the water sector – and this penalty for Yorkshire Water demonstrates that we will take robust action when required.

“Our Plan includes scrapping the cap on civil penalties by introducing unlimited fines and significantly broadening their scope to target a much wider range of offences – from breaches of storm overflow permits to the reckless disposal of hazardous waste.”

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust will use the payment in North Yorkshire for new and improved homes for wildlife, mainly on their wetland reserves. This includes reprofiling Ripon City Wetlands to create muddy shores for wading birds, safe breeding islands and removing invasive plants, as well as replacing equipment. Habitat improvements on the River Tutt at Staveley nature reserve will also help to store flood water, protecting communities downstream.

Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust will use the payment to develop a programme of improvements along the River Nidd. It will be working through the catchment partnership – Dales to Vales Rivers Network – with local communities and other organisations to build on existing work with citizen scientists.

Business Breakfast: Harrogate PR agency joins B Corp ethical elite

Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

Harrogate PR agency Cause UK has achieved the prestigious B Corp certification.

B Corp is a certification awarded for ongoing commitment to meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

Cause UK was established in 2010 by sisters Clair and Ann Challenor-Chadwick, and specialises in supporting organisations that have positive impact. Its clients operate in the arts, charity, social enterprise, and public sector. The team also supports ethical businesses.

Clair said:

“B Corp is a rigorous process that demands Cause UK meets the highest standards of social responsibility and environmental stewardship. So, we’re incredibly proud to meet this milestone.”

B Corporations are accredited by B Lab, a non-profit network that works to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. Its international network of organisations supports a collective vision of an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy.

B Corp certification is awarded to businesses that strive to balance purpose and profit, using their operations as a force for good.

Harrogate companies that have already achieved the certification include Harrogate Spring Water and lifestyle brand NEOM Organics.

Clair added:

“In 2024, we aim to represent more businesses in order to afford us to support more good causes. We believe most businesses now take responsibility for people and planet, and we’re keen to work with those who share these values as part of our five-year growth strategy.”

Sponsors lend names to Harrogate Town stands

Harrogate Town unveiled two new stands last night for its League Two clash with Wrexham.

The PIB Insurance stand is brand new and large enough to host a record away crowd, and the new-look Myrings stand now has seating behind the goal in what was previously an all-standing section.

Ross Barnitt, a senior director at PIB, said:

“Back in the 2015 season I was fortunate to witness Town achieve their highest ever league finish to secure play-offs in the National League North. At the same time, PIB was formed with its first two employees.

“In the years that followed, Town have written their own history with impressive promotions to the National League and then the Football League, and PIB have grown to more than 4,000 employees across eight countries.

“Our shared commitment to supporting local communities and shared passion for excellence makes us very proud to partner with Harrogate Town at this exciting time in their history.”

Harrogate estate agent Myrings is a long-time supporter of Harrogate Town. Managing director Gemma Myring said:

“Myrings are extremely proud to unveil the amazing new stand for home supporters. This marks yet another terrific milestone on the Club’s journey into Sky Bet League Two of the Football League along the road to the next promotion. Just in time for their home fixture vs Wrexham too!”

Pannal dental practice stops treating adults on NHS

A Harrogate dental clinic will no longer provide a full NHS service next year because it says it cannot afford to.

Pannal Dental Clinic (PDC) sent letters at the weekend to its patients to let them know of the new arrangements.

The letter, which has been seen by the Stray Ferret, said:

“As of the 1st January 2024, our team will cease to provide NHS care for adults. Instead, we will be able to provide your dental care on a private basis and to aid this transition we have introduced a patient membership plan.”

The change came as a shock to some patients, including Pannal resident Petra Turner.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“A number of Pannal and Burn Bridge residents are now finding that they have to join the PDC dental plan or stay on as a pay-as-you-go (a lot of money) patient in order to stay on their list.”

She added:

“We (a family of four) have been with this practice for 22 years. If the three adults in our family were to join the PDC basic plan, we would have to pay £750 a year. This would include two dental check-ups and two hygienist appointments per person. A very nice hourly rate.”

But Dr Greg Cadman, owner and principal dentist at PDC, said he had no choice but to reduce the NHS contract.

Under a system introduced in 2006, any dental practice working to an NHS contract must fulfil a target of units of dental activity (UDAs) set by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) that gave it the contract.

A check-up is worth one UDA, but a filling is worth three. Confusingly, multiple fillings in one visit still count as three UDAs.

Earlier this year, Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee called the UDA system “not fit for purpose”.

Pannal Dental Clinic has failed to meet its targets in three of the last four years, and missing them carries a penalty known as a “clawback”, where the ICB can claim back the value of the underachieved units.

As a result, the practice had to pay back a large sum of money.

Dr Cadman said:

“We are not terminating our NHS contract – we are reducing it and prioritising children.

“We lost a couple of associates due to them wanting to work privately, and another went on maternity leave. With staffing levels like that, it became impossible to hit the target.

“There’s no clawback if you fulfil 90% of your UDAs, but we hit 89.7% – just 0.3% off the target – so we were hit with a full clawback of tens of thousands of pounds that had to be paid within just three months.”

He said the problem had been exacerbated by the recruitment crisis in the NHS, which had grown more acute since Brexit and the Covid pandemic. He said:

“There always used to be dentists who would take on NHS work, but now many are finding it too difficult under the current system. We’ve advertised for new NHS dentists in numerous places for six months – without a single applicant. Even dental nurses are hard to find.

“There’s definitely still a place for the NHS – it’s really important, and I don’t want to see it go. But for practices like ours, working within it is very difficult.”

The reduction in PDC’s NHS contract is symptomatic of a national trend. The British Dental Association has said that NHS dentistry is facing a “genuine crisis” of access.

A YouGov survey in March 2023 found that one in five people in the UK (22%) are currently not registered with a dentist, and of these, 37% said this was because they couldn’t find an NHS dentist.

One in 10 (10%) even admitted to attempting their own dental work.

Dutch lifestyle brand takes last empty unit on James Street

The last empty shop unit on James Street in Harrogate has been let to a fast-growing Dutch lifestyle brand.

Rituals will open in early 2024 at 34 James Street, between Hoopers and Hotel Chocolat, in the unit formerly occupied by jewellers Ernest Jones.

The company sells “home and body cosmetics”, which according to its website are “inspired by the wisdom and traditions of ancient cultures”.

The shop unit was marketed by Leeds-based property consultants Central Retail. Director Tom Limbert said:

“Rituals is a high-end, luxurious brand with fabulous products, so will add to the already strong tenant mix on James Street.

“Having also been responsible for the recent transactions of Mint Velvet relocating to the former Joules unit, and Cornish Bakery taking the former Paperchase, we’re delighted to see James Street fully occupied and looking back to its best.”

Rituals was founded in 2000 in Amsterdam and has since grown into a multinational concern. It has more than 900 stores in 33 countries and is still expanding.

It currently has more than 60 stores and concessions in the UK and has plans to open 25 more next year across the UK and Ireland, of which the Harrogate shop will be one of the first.

Harrogate anti-knife crime scheme to be expanded across county

A scheme to tackle knife crime in Harrogate that collected more than 50 blades within its first month is to be expanded with £15,000 of funding.

A metal safe bin was installed in January at the Dragon Road car park in Harrogate and was used by people surrendering knives that might otherwise be used as offensive or dangerous weapons.

Between January and last week, which was national Knife Crime Awareness Week, more than 500 knives and bladed articles were deposited at that location.

The new funding has been awarded to North Yorkshire Council from the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s Serious Violence Duty – Prevention and Early Intervention fund.

It will enable the council, in partnership with City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police, to install knife-drop bins across the North Yorkshire and York.

Following local government reorganisation, North Yorkshire Council has committed to expanding the scheme. Although North Yorkshire is regarded as one of the safest counties in England and Wales, knife crime remains an issue.

There were more than 2,700 recorded incidents in the Harrogate district where a knife or bladed article was involved or mentioned between January 2020 and June 2022.

Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“Knife bins have proved their worth wherever they have been located.

“I am delighted that my office has been able to provide funding to this project. We can never truly reverse the impact of a violent crime after it has occurred, and so it is crucial that we are able to support preventative measures like this which are proven to reduce the risk of these crimes happening in the first place.“My office supports a range of services designed to do just that, providing support for victims of crime as well as addressing the underlying causes of reoffending.

“North Yorkshire is statistically one of the safest parts of the UK, but that does not mean we should ever rest on our laurels, and we will always strive to ensure that residents of our region are able to be safe and feel safe.”

The number of fatal stabbings in England and Wales is reported to be at its highest level since records began more than 75 years ago.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 282 homicides were committed using a knife or sharp instrument in the year to March 2022, which is a 19 per cent rise when compared to the previous year.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, said:

“I am delighted the bid for funding had been approved.

“Knife bins will not reduce these horrendous statistics on their own, but they have proven to be a successful way of preventing knives and bladed articles from getting into the wrong hands.

“Knife crime has devastating consequences for all those involved. If installing these bins leads to the prevention of just one death, then the investment will have been worthwhile.”

Locations are currently being considered for the new knife-drop bins. Once the locations have been decided, members of the public will be able to deposit the knife or bladed article through the bin’s hatch. People are advised to wrap the blade in thick paper or cardboard and secure with tape as a safety precaution.

The bins will then be emptied by officers from North Yorkshire Police and the items disposed of.

The Government’s Serious Violence Duty, introduced in January, requires the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to bring organisations, such as North Yorkshire Council, together to develop and implement strategies that help prevent and reduce serious violence.

North Yorkshire Council’s head of community safety and CCTV, Odette Robson, said:

“This initiative helps us to safeguard our communities and fulfil our commitment to tackling serious violence.”

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough chamber meeting brought forward

Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

The next meeting of Knaresborough and District Chamber has been brought forward to avoid congestion in the Christmas calendar.

The meeting will take place from 7pm this Wednesday, November 29, downstairs at The Mitre pub.

The packed agenda will begin with North Yorkshire Council‘s Michaela Young taking a look at SME and business sustainability grants.

Banking in Knaresborough will also be covered, with news about the town’s new Banking Hub, and an update on the Onebanx initiative, with a video link to the Onebanx team.

The issue of electric vehicle parking spaces will be discussed, and there’ll be news about the Shared Prosperity Fund relating to the proposed cliff lift, connectivity, data intelligence and economic prosperity.

There will also be updates on double devolution progress and the marketplace from the town council, and on the Christmas Market, as well as news on other developments, including the Christmas Market; Henshaws Beer Festival sponsorship and 12 Days of Giving; the Christmas Day Dinner, which needs volunteers; the New Year Duck Race; and an update from the town crier.

Harrogate firm aims to beat southern rivals at awards

A Harrogate office supplies company will be battling it out against a field of firms from the south at an awards ceremony this week.

Supplies Web Ltd, which is based at Claro Court Business Centre, has been shortlisted for the dealer excellence award, for companies that turn over less than £5 million a year, at the national BOSS Awards.

The BOSS Awards are held annually by the BOSS Federation, which is the trade association for the business supplies industry.

Supplies Web is up against stiff competition from four other firms, all based in the South East and East Anglia; the most northerly competitor apart from Supplies Web is based in Lowestoft.

Paul Graves, director of Supplies Web, said:

“We are delighted to have been nominated for dealer excellence. BOSS is the authoritative body for the UK business supplies industry, and this is the biggest awards night in the calendar – like the BAFTAs of our industry!”

The winners of the BOSS Awards will be announced at a gala dinner held at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester this Thursday (November 30).

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