Business Breakfast: Harrogate district company awarded £20,000 to move production to digital

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event on Thursday, August 31 at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate district business has been awarded £20,000 to help move its production technology to digital.

Period Mouldings Limited, which is based at Melmerby near Ripon, was handed the funding through the Made Smarter programme, which is managed by York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

The scheme is a national initiative dedicated to driving growth in UK manufacturing through the adoption of digital technologies, innovation and skill development.

Mark Cant, chairman of PML, said:

“The funding from Made Smarter will be instrumental in our journey towards enhanced efficiency and productivity. 

“By digitising our production throughput, we unlock the potential for increased capital investment, skill development, and research and development, ultimately driving growth and competitiveness in the market.”

Mike Pennington, the business relationship manager for Made Smarter in the York and North Yorkshire region, said: 

“PML’s strategic approach towards digitisation and innovation perfectly aligns with Made Smarter’s objective of fostering growth in the manufacturing sector through digital advancements.”

Law firm CEO to take on Mount Kilimanjaro

A Harrogate law firm chief executive is set to take on the challenge of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

James Haddleton, who is chief executive of Haddletons legal services based at Windsor House, is set to take on the climb with his family in aid of charity.

Mr Haddleton will be climbing the mountain for eight days this month.

He will be raising money for Mind, the mental health charity, and at the time of writing had so far received £1,019 in donations.

For more information on the fundraising campaign and to donate, visit the JustGiving page here.

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Barbie and Spiderman to attend this weekend’s Harrogate Town match

Harrogate Town’s first home league match this weekend will be attended by Barbie, Spiderman and Mario.

The club is celebrating the launch of its junior membership scheme and the ongoing school holidays.

Under-12s can attend from £6, and under-fives are free with a paying adult.

As part of this, the likes of Barbie, Mario, Spiderman and Sonic will be meeting young fans shortly before Saturday’s kick-off against Forest Green Rovers,

The club said in a statement:

“Having just been granted silver award in the EFL family excellence scheme, this is the latest offering from the club looking to attract more families to the EnviroVent Stadium.”

Harrogate have made a good start to the season.

A Jack Muldoon penalty helped to seal a 1-0 away win over Doncaster Rovers in the opening league fixture last weekend.

Simon Weaver’s men then beat Carlisle United 1-0 in the Carabao Cup to earn a home fixture against Blackburn Rovers in the second round.

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Major Harrogate road set to close each evening for three weeks

A major road through Harrogate is set to be closed for patch resurfacing at the end of this month.

A section of the A61 Leeds Road will be closed for five hours from 6.30pm every day for three weeks from Tuesday, August 29.

It is to allow for patching up damaged parts of the carriageway, between the Prince of Wales roundabout and the St George’s roundabout.

Confirming the closure, which its roadworks map said will last until September 18, North Yorkshire Council said:

“Patching takes place to repair the road surface, it involves removing a part of the surface around a pothole or defective surface course and placing a new patch of road surface.

“This is a cost-effective method to repair damage when a small area is affected and precedes surface dressing.”

Signs for roadworks on Leeds Road

Meanwhile, two new sets of roadworks in Harrogate are expected to be removed by the weekend.

Yorkshire Water has this week installed temporary lights on Otley Road at the junction with Cold Bath Road and Arthurs Avenue.

The roadworks, which include temporary pedestrian crossing signals, are expected to be completed tomorrow.

Roadworks by Yorkshire Water on Otley RoadRoadworks on Otley Road

And a stretch of Yorkshire Water works on Leadhall Lane, close to the junction with Throstle Nest Drive, is also expected to be removed by Friday.

Works that Northern Gas Networks began on Duchy Road on Monday, however, are expected to last until August 25.

Temporary traffic lights that have been causing long queues on Skipton Road are due to end on the same date. However, further works are expected to be carried out on the road, close to the junction with Bilton Lane, in September.

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Bilton to host second Party on the Pitch

Bilton Cricket Club in Harrogate is to host a second Party on the Pitch this month.

Last year’s first party, held as part of the late Queen’s jubilee celebrations in June, was a big hit, attracting about 2,500 people.

If the second event is also successful it could become an annual event.

It could even replace Bilton Gala, which has not been held since 2019, as the community’s main annual get-together, albeit on a smaller scale.

The party, which is free to enter, will be held on August 27 at the club’s pitch on Bilton Lane.

Starting at 12.30pm, it will include four live bands from 3pm to 9pm, a hog roast and various children’s entertainment, including a bouncy castle and a magician.

Bilton Cricket Club

Club president Jane Blackburn said:

“Unfortunately Bilton Gala no longer takes place and people in the community have asked if we will be doing our Party on the Pitch again.

“As we are primarily a cricket club, we didn’t want to do it in June or July in the middle of the season so we thought we’d have it at the end of August when there are only a couple of fixtures left.

“If the community likes it and it goes well we will do it every year.”

Ms Blackburn said she hoped the party would attract 2,000 people. Funds raised on the day will be divided between the club’s £42,000 appeal to buy new cricket nets and Yorkshire Cancer Research.

The club has currently raised £23,000 towards its target. It hopes the new nets will be installed by April in time for next season.

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New Harrogate ‘café’ to support communication after stroke and brain injury

A charity supporting people living with communication issues after stroke is appealing for volunteers to help run a new service in Harrogate.

Aphasia Support is setting up a twice-monthly ‘café’ at Knaresborough Road Health Centre from September.

It will offer activities including quizzes, games, and arts and crafts, while providing people with aphasia the chance to meet up and build their confidence in communicating.

While a qualified speech and language therapist will be on hand to run the café, volunteers will also be needed at the sessions, including serving drinks and cakes to visitors.

James Major, CEO of Aphasia Support, said:

“We’re delighted to be launching our sixth Aphasia Café in Yorkshire. We’ve already got sessions running twice a month in Leeds, Halifax, Wakefield, Barnsley, and Doncaster, and have since recognised a real need for similar community support in Harrogate following an increase in referrals.

“Our events are a great opportunity for those living with aphasia and their carers to meet others dealing with the same challenges, with the support of an experienced speech and language therapist. Although, as a charity, we rely on the generosity of volunteers to help run the cafes.

“So, we’re on the lookout for new faces in Harrogate to join our team. If you’re looking for a volunteer role, or if you have an interest in speech and language, we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need any speech and language experience and we provide full training.”

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Aphasia is a complex language disorder experienced by people who have had a stroke or other type of brain injury.

It affects the ability to speak, read, write and understand language.

A third of stroke survivors in the UK live with the condition, and a total of 350,000 people have aphasia, but Aphasia Support said almost 85% of the public have never heard of it.

The charity helps people with aphasia to work on key communication goals with support from speech and language therapists.

It matches patients with trained volunteers, working together on a one-to-one basis using conversation techniques and computer therapy programmes.

The first Harrogate aphasia café takes place on Thursday, September 14, from 10,30am to noon. It will run every second and fourth Thursday of the month from then on.

Pat Malin, who has volunteered at Aphasia Support’s café in Barnsley since 2021, said the experience has also been beneficial to her:

“I love seeing people grow in confidence the more they attend the café.

“I’ve made so many great friends since I started volunteering for Aphasia Support. We’re like a little family.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Harrogate group only needs to be available for a few hours each month. To find out more, visit Aphasia Support’s website.

Trains stopped amid ‘concerns for safety’ of teenager on Crimple Valley viaduct

Trains on the Harrogate line were stopped this morning after emergency services were called to deal with concerns for the safety of a teenager on Crimple Valley viaduct.

The concerns were first reported to police just after 5.30am, and both North Yorkshire Police and British Transport Police attended the scene.

They were joined by staff from Yorkshire Ambulance Service, while North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was on stand-by to help if needed.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:

“Police negotiators brought [it] to a safe conclusion just before 8.30am.

“A man aged in his late teens was checked over my paramedics and he is receiving medical support.”

Train services on the line had to be replaced by buses for a number of hours while police dealt with the incident.

The line is now clear, though Northern said delays to services could last “for some time due to displaced trains and crew”.

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Harrogate has the most used library in North Yorkshire

Harrogate Library topped a list of the most used libraries in North Yorkshire last year.

According to figures published by North Yorkshire Council, there were 237,100 books and e-books taken out at the library on Victoria Avenue during the 2022/23 financial year as well as 177,629 visits by residents.

The figures show a big jump from the previous two years, which were disrupted by covid lockdowns and restrictions.

In 2020/21, the library had 47,809 visits and in 2021/22 there were 122,409.

Last year, Harrogate Library had more than 50% the number of visitors than the county’s second most popular library, which was Scarborough with 114,829 visits.

Visitor numbers at other libraries in the former Harrogate district area include Knaresborough with 110,191, Ripon with 73,428 and Starbeck with 18,676.

Knaresborough Library is the second most popular in the district.

Embsay-with-Eastby Community Library was the least used library in North Yorkshire last year with 2,841 visits, however the volunteer-run library near Skipton is only open nine hours a week.

In 2015, the running of 31 libraries in the county was handed to volunteers in the face of mounting financial pressures brought on by austerity.

In this model, the council’s library service continues to provide the infrastructure including books and public IT, as well as some paid staff support to ensure consistency across the county.

The community libraries account for just under 40% of active library users and deliver on average 50% of the total business for book lending and computer access.

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Harrogate hospital braced for four-day strike by junior doctors

Harrogate District Hospital is set for a further round of strikes tomorrow as junior doctors stage a four day walkout.

Members of the British Medical Association will take industrial action from 7am on Friday (August 11) until 7am on Tuesday (August 15).

The strike comes amid an ongoing dispute with government over pay.

Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairs of the junior doctors committee at the BMA, said:

“It should never have got to the point where we needed to announce a fifth round of strike action. 

“Our message today remains the same: act like a responsible government, come to the table to negotiate with us in good faith, and with a credible offer these strikes need not go ahead at all.”

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has warned that appointments and elective surgery may be cancelled as a result of the walkout.

In a statement, the trust said:

“We are working hard to prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, maternity, and trauma, and ensure we prioritise patients who have waited the longest for elective care and cancer surgery.

“Patients should continue to attend appointments as planned unless contacted to reschedule. We will only reschedule appointments and procedures where necessary and any postponed appointments will be re-arranged as a priority. We appreciate this situation is frustrating for patients affected and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“Regardless of any strike action taking place, it is important to know that people with life-threatening or severe illnesses or injuries should continue to dial 999 and come forward as normal.”

Meanwhile, consultants are also set to stage a 48-hour walkout later this month.

Members of the British Medical Association will strike from Thursday, August 24, until Saturday, August 26.

Officials at Harrogate hospital have warned the consultants walkout is also “likely to impact the trust”.

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Council unaware of ‘significant staff shortages’ despite union concern

North Yorkshire Council has said it is unaware of “significant staff shortages” despite concerns from union officials.

Dave Houlgate, secretary at the Unison Harrogate local government branch, said local authorities faced a “recruitment and retention” crisis.

It comes amid reports that Knaresborough Castle was closed last weekend due to staffing shortages and various bin collections have been postponed.

A report before the council’s corporate partnerships scrutiny committee in June also found that demand for care workers in North Yorkshire “continues to outstrip supply”.

Similarly, the council, along with other authorities, faces a “national shortage” of education psychologists.

Mr Houlgate said a below inflation pay award for council staff would not address concerns of shortages.

He said:

“I have been saying there is a recruitment and retention crisis in local government for a number of years now.

“It does impact on service delivery and the latest below inflation pay award will not address that.”

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However, council officials have said they are unaware of any significant shortages within the council.

Trudy Foster, assistant chief executive for HR and business support at the authority, said:

“We have a staff base of over 12,500 employees providing services across the whole county. Whilst there will always be a level of turnover, which is healthy for any organisation, the council is in a good position. 

“We are not aware of any significant staffing shortages affecting services at this time. However, as reported at the corporate partnerships overview and scrutiny committee in June, we do have some hard-to-fill posts in care, social workers, planning and educational psychologists. We are working proactively in these markets to attracts applicants.  

“Through the work in moving to the new council we have revised terms and conditions to ensure the offer is attractive to existing employees and new recruits, ensuring we are able to retain and attract.” 

Business Breakfast: Harrogate company in ‘strong financial position’ despite interest rate hike

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event on Thursday, August 31 at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate rental company has said the firm remains in “strong financial position” despite a hike in interest rates this past month.

Vp, which is based at Central House on Beckwith Knowle, recorded a 6% increase in revenue to £371.5m for the year ending March 2023.

In a statement to its annual general meeting, Jeremy Pilkington, chairman of the company, said the group “remains in a strong financial position”.

He added that he expected company results for the upcoming financial year to be in line with board expectations despite “market headwinds” and the Bank of England’s decision to hike interest rates to 5.25%.

Mr Pilkington said:

“We remain focused on the quality of our equipment and excellent service delivery to our customers with an ongoing drive to deliver sustainable solutions to our customer base.

“The group remains in a strong financial position with an excellent track record of delivery. Despite both market headwinds and increases in interest rates, we continue to see opportunities and expect performance for the current financial year to be in line with board expectations.”

Black Sheep launches beer in partnership with Rob Burrow

Black Sheep Brewery has launched a new beer in partnership with Rob Burrow MBE.

The brewery, which is based in Masham, released Burrow Blonde to raise funds for Rob Burrow 7 Discretionary Trust and the Rob Burrow Racing Club.

A total of 10p from every pint and bottle sold is donated to charity.

Picture (from left) Phil Hawthorne, The Good Racing Co, Alex Brandon-Davies, Senior Brewer at Black Sheep Brewery and Rob Burrow and Lindsey Burrow.

Picture (from left) Phil Hawthorne, The Good Racing Co, Alex Brandon-Davies, Senior Brewer at Black Sheep Brewery and Rob Burrow and Lindsey Burrow.

Barrie McDermott, Sky Sports pundit and former Leeds Rhinos teammate of Rob, said: 

“I’m incredibly proud to support the launch of Burrow’s Blonde, a fantastic beer for a fantastic cause, it’s yet another way to get behind our little mate Rob Burrow and his family in their battle against MND.”

Rob’s wife, Lindsey Burrow, said:

“We’re really excited to be working with Black Sheep Brewery and launching Burrow’s Blonde. It’s a great opportunity for people to support Rob by simply buying a beer and enjoying a drink with loved ones.”

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