Vicky Carr, Author at The Stray Ferret

‘Go for it!’ says Harrogate district apprentice on Women in Engineering Day

An apprentice engineer working in the Harrogate district is urging more women to consider career opportunities in the sector.

Freya Osment joined Northern Gas Networks last year as an electrical and instrumentation apprentice.

To mark International Women in Engineering Day today, she has been discussing her role and why she’d recommend a career in engineering to anyone considering it – even if they are the only girl in a class full of boys.

She said:

“I always wanted to do something involving engineering. My dad was a mine engineer, and then moved into precision engineering and lathe work.

“Growing up I was kind of a tomboy, and I liked helping him out, helping fix things.

“At secondary school, I did the usual subjects but after I left, I went to college to study general engineering which I did for three years. That involved CAD, lathe work, welding.

“In my class of 30 students, I was the only girl. But I was in Army Cadets between 13 and 18, and always enjoyed doing logical things so it just felt like the right fit for me.”

Northern Gas Networks said it is keen for more women to explore careers in the energy sector, adding to its existing workforce.

As well as apprentices, it has women working at senior levels and in green energy, such as hydrogen development manager Stella Matthews, whose role involves developing zero-carbon gas for heating domestic homes.

She said:

“My advice to girls wanting to get involved in engineering is ‘go for it’ and say yes to every opportunity. It’s such an exciting time to be involved in our industry, shaping the future of energy.

“We definitely don’t shout enough about our achievements. Role models are really needed, so girls interested in a career in engineering, or in industry, can see them and aspire to get there too. The more visible we are, the better.”

Gender decoder

Across the UK, 16.5% of engineers are women. This is the ninth year the country has marked International Women in Engineering Day, this time focusing on a theme of inventors and innovators.

NGN has a diversity and inclusion strategy to offer more opportunities to female engineers. It uses a gender decoder for its job adverts, ensuring their language suits anyone who might consider applying.

For women already employed by NGN, a women’s network community has been created to ensure women’s voices are heard across the organisation.

For Freya, there are more benefits to a career in engineering than enjoying her job. She spends her working hours travelling around Yorkshire to different ‘off-take’ sites and has days at college working towards two qualifications.

She added:

“My advice to any girl considering engineering would be to go for it, don’t worry about what people think and be yourself.

“If you like being out and about, days that are very different from each other and logical ways of working then it’s a great job to be doing.”

New plans submitted for 35 homes in Harrogate’s Crimple Valley

A new planning application has been submitted for 35 homes in the Crimple Valley to the south of Harrogate.

The outline application is for 14 affordable homes, seven first homes and 14 self or custom build plots at Almsford Bank Stables.

The site, which lies to the east of the A61 at the foot of Almsford Bank, is currently used for equestrian purposes, with stabling and barns.

Supporting information in the application said:

“It is proposed that the site will be developed for residential use through a combination of terraced cottages, semi-detached and detached dwellings.

“The density of the site has been determined to reflect the pattern of development throughout the surrounding area but also taking into account a variety of dwelling sizes in order to serve local demand.

“It is intended that the new dwellings will vary in height, making use of the existing contours and reflecting the density of the residential context to the north whilst allowing the edges of the development to take on a more rural scale.

“The use of traditional building materials – local sandstone and slate will help to reflect the local vernacular buildings and help soften the visual impact of the new development.”

The application includes information about the provision for self and custom build (SCB) homes, which it argues are in short supply in the Harrogate district.

It is the third application to build housing on the site, and is the first time the suggestion of SCB homes has been put forward.

The first proposal, in 2018, was for 65 homes and was withdrawn after 132 objections were submitted by members of the public.

The Almsford Bank site, outlined in red, is less than half of the area owned by the applicants.

In 2019, plans for 35 homes were submitted, including 21 open market houses and 14 affordable homes.

That application attracted more than 100 comments from members of the public, none of whom supported the plans. Many cited concerns about access to the site from a fast and busy road, as well as objecting to the development on land designated a special landscape area in the local plan.

The proposal was again withdrawn.

All three applications have been put forward 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.

The new application said:

“The applicant’s ownership extends to an area of approximately 10 hectares. However, the development area extends to 4.4 hectares as a result of the parts of the site which are not considered to be suitable for development including woodland areas, land with steep gradients, flood zone areas and areas which are sensitive to change due to impact on openness and landscape value.

“The site has historically been in equestrian use with associated farmland, barns and stables. Development is only proposed on the northern part of the site, with the southern part of the site providing a significant landscaped area which will remain open.”

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

A date for the application to be decided by the council has yet to be set.

Business Breakfast: Move to residential for Harrogate interiors firm

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

Move to residential work for Harrogate interiors firm

A Harrogate business specialising in commercial interior design has expanded its work into the residential property sector.

The House Collective, based in Windsor House on Cornwall Road, has already completed a hat-trick of residential projects and is about to begin work on a 17-room home in Roundhay, Leeds.

It was set up by Rob Umpleby, who founded commercial interior design agency RU Creative. When a client struggled to find an interior designer, the RU Creative team stepped up to the challenge.

As well as providing detailed drawings instead of simple mood boards, the team offers a 3D visualisation service, creating photorealistic images and using virtual reality to give an exact picture of how the project will look when complete.

Mr Umpleby said:

“We are really excited to have launched The House Collective, and whilst it is a brand-new business, we bring with us a long and successful history within the world of commercial interior design.

“Over the years we have worked on some amazing refurbishment schemes, and our skills in creating workspaces with a residential feel has given us the confidence to break into the residential property world.”

Arrow Electronics adds £10k to children’s hospice fundraising

A children’s charity will benefit from £10,000 of fundraising thanks to a team of colleagues in Harrogate.

Employees at Arrow Electronics, along with their vendors and suppliers, cycled more than 150 miles from Harrogate to Whitby and back in support of Martin House Children’s Hospice.

The 28 cyclists completed the route including a 4,000ft climb at the start of a second year of fundraising for the hospice. Since May 2021, they have raised more than £23,100.

Nick Bannister, vice president sales for Arrow’s enterprise computing solutions business in the UK and Ireland, said:

“I’m really proud of our team who have gone out of their way to support this great charity over the last 12 months.

“It was great to see so many of our vendors and suppliers get involved in the Arrow Great Yorkshire Cycle, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much we can raise this year.”

Martin House cares for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions across West, North and East Yorkshire, as well as supporting their families. Its care includes planned respite stays, emergency and symptom control stays, end-of-life care and bereavement support.

Abigail Proctor, partnerships manager at Martin House, said:

“We’re so grateful for the support of Arrow over the last 12 months. The support they are giving us will make such a big difference to the hundreds of families we care for every year.”

The Arrow team will take on another challenge in September, tackling the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

Boy ‘stable’ and man under police guard in hospital after Beckwithshaw incident

An 11-year-old boy who suffered serious injuries in an incident in Beckwithshaw today is now in a stable condition in hospital following emergency surgery.

A man aged 40, who was also taken injured from the scene, remains in hospital in a serious condition and is under police guard, North Yorkshire Police confirmed this afternoon.

Both are believed to have been injured with what police are describing as “a bladed article” around 8.20am today.

Senior Investigating Officer DI Steve Menzies, of the North Yorkshire Police major investigation team, said:

“Two other children aged 10 and 13, who were also in the house at the time of the incident, are being cared for by relatives and supported by specialist police officers.

“I can reassure the public that we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and an investigation is underway to establish the full circumstances of exactly what happened this morning.

“I also want to thank ambulance staff, paramedic teams and police officers who quickly arrived at the scene and administered emergency aid to the injured males.”

The B6161 through Beckwithshaw was closed for several hours this morning as police entered the home in Church Row, close to Beckwithshaw Primary School, which police said was not linked to the incident.

An air ambulance landed in the field behind Beckwithshaw Village Hall, while numerous police cars and vans, as well as road ambulances, were on the scene.

Ofsted praise for Harrogate school that ‘turns around’ teenagers’ lives

A pupil referral unit in Harrogate which helps students get back into education has won praise from Ofsted inspectors.

Springwell Harrogate – previously known as The Grove Academy – received a ‘good’ rating in its latest report from the schools watchdog.

Inspectors referred to the “strides” taken by students after starting at Springwell, often following a period out of education. They said:

“While at the school, pupils develop their self-esteem, confidence and sense of purpose. Their time at the school has a tremendously positive effect on them.

“For example, many become more engaged in their education. Pupils told inspectors that the school had ‘turned them around’. One parent, echoing the views of others, described the school as a ‘lifeline’ for their youngster.”

The report said the unit, which takes students aged 11 to 16, helped to develop an interest in reading, in other cultures and in their own future careers.

However, it added that the curriculum is most effective for those who are at the school for short periods and less strong for those who are there for more than a year. Inspectors recommended doing more to deepen the curriculum for those staying longer.

They also suggested building on teaching of vocabulary to enable pupils to improve their use and understanding of language.

Inspectors highlighted the “dramatic” improvement in some pupils’ attendance after staff worked “tirelessly” to encourage them.

They added:

“Since the previous inspection, there have been significant changes at the school, including to the staffing structure. Several new methods for working with pupils have been introduced.

“New leaders and staff are ambitious for pupils and are determined that they succeed in their next steps. Most pupils move back to their original school or to appropriate settings, including college.

“Pupils join having missed large amounts of their schooling and lacking in motivation. The curriculum reignites pupils’ interest in learning.

“It enables pupils to fill some of the gaps they have in reading, writing, mathematics and science.

“The ‘experiential learning programme’ develops pupils’ physical fitness as well as broadening their knowledge of the world around them.”

‘Positive difference’

According to Ofsted, all of Springwell’s 29 pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities and five have education, health and care plans. It takes students from across the Harrogate area.

The school has welcomed the new report, which comes after a difficult two years. Executive principal Scott Jacques said:

“Everybody at Springwell Harrogate is pleased with the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection and that the school has been recognised as good in all areas.

“The school was under threat of closure when it joined the Wellspring Academy Trust in April 2020, and the report notes the considerable change that the academy has been through since then, which has secured its future.

“We are particularly pleased with the fact that inspectors acknowledge the positive difference Springwell Harrogate makes to the lives and educational journey of the young people with whom we work.

“We would like to thank the pupils for their engagement and positive attitudes and also their parents and carers for their continued support in working with us. We also thank all staff involved for their daily dedication and hard work, and the governing body for backing the vision of the academy.”

Experts set to take centre stage at Harlow Carr Flower Show

Thousands of visitors will descend on Harrogate next weekend as the annual RHS Harlow Carr Flower Show takes place.

Running from Thursday, June 23 to Sunday, June 26, it will feature talks and demonstrations by gardening experts as well as stalls, displays and more.

Among those on the line-up is Martin Fish, the renowned horticultural writer, broadcaster and RHS judge, who will share advice from more than 30 years of gardening.

He will be joined by celebrity floral designer Jonathan Moseley, offering visitors inspiration and tips to create stunning cut flower displays.

The show will also feature live music as visitors explore the gardens.

Tickets for the event have sold out, but organisers said some last-minute cancellations may allow more to be released via the website.

Carers recognised for covid efforts in Harrogate and Ripon at team celebration

A special event has been held to thank a team of carers covering the Harrogate district during the pandemic.

Continued Care, which has headquarters in Harrogate and a base in Ripon, held the Celebration and Thank You Evening to recognise its staff’s achievements in the face of unprecedented challenges over the last two years.

The event was also an opportunity to present long service awards and announce the carer of the year awards for each branch at the home care company. The winners were Sophie Philp in Harrogate and Janet Bettridge in Ripon.

Director Samantha Harrison said:

“Working through Covid has been one of the hardest things we have experienced but through it all our staff have shown great determination and resilience, working together as a team and putting others before themselves.

“Before the pandemic, their jobs were hard enough but our staff have been selfless and focused on doing their best for our clients who are among the most vulnerable in our community.

“Their kindness, compassion and generosity has been inspirational. We wanted to say thank you and tell each of them how amazing they are and how proud we are of them.”

Long service certificates and badges were presented to nearly half of Continued Care’s staff – 65 people out of 140 – who have been with the company for five years or more.

Making the presentations, area manager Mike Herrington said it was amazing to have such a high proportion of long-serving staff in the company, given the well-known challenges of employee retention in the care sector.

He added:

“This is testament to the quality of our staff and what they do for us, as well as what we do for them, and how we all work together to make sure people get the best service we can give them.”

Could Harrogate host Eurovision again?

Enthusiasm is mounting for Harrogate to put in a bid to host the Eurovision Song Contest again in 2023.

The European Broadcasting Union, which runs the event, announced yesterday it had concluded this year’s winner, Ukraine, was unable to host the event because of the on going invasion by Russia.

It leaves the door open for the UK, as runner-up, to be next in line to host the event next year.

Speculation has grown rapidly on Twitter about the potential host town or city – and Harrogate’s name has cropped up more than once.

Bring it back to Harrogate. https://t.co/khvYS1Loqy

— Duncan Woods (@the__DAW) June 17, 2022

The prospect has been welcomed by the town’s business leaders. Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID Manager, said:

“I think it would be absolutely brilliant if Harrogate was to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

“Harrogate is no stranger to staging major international events, and let’s remember 40 years ago Eurovision was held in the newly opened Harrogate Convention Centre.

“Once again, images of the town and wider district would be beamed into homes around the world. It would bring thousands of visitors into the town, give the local economy a massive shot in the arm and benefit many businesses.”

Jan Leeming hosted Eurovision live from Harrogate in 1982.

Sue Kramer, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce president, said:

“Holding Eurovision would give the town and the district an enormous feel good factor, and with little disruption. It will also attract a significant number of visitors and a huge TV audience. Bring it on!”

Chamber chief executive David Simister added:

“I remember the excitement in the town when we staged it 40 years ago.

“Over the subsequent years the popularity of the Eurovision Song Contest has grown significantly, and hosting it would certainly be a fantastic opportunity for Harrogate.”

However, not everyone seems to feel so positive about it.

https://twitter.com/connormoseleyx/status/1537775214536364032

Having just celebrated the 40th anniversary of it being held in Harrogate, is there a possibility the town could be called on again to welcome fans, contestants and international media?

Sadly, it seems unlikely.

In 1982, Harrogate Convention Centre was chosen because it was a brand new venue – a chance for the UK to show its modern facilities and ways of working.

However, its 2,000 capacity – perfectly adequate at the time – is unlikely to meet the organisers’ needs to accommodate the huge crowds who clamour to attend each year.

This year’s contest in Turin was held at the PalaOlimpico, which has a capacity of up to 15,657 for concerts. Rotterdam Ahoy, which hosted in 2021, can welcome audiences of more than 16,000.

So if not Harrogate, where?

The UK has hosted Eurovision eight times: four in London, and one each in Edinburgh, Brighton and Birmingham, as well as Harrogate.

Near neighbour Leeds is on the list of potential contenders, with the city council quick to confirm it will bid to hold the event at the First Direct arena, with its 13,781 capacity.

In a joint statement, council leader Cllr James Lewis and Cllr Jonathan Pryor, executive member for economy and culture, said:

“It goes without saying that Leeds will be bidding to host Eurovision in 2023. Together with ASM Global, the operators of the First Direct arena in Leeds, we have already been in touch with both the Government and the BBC to discuss our plans.

“Leeds has already proved that it has the capability and capacity to host major international events and ASM Global successfully hosted Eurovision in the Avicii Arena, Stockholm Sweden in 2016. Given that we will be mid-way through the Leeds 2023 year of culture, it could not come at a better time.

“We are extremely disappointed that Ukraine will be unable to host in 2023, but it would be an honour to host on behalf of them, especially given that West Yorkshire is home to a large number of Ukrainians. If we are successful with our bid, we will be looking to get the local Ukrainian community involved with our plans as much as possible.”

Still, Harrogate’s Eurovision enthusiasts can dream that perhaps one day the contest will return – and bring with it some of the profile that came 40 years ago as our European neighbours ask themselves again, “Où est Harrogate?“

Yoga teacher to run free solstice sun salutation in Valley Gardens

A yoga and pilates instructor will hold a free sun salutation event in Harrogate to mark the summer solstice on Tuesday.

Ebru Evrim, who is set to open a new studio on James Street on July 2, will hold the event in the Valley Gardens, near the cafe, from 6pm to 8.30pm.

She will lead participants through 108 sun salutations, a number representing spiritually significant landmarks including the number of sacred sites in India.

She said:

“Summer solstice is a lovely time of year, and it adds something extra special when practicing yoga outside in the evening sunshine – hopefully!

“This free event is a great opportunity for anyone with experience of yoga to enjoy an outdoor session, or for those interested in trying it for the first time.”

While beginners are welcome to participate, Ebru said the session will be physically demanding, though she will offer modifications to suit different abilities. Anyone taking part will be asked to complete a health questionnaire and must alert the instructor to any injuries or difficulties.

To book a place, email info@ebruevrim.com or call 01756 229356.

Children ‘valued and respected’ at Knaresborough nursery, says Ofsted

A day nursery in Lingerfield near Knaresborough has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in its latest inspection.

Nidderdale Children’s Day Nursery, run by Kids at Heart, was praised for the way it helped children to develop new skills, from beginning to write their names to learning early mathematics.

Inspectors also highlighted the way children were taught about healthy lifestyles, including eating nutritious meals and staying safe in the sun. The report said:

“Children behave very well throughout the nursery. Staff are skilful at helping children to learn what is expected of them.

“They help children understand the difference between right and wrong, and consistently explain the consequences of any negative behaviour. They also encourage children to talk about their feelings. This helps children feel valued and respected.”

The report said the nursery could further improve by engaging more with parents about ways to support their children’s learning at home.

It also recommended encouraging younger children to do more for themselves at mealtimes, to develop their skills and independence.

“Parents speak very highly of the management and staff. They make written comments, such as ‘staff are incredible’.

“Parents share a consensus that communication from the staff throughout the [covid-19] pandemic has been faultless. They say they are delighted to be able to return inside and see their children’s play areas again.”

The report has been welcomed by the nursery. Proprietor Julie Shaw said:

“We are delighted that we received a ‘good’ grading throughout all areas.

“The inspector commented on the good practice she observed, the caring and positive relationships between the staff and families and our clear understanding of children’s development, progress and safety. She also mentioned the very good behaviour of the children, amongst many other things.

“I would like to say how pleased I am with this report and feel it truly reflects the hard work, dedication and commitment of our staff team.

“It also reflects on our wonderful children who are amazing and to our parents, for your supportive comments, not only on the inspection day, but on an on-going basis.”

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Gender decoder

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Move to residential work for Harrogate interiors firm

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Arrow Electronics adds £10k to children’s hospice fundraising

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‘Positive difference’

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