A huge turnout is expected at this year’s Stray Ferret Business Awards which showcase some of the area’s most dynamic businesses.

The event at The Pavilions on March 14, showcases a range of local companies who have been recognised for their vision, enterprise and leadership in the business community.

The awards, now in the second year, were judged by a panel of business leaders including Niall Gunn, CEO of Prosperis, James Rycroft of Vida Healthcare, Sarah Barry, CEO of Harrogate Town Football Club and Heather Parry of Expert Events.

The finalists have been announced and tables at the glittering black tie event are selling fast.

The evening includes luxury raffle prizes from local companies including an overnight stay in the Presidential Suite at Grantley Hall.

Tamsin O’Brien, Founder and Managing Director of The Stray Ferret said the response for the event had been overwhelming.

“We know what a vibrant, independent, and unique town we have and we wanted to bring the brightest and best together in recognition of the talent and energy so many local businesses bring.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear some of our incredible success stories and pay tribute to the businesses and the teams of people that support them.”

Tickets are on sale via Eventbrite, and early booking is advisable.

A panel of judges made up from top local companies and organisations have drawn up an impressive shortlist of firms and individuals for the annual event on March 14.

The judges, Sarah Berry CEO of Harrogate Town Football Club,  Niall Gunn, CEO of Prosperis, James Rycroft Managing Director of VIDA Healthcare and Heather Parry of Expect Events, took a whole day to consider the dozens of entries spread across 10 categories.

Niall Gunn, whose firm is the main sponsor said:

“This really highlights the strength of the business community in the region.

“It was an incredibly difficult task because there were so many exciting companies that are doing great things for the town’s economy and wider community, and so many talented individuals to choose from.

“There was a mixture of traditional well established and well loved firms in the mix as well as some very new and exciting start-ups, he said.

The glittering black tie event takes place at The Pavilions in Harrogate, and tickets are now on sale for the black-tie Awards dinner. Click here to get your tickets now.

The finalists for 2024 are:

Business Growth, Sponsored by Raworths

Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen

Envirovent

Lucy Pittaway

Live for Today

Dynamic Leader, Sponsored by NT Hosted Solutions

Little Bird Made, Jackie Crozier

NYNET, Alastair Taylor

Mumbler, Sally Haslewood

Greenwoods, Camilla Greenwood & Dawn Hudson

Grantley Hall, Tracey Ractliffe

Business of the Year, Sponsored by Reed Boardall

Grantley Hall

Little Bird Made

Vida healthcare

Belzona

Number Thirteen

Employee Appreciation, Sponsored by Envirovent

Greenwoods, Stuart Hudson

The Soundproofing Store, Phil Lyons

Pavilions Of Harrogate, Darren Hall

Artizan International, Steff Winter

Resurrected Bites, Sam O’Brien

Best Independent Retailer, Sponsored by Hornbeam Park

Number Thirteen

Best Kept Secret

Ake & Humphris

Georgie’s

Harrogate Tipple

Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen

Harvey Geroge

The Cheeseboard

Inclusivity Award, Sponsored by Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors

Artizan International

Disability Action

Harrogate College

Horticap

Network Scientific

Rising Star Under 30, Sponsored by Thompsons Chartered Accountants 

Envirovent, Elise Stephens

Marketing Adventures, Emily Smailes

Harrogate International Festivals, Ellen Fletcher

Pavilions of Harrogate, Becky Andrews

Studio Nest, Rosie Rushton

Best Employer, Sponsored by Jones Myers

Grantley Hall

Network Scientific

Northern Energy

Harrogate Bus Company

LCF Law

Best Use of Digital, Sponsored by ASE Computer Services 

Harvey George

Harrogate Community Radio

Ake & Humphris

Show & Tell

Provenance Collection

Sustainable Business, Sponsored by York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub

Number Thirteen

Greenhouse, Ripon

Saint Michael’s Hospice

Harrogate Organics

Flotilla

Harrogate College

This article is sponsored by Ashville Prep School and Acorns Early Years.

PARENTS of young children ready for their first steps in their learning adventure are welcome to experience everything one of Yorkshire’s leading schools has to offer.

Harrogate’s Ashville Prep School and Acorns Early Years are preparing to welcome families to the next ‘Open Doors’ event on Wednesday February 7, offering a first-hand glimpse of life inside and outside the vibrant classrooms and impressive facilities.

There will be an opportunity to see its current crop of pupils aged 2 to 11 in action, as well as a chance to speak to teachers and the Senior Leadership Team, both about the curriculum and the school’s learning philosophy.

For families with children aged 2 to 5, a visit to Acorns Early Years is a must. The experienced team, led by Mrs Charlotte Cryer, support the children to build strong foundations to become confident communicators through a variety of fun, purposeful and engaging activities. Mrs Cryer explains

“We are dedicated to building trust and a genuine connection with each child and their family at this important first stage of their child’s learning journey. The children are at the heart of everything that we do and every decision that we make.”

One of Ashville’s key beliefs is that the curriculum is delivered through a variety of engaging and memorable methods and learning is not restricted to only take place at a desk. As part of the Open Morning, families will also see lessons in the dedicated Outdoor Learning area, where Ashville pupils, even those in Acorns Early Years, participate in weekly lessons that incorporate practical activities to support and enhance topics and concepts from the classroom.

Head of Ashville Prep School, Phil Soutar, said:

“Ashville is a place where learning is engaging and challenging and we cater to each child’s distinct and unique learning needs through our balanced approach to education.

“Our bespoke curriculum enthuses, engages and challenges young and inquiring minds, while also promoting high levels of attainment and outstanding academic progress.

“Alongside academic skills and knowledge, our key drivers of being open-minded, building global awareness and a sense of community to ensure pupils become well rounded, community spirited and responsible young citizens.”

Specialist subject teachers, an extensive choice of extra-curricular clubs, small class sizes and automatic entry to Year 7 at Ashville Senior School, are just some of the reasons why many families across the Harrogate area have already chosen Ashville Prep School. With limited spaces remaining in some year groups, the Open Morning provides a good opportunity for parents to see for themselves if Ashville would be a great prospect for their children.

Parents interested in attending the Open Doors event can click here to fill out the form and register their interest.

One of the admissions team will then be in touch with further details. More information is also available by emailing admissions@ashville.co.uk

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

We are revealing what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories. Next up is the Dynamic Leader Award.

This award is designed for those people in the Harrogate district who are driving progress, activity and change in their organisation.

These people have helped guide the business through tough years and are sure to make it thrive in the years to come with their vision and determination.

Those looking to enter or nominate need to provide details of how this person leads, including an account of their skills. Also detail how this individual’s style has had a significant impact in the way the business now operates.

Does your boss deserve to win the Dynamic Leader Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 19. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

This week’s photograph was taken by Julie Valentine, capturing heron making the most of the flooded ponds in Hookstone Woods, Harrogate.

Photo of the Week takes centre stage in our new-look nightly email newsletter. The newsletter drops into your inbox every evening at 6pm with all the day’s stories and more. To subscribe click here.

Julie Valentine

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

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The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

We are revealing what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the categories. Next up is the Best Independent Retailer Award.

This award recognises the work of independent retailers across the Harrogate district who are tackling the challenges faced by high street retailers in the growing online world.

These businesses are truly beating the odds to support customers and make the high street work for them.

Companies looking to enter for the Best Independent Retailer Award need to evidence how they have changed and adapted to continue flourish in a different high street landscape. You may have opened a new business or changed the way you operate to survive.

Does your business deserve to win the Best Independent Retailer Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 19. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.

To celebrate New Year’s Eve this week, we have a selection of photographs showcasing rainbows across the Harrogate district.

Photo of the Week will take centre stage from January 2 in our new-look nightly email newsletter. The newsletter drops into your inbox every evening at 6pm with all the day’s stories and more. 
To subscribe click here.

Andrew Graham

George Jesper

Parent of Western Primary

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

This article is sponsored by Ashville College Sixth Form.

We understand that choosing a Sixth Form can bring excitement and nerves in equal measure. To any young person, Sixth Form is a time of enrichment, commitment and increasing independence as they move closer to adulthood. They may even have heard from people close to them that Sixth Form was the best time of their school lives. It is not a decision to take lightly.

Ashville College’s Sixth Form Taster Day on Thursday, January 18 is designed to give Year 11s a taste of Sixth Form academic and social life, and to hopefully help them decide if we will be a good fit, both for them as individuals and in paving the way for their future plans.

Here are six things your child will discover on our Taster Day. If they don’t, we are not doing it right!

High-quality teaching

By attending pre-selected sessions, your child will gain first-hand experience of our range of more than 25 A Levels plus BTEC and Cambridge Technical qualifications and start to get acquainted with our teachers, who are specialists in their chosen disciplines.

What it feels like to be a Sixth Former

The feeling may be a little artificial as they haven’t officially started yet, but a Taster Day is as close to the real thing as possible. They can wear suits, experience the school environment, have exclusive use of the dedicated Sixth Form Centre, and taste the food!

A sense of confidence that we will help them get into their preferred university

In 2023, 94 per cent of the summer 2023 cohort of Upper Sixth pupils were awarded places at their preferred universities in the UK and around the world, based on their A Level results. Teachers work tirelessly to deliver the best possible academic outcomes for each pupil.

They will be known as individuals

We work with every young person to get to know them and help them realise their potential, whether that is in their chosen fields of study or their co-curricular pursuits.

There’s more to gain than exam results

Sixth Form can be synonymous with A Levels, but they’re only part of the story. At Ashville, ‘Future Ready’ provides experiences and skills that aim to assist our young people well into the future, and our strong Co-curricular Programme enables them to continue to pursue existing interests and discover new ones, aiding personal growth as well as mental and physical wellbeing.

It’s not just about work!

By spending time with the Ashville community, attendees will learn that we as a College believe that the Sixth Form days are about more than studying and exams, and that pupils learn best when they are happy.

So much awaits beyond the Ashville classroom, from the friendships they will make to the incredible trips and end-of-year parties. Sadly, our Taster Day can’t convey all the special moments ahead of them; they will have to join us to discover those!

Sign your child up now for an enjoyable, valuable and eye-opening day.

We look forward to meeting them. Click or Tap here to register now. 

This week, we have a selection of photographs showcasing some Christmas scenes across the Harrogate district taken in the December snow.

Photo of the Week will take centre stage from January 2 in our new-look nightly email newsletter. The newsletter drops into your inbox every evening at 6pm with all the day’s stories and more. 
To subscribe click here.

Erica Johnson

Heather Middleton

Jeannette Wilson

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.

Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.

Next up is the Best Use of Digital Award, which is sponsored by ASE Computer Services.

This award is designed to showcase businesses which have embraced the digital world to drive success.

Those looking to enter or nominate need to provide details of the digital initiative/s and the business objectives behind them. As well as statistical information on why the initiative was a success.

Does your business deserve to win the Best Use of Digital Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 19. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!

Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.