Budding entrepreneurs in the Harrogate district can take part in a free seven-week project to help them hone their business skills and win a £2,500 prize.
The Strive project is being run by social enterprise Enterprise Cube, which will have a team of experienced business people on hand to guide 30 local people through a series of workshops, individual advice sessions and start-up challenges.
It is being part-funded by Harrogate Borough Council and is free to anyone in the Harrogate district who has a business idea or a fledgling business.
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During the seven weeks, the group will learn about creating a brand, taking payments, building an online presence, and tackling all the legal and tax issues involved in starting a business. £2,500 will be handed out in prizes at the end of the seven weeks.
Strive was first run in 2012 and has supported over 5,000 people in the UK.
Laura Mumford, director of Strive, said:
“We’re really excited to be bringing Strive to Harrogate. My roots are here, and I love that we’ve got such a strong independent business scene in the area – so it’s great to be able to support it.”
You can find out more and apply at: www.homeofstrive.com/harrogate.
Private Harrogate hospital drafts in robot with £250,000 investmentA private hospital in Harrogate has drafted in a robotic surgical assistant and made improvements at the building with a £250,000 investment.
BMI The Duchy Hospital, based on Queen’s Road, is now the only hospital in the Harrogate district with the ROSA Knee System.
The robot is designed to help surgeons carry out more personalised procedures with a greater degree of accuracy.
It has a robotic arm that is guided by the surgeon. The robot also analyses data to help surgeons plan, carry out and assess the knee replacement.
This investment comes as the private hospital, which is part of the Circle Health Group, continues its work with Harrogate and District Foundation Trust to help ease NHS waiting lists.
Orthopaedic surgery among the most in-demand services in the NHS.
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Professor Nick London, Mr David Duffy, Mr Jon Conroy and Mr Mark Farndon have used the new system.
Professor Nick London said:
“So far we’ve had excellent outcomes for patients. As we continually strive towards getting 100 per cent of patients the best outcome from their surgery, there is a significant group who may benefit from the advantages the ROSA robot brings.”
Rick Sanders, executive director at BMI The Duchy Hospital, said:
“We are delighted that robotic-assisted knee surgery is now available here in Harrogate. It gives our highly experienced consultant surgeons the option of using this state-of-the-art equipment.”
The investment also means new camera system for surgery, new LED lighting and redecorated interior.
Mr Sanders added:
“As patient activity at our hospital increases and we continue to work closely with the Harrogate District Foundation Trust to ease their waiting lists. The improvements will help us offer the best experience possible for our patients.”
An Italian restaurant owned by Gino D’Acampo will close this month after more than four years in Harrogate.
Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant on Parliament Street is one of five of the celebrity chef’s restaurants to close.
After opening the business in 2017 Mr D’Acampo claimed it was the only “proper Italian” in Harrogate.
His comments sparked a furious backlash at the time from a number of Harrogate’s Italian restaurant owners.
The closures follow the news from the start of the year that his My Pasta Bar chain entered liquidation amid problems with coronavirus.
Piccolino will take on the former Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant in Harrogate, which will reopen after a rebrand on Monday, January 24.
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A spokesperson for Piccolino, which is part of the Individual Restaurants group along with Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant, said:
“This former Gino D’Acampo My Restaurant will become part of the Piccolino family of restaurants on January 24.
“We are thrilled to announce that we will soon be opening a brand new Piccolino restaurant in Harrogate.
“We can’t wait to welcome you through our doors of Harrogate’s brand new Piccolino.”
Harrogate Borough Council has this week submitted a plan to build a pet crematorium at Stonefall Cemetery.
It follows the lead of councils in North East Lincolnshire and Barnsley, which have already opened or started work on pet crematoriums.
Harrogate council currently charges £36 to collect dead pets from people’s homes.
Currently, the closest pet crematoriums are in either Thirsk or Skipton.
The crematorium at Harrogate would be built inside a converted shipping container.
The plans also include converting a storage building at Stonefall into a “goodbye room”, where owners can say their final farewells to their pets before they are cremated.
A decision on the proposal will be made at a later date.
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Harrogate MP Andrew Jones has told a constituent that “lawmakers can’t be lawbreakers” after Prime Minister Boris Johnson admitted attending a party during the first coronavirus lockdown.
In the letter to a constituent, who shared the contents with the Stray Ferret but did not want to be named, Mr Jones said he had received a lot of letters and emails about the issue.
The Stray Ferret has asked Mr Jones multiple times for his response to reports of the Downing Street parties since the story broke in December. He has never responded.
The Conservative backbencher called in Parliament for Sue Gray to complete her investigation and share the results as soon as possible. But this is the first time he has criticised Boris Johnson’s handling of the matter.
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He said in his letter:
“I followed coronavirus restrictions. I take the maxim ‘lawmakers can’t be lawbreakers’ seriously.
“Like most I could not see my family, I could not meet with colleagues and I most certainly could not socialise with friends.
“My office team were all working from home and there was no mixing between us at all during work, let alone after work with alcohol.
“It is therefore frustrating to have been put in a position of waiting for the Prime Minister to account for exactly what occurred.”
Mr Jones said he could not understand “why it took so long and was so difficult to answer the direct question: ‘Were you at an event on such-and-such a date?'”
However, he said he felt the Prime Minister’s statement on the May 20 party was “clear”. But, he goes on to add:
“His [The Prime Minister’s] apology was necessary and welcome, but I do not think this closes the matter. There are many more questions, some as a consequence of his statement.
“In respect of the investigation announced by the Prime Minister in December, if this finds wrongdoing, and the police find that these actions were criminal, then consequences must flow from that.”
Mr Jones also added that he has discussed the matter with the party whips and the chair of the government’s backbench committee, also known as the 1922 Committee.
Police have arrested five people, including a 12-year-old boy, in connection with a spate of burglaries in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Police revealed how officers have seen a sharp rise in burglaries in the town. The force said many of the properties targeted were insecure.
Officers believe the incidents are linked and have arrested a 12-year-old boy, two 15-year-old boys, a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman in the last four days.
Since the start of the year there have been burglaries on Butterbur Way, Hartwith Drive, Gentian Glade, Saltergate Drive, Woodfield Road, Pennywort Grove, Tewit Well Road, Kenilworth Avenue, Strawberry Dale Avenue, Carlton Road, West End Avenue, St Anthans Walks and Hutton Gate.
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Police released the above list in the hope that anyone with information or CCTV footage will come forward. Anyone who can help with the investigation should quote reference 12220008323.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said:
“Before you go to bed tonight, please take a few minutes to secure doors and windows to your property, including garages, sheds and outbuildings.
“Also remove all valuables from your car or van and lock it. Move keys away from the door and windows where they can be seen and potentially accessed.
“If possible, secure your vehicles in a garage or behind a gate.”
An extra 350 children in Harrogate district secondary schools have become eligible for free school meals since the coronavirus pandemic began, figures reveal.
A total of 1,143 children were eligible in October 2021, compared with 796 in January 2020.
This means almost 1 in 10 children in the district are now eligible for free school meals. The national average is around 2 in 10.
The Stray Ferret obtained the figures from a freedom of information request to North Yorkshire County Council, the education authority for the district.
To qualify for free school meals a parent must apply to the council with evidence that they are receiving a benefit, such as child tax credit, income support or universal credit.
The issue of free school meals was highlighted following a campaign by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford.
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Speaking at last week’s Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Constituency Committee, Helen Ingle, health improvement manager at NYCC, said the council was trying to encourage parents of key stage 1 age children to take up free school meals.
If a child is in reception, year one or year two they are automatically entitled to a free school meal.
Ms Ingle also said schools in the district had reported an increase in obesity since the pandemic began.
She said:
Harrogate theatre chair on the panto, scaffolding and being ‘cautiously optimistic’“[Covid] has had a massive impact on levels of overweight and obesity, we’re doing a lot of work around that. Schools are very concerned about healthy eating levels in schools and have noticed a change in children’s weight and eatings habits since covid.”
Cancelled shows and a huge roof renovation have made the last 18 months “very difficult” for Harrogate Theatres but the chair says it is going into 2022 “cautiously optimistic”.
Knaresborough-born Deborah Larwood, who has been visiting the theatre for years, worked in the arts sector for over a decade before she took a seat on the board four years ago. She then became chair in December 2019.
Harrogate Theatres is a charity that hosts events at Harrogate Theatre, Royal Hall and Harrogate Convention Centre.
Its biggest challenge during the pandemic has been generating enough income to cover costs whilst being unable to get on stage.
It has held online workshops, socially distanced theatre and launched its HT Together fundraising campaign.
Ms Larwood said initiatives like these and grants from the likes of Arts Council England have been crucial to the theatre’s survival and allowed it to plan for upcoming events.
Cinderella ends today
The biggest event for the theatre each year is its annual pantomime. As Cinderella comes to a close today, after running since November, Ms Larwood said she was pleased with its success although it is unclear how well tickets sold compared with previous years. She said:
“People’s habits have changed during the pandemic and some of our usual audience members still aren’t comfortable in the auditorium. We still had huge success in terms of ticket sales, but it was different especially with some schools choosing to cancel their trip.
“When we lost the panto in 2020 it was a significant worry because we rely so heavily on that revenue we earn.”
Some of the cast of this year’s pantomime, Cinderella. Photograph: Karl Andre
She added tickets for this year’s pantomime, Aladdin, are already selling with a number of schools also choosing to book.
Roof completion date still set for March
One of the biggest projects undertaken in the last 12 months has been the roof renovation. The project has been managed by Harrogate Borough Council, which owns the building.
Work began in May last year and with multiple setbacks due to covid and building materials it is now due to be completed by March.
Ms Larwood said workers on site were “determined” to stick to that date.
The theatre roof during works in June 2021.
The board has been trying to recruit new trustees. Last year, Ms Larwood, said multiple trustees came to the end of their tenure, which gave the opportunity to bring in new people and expertise.
She said:
“The pandemic allowed us to refocus and its exciting to hear from new people who are equally as passionate as us about the arts.”
So far the charity has added Fiona Hunt to its board but plans to speak to more potential new trustees after panto season.
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‘Necessary evil’ to make people redundant
During the pandemic the theatre made staff redundant in an attempt to remain open. Ms Larwood said it was a “necessary evil”.
Long-term closures in 2020 and 2021 meant a big loss in revenue. Ms Larwood said despite the grants, cuts had to be made.
However, the charity hopes to start recruiting again this year. She said:
Stray Views: Harrogate Tesco would be ‘horrendous’ for nearby residents“We had terrible levels of redundancies but we had to make sure we made it through the other side. Recruitment will begin in earnest, but it’s all about striking a balance. We need people but we live in a time of rapid change and hiring too quickly is a big investment to lose.
“Our core team has been amazing throughout, doing the job of a team normally two or three times its size. It’s now time for us to bring in new people as we move into a busy year.”
Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.
New Tesco would be ‘horrendous’ for nearby residents
Proud to be Harrogate, not London
I note that a new fitness studio wants it to bring ‘a London feel’ to Harrogate and recall that the restaurants associated with The Everyman Cinema was also intended to be ‘London-centric’, whatever that means.
Can someone enlighten me regarding this strange desire to be like London when Harrogate, and indeed Yorkshire as a whole, has so much distinctive to offer? It seems to me that this desire to be like London is a strange business proposition. Of course I wish all the local businesses concerned well, despite my feelings about their PR.
Tim Hurren, Harrogate
Speed limits should be reduced
I read your article about North Yorkshire County Council refusing a blanket introduction of a 20mph speed limit in built-up areas.
The council’s executive member for access, Cllr Don Mackenzie, said the county’s roads were becoming safer and safer, and 20mph zones should only be created on a case-by-case basis.
I have tried for years to get the speed limits reduced. I believe Councillor Mackenzie does not listen to anyone — where does he get his information from on safer roads? Cars around Harrogate are now more powerful and speeding is paramount throughout the town and on country roads. When is someone going to challenge this man and when will he listen?
Mike Fisher, Cornwall Road, Harrogate
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Harrogate can be economic driver for North Yorkshire after devolution, says council chief
The chief executive of Harrogate Borough Council has told business leaders he believes the district can be the main economic driver for the whole of North Yorkshire under major changes coming to local government.
Speaking at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting, Wallace Sampson said the district had to be a top priority for a new council which will take over control of North Yorkshire from April 2023 when the current two-tier system is abolished.
He said “the clock is now ticking” ahead of this date and that Harrogate council officers were involved in all parts of the planning process for areas including tourism, business support and a new economic strategy.
Mr Sampson said:
“We don’t want to be passing bystanders in this process and are ensuring that the Harrogate district remains an investment priority.
“We are very strongly of the view that there are huge opportunities for the district to be the economic driver for the whole of North Yorkshire and this needs to be recognised by the new authority.”
The forthcoming changes will mark the biggest shake-up to local government in almost 50 years and see the seven district and borough councils – including Harrogate – replaced with a new unitary authority to be named North Yorkshire Council.
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It is all linked to a devolution deal with government which could lead to decision-making powers and billions of pounds in funding coming under the control of a new North Yorkshire and York mayor, similar to those in power in Manchester and Liverpool.
Mr Sampson said while Harrogate Borough Council was disappointed that its bid for two new North Yorkshire councils split on an east/west basis was rejected last June, devolution was now the “prize” Harrogate is fighting for.
He said:
“We put a lot of effort into the proposal of an east/west bid, but there is no point in crying over spilt milk and we just need to get on with it.
“One of the precursors for being able to secure a devolution deal in the same way that many areas across the country have was to go through local government reorganisation.
“We thought the prize of devolution was worth that – and we are talking about significant sums of money.
“Over a 30-year period across North Yorkshire and York this has a value of around £2.5 billion, and there will be a further £25 million a year that could be invested according to what we choose.
“If it means going through reorganisation to achieve this, then it has to be in the best economic interest of the Harrogate district and wider North Yorkshire and York areas.”
Harrogate Borough Council offices at Knapping Mount.
At Monday’s meeting, Mr Sampson and Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper were quizzed by businesses over the next steps of reorganisation, including what happens to key services such as planning, and public buildings including the council’s new Civic Centre.
Cllr Cooper, who will stand down after 24 years of service in 2023, said he believed Harrogate should be the headquarters of the new North Yorkshire Council given its large population and central location.
He also said a Harrogate Town Council should be created, although this would be decided by the new council or a public vote.
Cllr Cooper added his main hope of reorganisation was that investments in areas such as Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate Homeless Project, Visit Harrogate and Harrogate Theatre would remain a priority in the future.
He said:
“These are the organisations that make Harrogate the special place it is and they are also a lever in the tourism that supports our independent shops and hospitality trade.
“We need not to lose that and I’m quite certain the new authority will take this on board.”