Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Redcentric makes another acquisition

IT service provider Redcentric has completed the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of 4D Data Centres for £10m.

4D Data Centres is a data centre operator and cloud services provider. It operates centres in Surrey, Gatwick, London and Kent.

Redcentric’s headquarters are at Central House on Otley Road and has made a number of acquisitions over the past 12 months.

In June, the company acquired three data centres as well as network services from Sungard Availability Services (UK) Ltd, which went into administration.

In March it acquired security testing firm 7 Elements for around £4.5m. Last October, it bought York IT company Piksel IS for £9.5m.

Read more:

• Chamber meeting to focus on business support
• Ripon business gets Dragons’ Den star endorsement

Free business advice at Harrogate drop-in

A business support drop-in session will be held at Harrogate Co-Lab next Wednesday, July 13.

Hosted by Harrogate Borough Council’s business services department, the free event will have experts from the growth manager service, Ad-Venture and York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

Each will be available to answer questions about starting and growing a business, as well as free support and grants available for businesses in the Harrogate district.

The event runs from 9am to 5pm at the Co-Lab base on Kings Road, Harrogate.

For more information, email business@harrogate.gov.uk.

A young gymnast who trains in Harrogate will represent Team GB in the final of an international competition tomorrow.

Emily Lock, 15, will compete in the under 16s female category of the double mini trampoline at the Scalabis Cup in Portugal.

One of a team of three, she hopes to see off competition from seven other teams across two stages in the final, having already won a team gold this week. She said:

“I’m a bit nervous but mostly excited about the final.

“In my first class, I landed on the side pad so it wasn’t my best, but the warm-up didn’t go great which wasn’t the best preparation and I went into the class not feeling confident.

“I’ve been watching the videos back so I know what I need to do to get it right tomorrow.”

It hasn’t been a smooth journey to the competition for Emily.

Earlier this year, she landed awkwardly in training at Harrogate Gymnastics Club and sprained her ankle, forcing her to take five weeks off.

She missed important competitions and was concerned she wouldn’t be ready to travel to Portugal, but with a lot of hard work and support from coach Amy Clemitson, she made it.

Emily Lock, left, with the Team GB squad

Chloe Carey, owner of Harrogate Gymnastics, said:

“Emily worked really hard and was determined to get there. It’s exciting when our gymnasts get chosen for competitions and we’re proud of them for the work they put in.

“They commit anything from three to five times a week after school and having to fit homework in around it too.

“These kids are brilliant – they put in the hours, they work hard and listen to all the feedback so they can improve.”

Read more:

• Local Lioness leads by example in the Women’s Euros
• Knaresborough Town FC sets up women’s team

Aspiring young gymnasts from the club do most of their training in Harrogate.

If they are selected for Team GB, they travel to Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Shropshire a few times a year to meet their teammates and work with the coaches.

For Emily, who attends Tadcaster Grammar School, training has to be balanced against revisions for her GCSEs, which she will complete next year.

“It gets hard in competition season because you have to train hard. I have to fit in revision because I’ve got tests coming up.

“But I really enjoy competing so I want to keep doing it.”

The final of Emily’s competition will be available to watch live on YouTube tomorrow from 3pm.

Ofsted has ranked an “exceptionally well-resourced and vibrant” nursery in Knaresborough as ‘good’ in its latest inspection.

Nippers Nursery on Wetherby Road was praised for its outdoor spaces which inspectors found supported a range of educational opportunities.

Visiting at the end of May, they reported children showing “intense concentration” as they learned about nature, giving “exceptional care and concentration” when looking at insects.

The report said:

“Children of all ages show the highest levels of confidence and self-esteem as they immediately settle.

“The eagerness of children wanting their day to begin demonstrates how extremely safe and secure they feel in the nursery.”

Inspectors praised the way staff set out activities to develop children’s skills, from small muscle development and early mark-making to learning new language.

They also highlighted how the nursery encourages children to be independent, such as serving their own food and drinks at mealtimes.

Owner Julie Addyman told the Stray Ferret:

“There has been two new inspection frameworks since we were last inspected six years ago, so we felt that overall the inspection went very well.

“The staff team work so hard and it was good to hear that the inspector could see how fantastic our setting is.”

Read more:

• Ofsted praises ‘ambitious and caring’ Ripon high school
• Ofsted praise for Harrogate school that ‘turns around’ teenagers’ lives

The report suggested the nursery could improve by supporting children more with learning numbers and counting through play, and by asking questions which help to develop understanding.

Inspectors added:

“Staff are immensely proud to belong to this vibrant nursery. They are passionate about their work.

“Helping children to flourish and achieve is at the heart of everything the management team and staff do.”

Nippers offers 50 places for children aged up to four and has 18 staff, of whom 15 held early years qualifications at level three or above when inspectors visited.

The last Ofsted inspection, in 2016, rated the nursery ‘outstanding’.

Ms Addyman added:

“I’m sure like many settings, we would welcome a more regular inspection that would be used as it is meant to be – for guidance and support rather than a snap shot judgement of part of a day.

“There was a bit of disappointment that we didn’t receive outstanding but it’s always good to reflect and have a goal to work towards.

“The real judges of our overall  performance are the parents and carers that choose Nippers to be part of their family.”

Harrogate councillors have called for the reversal of closure plans for Woodfield Primary School as they also expressed fears that many more schools facing difficulties could follow in its footsteps.

A consultation on the proposed closure ended this week after the school failed to find an academy sponsor to take it over.

At a Harrogate Borough Council meeting on Wednesday, councillors spoke in support of parents and staff who say the school should stay open because it is a “vital” part of the community.

Councillor Philip Broadbank said it was “sad to see how a once thriving school now finds itself in this position”.

He added those “closely involved in the school feel let down by Ofsted, the government and its academisation policy”.

Councillor Broadbank said:

“A series of attempts have been made by hard-working, dedicated staff and there is a genuine desire to see this community facility stay open.

“Some people say the situation is being driven by an ideological academisation agenda which threatens the very future of more schools in North Yorkshire.

“Many schools are already in financial deficits and this is expected to get worse.”

Read more:

• Opposition councillors call for Woodfield school to be saved
• Last-ditch campaign to save Woodfield school in Bilton

The government has outlined plans for all schools to join academies by 2030 in a nationwide expansion of the model which sees schools receive funding directly rather than through a local authority.

Academy-run schools are overseen by charitable bodies called trusts which have more freedom of areas such as pupil admissions.

Woodfield Primary School was rated as inadequate and put into special measures by Ofsted in 2020 before being ordered to find an academy sponsor.

However, the Regional Schools Commissioner was unable to secure a backer.

The school – which has seen pupil numbers fall from 154 to just 37 in four years – was then set to merge with Grove Road Primary School before the nearby school pulled out of the proposals.

Woodfield Primary School now faces the prospect of closing for good in December.

This comes at a time when Baldersby St James Church of England Primary School near Thirsk is due to close next month and governors at Fountains Earth CE Primary School in Lofthouse have recently requested a closure consultation.

Kell Bank Church of England Primary School in Masham also closed last year when its 200-year history came to an end.

Woodfield Primary School could close in December

For Woodfield Primary School, the next stage of the process will see North Yorkshire County Council’s executive meet on July 19 to decide whether to publish statutory closure proposals.

A further four-week consultation would then follow ahead of a final decision by the council on October 19.

Councillor Matt Scott, who represents the Bilton Woodfield ward, told yesterday’s meeting that while the school has had its “fair share” of challenges, he believes it should stay open because it now “benefits from really excellent staff and a quality governing body”.

He said:

“The school is a brilliant building – it is connected to an excellent library staffed by committed local volunteers. As a whole, the site is really a first class facility.

“It is right that this council sends a message to the education authority that there is a future here.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Chamber meeting to focus on business support

Practical and financial support to businesses across the Harrogate district will be in the spotlight at a meeting on Monday.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce will focus on the routes to support with three speakers at its July event.

Steve Bolton is a lead consultant with Harrogate Borough Council and will discuss the Welcome Back Fund, which works collaboratively with SMEs and partners across North Yorkshire.

Amrit Choda of Aspire2lead will outline how the project works, with part funding from the European Social Fund. It aims to offer free support to women to boost their skills and confidence, and help them to contribute to the growth of businesses in the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Area (LEP).

Finally, Danny Wild, pictured, principal of Harrogate College, will introduce its new student-workers programme, which helps employers to fill vacancies while also giving work experience to students.

Chamber chief executive David Simister said:

“For Harrogate businesses seeking information about what financial grants, practical support and staff training they can access, then our July meeting is a must attend event.

“And I’m delighted to say this meeting is open to non-members too. The aim of our meetings is to educate and inform, and this is what July’s speakers will do.”

The meeting takes place at Harrogate College on Hornbeam Park on Monday, July 11, from 5.30pm, and is open to members and visitors.

To book a place, visit the chamber website.

Read more:

• Ripon business gets Dragons’ Den star endorsement
• Harrogate family firm sold to international company

A Green Party councillor in the Harrogate district has spoken out about the state of politics following the Prime Minister’s resignation today.

Arnold Warneken, who was elected to the Ouseburn division of North Yorkshire County Council in May, said it was time for an overhaul of the political system in order to restore faith.

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, he said:

“We need to have a major change in politics and statesmen who are honest and hard-working.

“They always say, ‘the right honourable member for such-and-such’ – I’d put that under the Trade Descriptions Act. They lie, they break the law – what makes them honourable?”

Cllr Warneken pointed to the recent results in the local elections in North Yorkshire as a sign of the public’s appetite for change. The Conservatives went from a significant majority in the county to winning 47 of the 90 seats to secure a slender majority.

He said he wanted to see proportional representation introduced, ensuring the political make-up of Parliament was more representative. He added:

“I can guarantee if that was in place, we would get a better turn-out. People are hungry for change and we have to provide an alternative.”

Cllr Arnold Warneken

Cllr Warneken was critical of Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, saying he only spoke out against the Prime Minister after it became clear his position was untenable.

The Stray Ferret has contacted Mr Jones for a response to the accusation, but has not received a response.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that Mr Jones has written to constituents to say he had hoped the prime minister might have “changed his behaviours” following last month’s vote of confidence.

However, Mr Jones added it is “clear” that “the same old process of the truth being reached through the most tortuous of processes” has followed. He said:

“I have over a long period disagreed with some of the Prime Minister’s decisions. You may remember that I called for Dominic Cummings to resign over the infamous ‘Barnard Castle eye test’ incident.

“I refused to vote with the government when the Prime Minister wanted us to change the standards rules to save Owen Paterson who had clearly broken them.

“I was quite clear in my comments about Partygate when I said that ‘law-makers cannot be law-breakers’.

“I backed that up when it came to the recent no confidence vote where I did not support the Prime Minister.”

Mr Jones added he now looks forward to a “calmer, honest and transparent approach to our national politics” after the prime minister announced his resignation outside No 10 this afternoon.

There has been no word from Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, on the situation.

Julian Smith, MP for Skipton and Ripon, has not responded to requests for comment from the Stray Ferret, but earlier today he took to Twitter to praise civil servants.

Over the past years @UKCivilService has been attacked and maligned by certain government ministers. Over the past 24 hours they have literally held the administration of our country together & are currently sorting out this mess. Thank you.

— Julian Smith MP (@JulianSmithUK) July 7, 2022

Read more:

• Ripon MP: Prime Minister causing ‘constitutional crisis’ by refusing to resign
• Andrew Jones MP calls on Boris Johnson to resign

The local Labour party has called for the Prime Minister to step down immediately, rather than waiting for a leadership contest in the autumn, as has been announced.

In a statement, the party said:

“The Prime Minister is unfit to govern and needs to go now.

“Boris Johnson has presided over a government defined by lies, sleaze, an utter lack of integrity and incompetence.

“We need a new Government now. The choice is clear: a Tory government with more of the same, or a Labour government offering a fresh start for Harrogate and Knaresborough.”

Cllr Warneken agreed, saying by continuing, Boris Johnson was “causing more chaos and more damage to society through ill thought-out policies and laws”.

He said the impact was being felt in North Yorkshire, where plans to set up the new unitary council had been affected by the lead-up to Mr Johnson’s resignation.

Council officers had worked “really, really hard” but were unable to make as much progress as they had hoped while Whitehall civil servants were tied up dealing with the crisis, he said.

With the summer recess looming, a caretaker Prime Minister was not sufficient to ensure the country could function effectively, said Cllr Warneken, adding:

“He can cause a hell of a lot of damage between now and when they find some other idiot to replace him.

“The only saving glory is he has done more damage to his party the longer he has been there.”

Administrators dealing with the collapse of a food company founded in the Harrogate district have said it is “unlikely” its 108 unsecured creditors will receive any of the money they are owed.

Bleikers Smoke House Ltd fell into administration in April, when it was also revealed that the company was being investigated for possible food fraud.

Now, administrator FRP Advisory Ltd has revealed a growth in the price of raw materials and difficulty in finding temporary staff at Christmas put “pressure” on the company. The latest report said:

“In late March 2022, the company’s biggest customer (approx 50% of sales) notified the company of concerns regarding the provenance of goods supplied and withdrew its products from sale in its stores, ceasing all orders.

“Despite an ongoing dialogue and a number of audits being undertaken by the customer and its agents, no resolution could be reached.

“A confidential settlement was subsequently reached with the customer on April 26, 2022, which ended the relationship.

“The sudden loss of this customer’s business, combined with the already weakened financial position meant the company was no longer viable.”

The latest update reveals a sale of the company, founded in 1993 at Glasshouses Mill, was attempted in April but a buyer was not found. After the company entered administration, there were two parties interested in buying it, but they pulled out when news of the Food Standards Agency’s investigation emerged.

However, a sale to Sixto Strategic Sourcing LLC for a total price of £300,000 has since been agreed, and could see production restarted from Bleikers’ most recent home at Leeming Bar.

Read more:

• Food fraud investigation into Bleiker’s Smokehouse
• Harrogate shop closes as sofa company enters administration

As well as negotiating the sale, administrators reported they had secured the return of the company’s trademark and branding rights from a company owned by the children of Bleikers’ directors, Charles and Annabel Andrew.

The rights had been transferred within the last 12 months but were returned in order to facilitate a sale of the business, the report said.

Of the company’s 86 members of staff, just three have been retained on a self-employed basis to assist with specialist knowledge. A food hygiene specialist has been appointed to liaise with the environmental health office.

Administrators said the prospect of any of the company’s 108 outstanding creditors receiving any payment is “unlikely”.

Meanwhile, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it continues to investigate Bleikers Smoke House over allegations of food fraud.

Almost 70 objections have been submitted in two weeks after plans were put forward to build 35 homes in the Crimple Valley.

The outline proposal for Almsford Bank Stables includes 14 affordable homes, seven first homes and 14 self or custom build (SCB) plots.

However, 69 public comments have been received since Monday, June 20, all of which oppose the plans.

Among them, nearby resident Jules Sibson said:

“This application is ludicrous. There is no way the access here would be safe.

“Only a few weeks ago the road was closed for some period of time to a major road traffic accident. The traffic is stacked back on a regular basis, and if it’s not then people speed up and down the hill. A junction here would surely lead to disaster.

“As a local who also regularly enjoys the beautiful walks along here with my children I am literally dumbfounded this planning would even be re-considered.”

The proposed site, outlined in red, lies in the Crimple Valley

Another from Judith Hooper said:

“In the time we have been resident in Harrogate there have been numerous car accidents on Almsford bank, the most recent very serious one being only a few weeks ago.

“Cars accelerate down the bank on reaching the 50mph sign and already have to contend with traffic coming out of Crimple Hall.

“Putting access at the bottom of such a busy section of road, on a bend, seems to invite accidents. At night there are many cars clearly speeding on this stretch. At busy periods traffic is queuing both up and down the hill.”

Campaign group Save Crimple Valley has urged the public to submit objections to the new proposals.

It is the third application for the site site since 2018, when plans for 65 homes were put forward but withdrawn. The following year, a reduced proposal of 35 homes was submitted, but again withdrawn in the face of extensive objections.

The site is not included in Harrogate Borough Council’s local plan, which guides where development can take place in the district.

One objection to the latest proposal by the same applicant said the repeated applications were a “waste of everyone’s time”.

However, the application argues that the district does not have a sufficient supply of SCB sites to meet its obligations.

Read more:

• New plans submitted for 35 homes in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley
• Consultation on bid to join bridleways in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley

Consultees have also submitted their responses, with National Highways (formerly Highways England) saying it had no objections to the proposals.

However, some have opposed the plans. The Harrogate branch of the Ramblers’ Association said:

“We object strongly to this latest outline application to develop this site. Any housing development here would seriously damage public amenity…

“We object to the building of houses in this special landscape. We object to this area of countryside being urbanised.

“The indicative layout shows the bridleway diverted onto a new estate road for part of its length. We object because there has been no provision made for the bridleway to be kept separate from the proposed access road to the houses.

“We do not accept a right of way being incorporated into a vehicular access road for a housing development. There is no provision to keep the non-motorised route separate from the housing estate road, but it is unlikely this can be achieved on this site.”

The plans have been submitted by Square Feet Ltd, whose registered address is on nearby Fulwith Mill Lane, and Antela Developments Ltd, two of whose three directors also live on Fulwith Mill Lane.

To view or comment on the plans, visit the Harrogate Borough Council planning website and use reference 22/02233/OUTMAJ.

The consultation ends on Sunday, July 10. A date for the application to be decided by the council has yet to be set.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

National recognition for plant specialism at Himalayan Garden

A visitor attraction near Ripon has been awarded National Plant Collection status by Plant Heritage.

The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park at Grewelthorpe has been given the award for its collection of rhododendron subsect fortunea, of which it has 29 different types across its 45 acres.

Plant Heritage is a national horticultural charity aiming to conserve the diversity of garden plants in the UK and prevent species becoming extinct.

Jago Wallace, pictured, head of the national collection of rhododendrons at the garden, said:

“We have worked hard to achieve this award, undertaking specific recordings, research, care, and maintenance of these plants to keep them in good condition.

“We have created a new national collection bed to help visitors see the fortunea more closely. With the propagation of our plants being a major aim, all of the garden team have attended master classes on rhododendron propagation, which gives us the skills to improve the care of our national collection.”

The Himalayan Garden also aims to run master classes in future to allow visitors to learn the art of rhododendron propagation.

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• Carter Jonas makes new senior appointment in Harrogate
• Harrogate pregnancy brand raises £2m to grow company

Gritter firm builds community links with cricket sponsorship deal

A Ripon gritter manufacturer has agreed a deal to sponsor Thirsk Cricket Club for the 2022 season.

Econ Engineering, which has recently completed the construction of a £7m engineering facility in Sowerby, has backed the club as it builds its links with the local community.

The company has an 85% share in the UK winter roads maintenance vehicle market

Jonathan Lupton, Econ Engineering’s managing director, said:

“We are delighted to associate our name with Thirsk Cricket Club, and see this as the start of a long and fruitful partnership.

“Sowerby is now home to our 1,000-strong gritter hire fleet, which is also where they will be serviced ahead of going back out to councils, civil engineering companies and highways contractors across the UK.

“Our rental fleet had previously been based at our Ripon headquarters; however, it has now grown to such a size we needed a new base, therefore extending our operation into Sowerby.

“We are looking to increase our workforce by 50, and we hope we can attract a good number of these from the local community, hence us starting to forge a close relationship with the local community.”

Thirsk Cricket Club secretary David Richardson added:

“We would like to thank Econ Engineering for becoming our latest sponsor. The backing will enable us to continue our coaching for those looking to develop their skills within this sport.”

A children’s nursery in Harrogate has urged parents to voice their opposition to government proposals which could see fewer staff caring for young children.

Rachel Wilkinson, proprietor of Green Gables Montessori Nursery on the Great Yorkshire Showground, said the plans to allow one member of staff to care for five two-year-olds were “not safe”.

“My main concern is that it’s OK saying you can have one member of staff to five toddlers, but the reality is you can’t keep them safe. It’s wholly inappropriate.

“We still operate one-to-three for that age range because we don’t think the one-to-four is safe.”

In childcare settings in England, each member of staff can currently care for up to four children aged two. The government today said it will consult with childcare professionals and parents over whether to increase that to five.

Meanwhile, the number of children with additional needs who require extra support has grown significantly since covid. Ms Wilkinson said it was down to children having much less social interaction during lockdowns – and those born since March 2020 were at the greatest risk, she said.

“Children at two are most likely to be diagnosed with additional needs and need as much support as children under the age of two, as well as all the learning opportunities. You can’t do that with one member of staff to five children.”

Read more:

• Calls for action over ‘overwhelmed’ North Yorkshire children’s mental health services
• Fraction of free school meals children accessing school holidays scheme

The government said its proposal would help childcare providers to reduce costs and they could then pass savings on to parents, to enable them to access more affordable childcare as the cost of living rises.

However, Ms Wilkinson said the approach is completely wrong and there are better ways to address the challenges in the sector, such as increasing funding.

Children aged three and above receive funding for up to 30 hours’ childcare per week in term time in England.

Ms Wilkinson said the amount paid to the nursery for those hours was inadequate – it costs her £1.64 per hour more than she receives to care for each child.

Nurseries are not allowed to charge top-up fees and can only increase their prices so far. If rates rise too far, she said, providers would price themselves out of the market as parents would choose not to work.

Instead, she said she would like to see a range of measures to tackle the problems facing parents and childcare professionals.

“What would help the situation would be to stop business rates, to allow us to claim VAT back on investments – I have just bought £15,000 of equipment and paid 20% on it. That money that’s going to the government would have been reinvested in the nursery and come off the top line.

“I would like to pay my staff more than just above minimum rate. And the funding needs to actually be a viable amount. I think the calculation was done about 2016 and a lot has changed since then.

“Funding went up 6p per hour this time. Minimum wage went up by 60p per hour, plus you’ve got pensions and national insurance to pay. It just doesn’t add up.”

Children aged two would be affected by the proposed changes to childcare settings

Since covid, she said, nurseries have struggled to recruit, along with other relatively low-paying sectors, such as hospitality and social care.

Ms Wilkinson said she has managed not to need to close any of its rooms when staff are off sick, but other childcare settings have not been as fortunate.

Parents of children at other nurseries have told the Stray Ferret about last-minute cancellation of their childcare when too many staff have called in sick and there have not been enough agency workers to cover for them.

Combined with the increasing costs of fuel, food and other day-to-day expenses, Ms Wilkinson said it is no surprise that many nurseries are closing their doors.

Having established her nursery 27 years ago, she said she is increasingly concerned about the state of the sector.

“I think the profession was in crisis before the pandemic and that has just made it worse. It’s a perfect storm.”