Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm partner finalist at Northern Powerhouse awards

Now is your time to shine with the Stray Ferret Business Awards. We are encouraging businesses of all sizes from right across the Harrogate district to enter for our awards and get recognition from our top panel of judges. Entries close on January 16.

A Harrogate law firm partner has reached the final of the Northern Powerhouse awards.

Kate Banerjee, who heads the children’s department at Jones Myers solicitors, has been shortlisted in the private client category.

Organised by the Legal 500 guide, the prestigious accolades recognise outstanding firms, lawyers, rising stars and in-house teams across 23 categories and celebrates their achievements over the last 18 months.

Ms Banerjee said:

“This recognition is a true team effort and attributable to the relentless dedication of our specialists who consistently provide the best solutions for our clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. Well done to every team member and we wish all the finalists the best of luck.”

Richard Peaker, managing partner at Jones Myers, said: 

“Kate’s shortlisting among the best lawyers in their field is well deserved and reflects the esteem in which Kate and the Children’s Department are held.

“The recognition also reinforces Jones Myers standing as a leading family law practice which has maintained its number 1 position in the legal guides for over two decades.”

The awards will take place on March 23, 2023, at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.

New manager hired at property firm to oversee Harrogate portfolio

Darran Ezard, new property manager at Scanlans.

Darran Ezard, new property manager at Scanlans.

A property management firm has appointed a new manager to oversee its portfolio in Harrogate, Ripon and Boroughbridge.

Scanlans, which is based in Leeds, has hired Darran Ezard to oversee its properties in the district.

Recent additions to Scanlans’ Harrogate management portfolio include Queens Close, Grayson House, Oak Lodge, Cavendish Place, Beech Grove, Trafalgar Court and Byron Court.

Michael Willans, the head of property management for Scanlans in Yorkshire, said: 

“Darran is an excellent addition to our growing team and we are really pleased to welcome him to the firm.

“He has a track record of successfully managing a wide variety of large and small developments in the Yorkshire area, and is adept at working with contractors, tenants and owners as well as management bodies and their directors.

“Having him on board extends our capabilities at a time when we are seeing good growth in contracts as we continue to strengthen our presence in the Yorkshire regional market.

“Harrogate in particular is proving to be an area of rapid expansion for us, with around a dozen new, sought-after sites coming under our management in the first quarter of this year alone.”

Mr Ezard added:

“It’s an exciting time to join Scanlans as we build our presence in the North Yorkshire market and across the region.

“I look forward to utilising my property management and accounting experience to help us further develop our market share, working with a strong team of colleagues and with tenants, leaseholders, freeholders and management companies to look after their interests.”

Firefighters rescue horse trapped in floodwater in Harrogate district

Firefighters rescued a horse trapped in floodwater today in the Harrogate district.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log said it was alerted to the danger at 8am this morning. It occurred off the A59 York Road at Kirk Hammerton.

The incident log said:

“Crews from Acomb and Tadcaster attended an incident where a horse had become trapped in floodwater.

“Crews attached a general purpose line and dragged the horse to safety.

“The horse was then covered with a blanket to keep warm.”

The Environment Agency issued a flood alert today for the Lower River Ure in the Harrogate district.

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Top 5 reasons to enter the Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 sponsored by Prosperis is set to celebrate the best of businesses from across the Harrogate district.

With the deadline for entries fast approaching on Monday, January 16 we are revealing the top reasons why businesses simply cannot miss the opportunity to get involved.

The entry process is simple, fast and free, so what are you waiting for? Enter or nominate today!

Shout about your achievements

We know the Harrogate district is home to thousands of incredible small, medium and large businesses.

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic and now a cost of living crisis, local businesses are doing amazing things for their staff and customers.

So why not get recognition for those achievements? Whether your business has seen significant growth, made positive changes for sustainability or inclusivity, we can help you celebrate.

Attract top talent and keep employees motivated

Now more than ever we know just how important it is to attract new employees and keep your existing employees motivated.

Winning or being shortlisted for an award is a great way to set your business apart from the rest. Who doesn’t want to make for an award-winning business?

Not only do we have awards celebrating overall business achievements, we also have awards geared specifically towards celebrating the work of your best staff.

So if you have a Rising Star Under 30 or an Unsung Hero at your business then show them your appreciation and nominate them today.

Exposure with the Stray Ferret’s audience

The Stray Ferret has a huge, local audience. We get more than 200,000 readers every month from across the Harrogate district and beyond.

With ten categories come ten winners and we will profile the great work of all of our winners. So this is a great chance to get your business in front of our readers.

Incredible judging panel

When you are looking to get recognition for your business, it is key that those on the judging panel are the best of the best.

That is why we have handpicked the leaders of top businesses from across the Harrogate district with expertise and experience in a wider variety of sectors.

We have Charlene Lyons, CEO of Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, Marcus Boardall, CEO of Reed Boardall in Boroughbridge, Martin Rae, CEO of Cloud Nine in Harrogate and James Farrar, COO of the York and North Yorkshire LEP in Northallerton.

Network with the best local businesses

The Stray Ferret Business Awards will be a great way to network with the event culminating in a glittering awards dinner on March 9.

With our stellar judging panel, sponsors and shortlisted businesses for each of our ten categories, this is not an event to be missed.

You can see a full list of award categories on the Stray Ferret Business Awards page. Entries close on Monday, January 16.

 

Eligibility for free school meals in Harrogate district rises by 50% since pandemic

The number of children eligible for free school meals in the Harrogate district has risen by 50% since before the start of the covid pandemic.

The figures, obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service through a freedom of information request, highlight the financial pressure many families face due to rising food, energy and housing costs.

To qualify for free school meals a parent of a child who is in year three or above must apply to North Yorkshire County Council with evidence they are receiving a benefit, such as Child Tax Credit, Income Support, or Universal Credit.

All children in reception, year one and year two automatically receive free school meals through the Universal Infant Free School Meal Scheme.

At the end of 2019, the number of children eligible for free school meals in the Harrogate district was 1,794 — representing 8% of all children. But by the close of 2022 this figure had risen to 2,715, taking the overall percentage to 12%.

The figure is still far below the national figure of 22.5% but Dawn Pearson, area manager at Harrogate District Foodbank, told the LDRS more working parents in the district are in need of help to feed their children.

She believes the situation will not improve without “drastic” measures to improve wages and reduce inflation. Ms Pearson said:

“It’s getting worse. People are struggling and it’s a bad time for everyone. If you’ve got children they are always in need. There’s school uniform, breakfasts, lunch and dinner. Things now cost a lot”.

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A council spokeswoman said the increase in eligible children for free school meals was down to factors including the introduction of Universal Credit and the effects of the pandemic. She said:

“In April 2018, the new Universal Credit was rolled out and nationally, children were able to remain on free school meals as they continued through their present school even if families’ overall income increased, to mitigate the impact.

“Increases in people meeting the income threshold for free school meals during the first year of the pandemic could potentially be linked to the effects of the pandemic.
The county council has been on a drive to improve take-up of those entitled to free school meals after it was revealed that one in five children who are entitled to the benefit are still not receiving it.”

The spokeswoman added:

“We would like every family eligible for free school meals to take up that offer. Last year we launched an extensive campaign to encourage this. School catering teams can provide support with issues such as food sensitivities and help children enjoy new foods. They provide children with nutritious healthy food which can help them stay focused on learning and keep up their energy levels throughout the day.”

Flood alert issued in Harrogate district

A flood alert has been issued for the Lower River Ure in the Harrogate district.

In an update at 7.14am this morning, the Environment Agency said “flooding is possible” in low-lying land, including agricultural land, and local roads in the areas around Masham, Boroughbridge, Aldborough and Bishop Monkton.

The alert said:

“Avoid using low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding. Start acting on your flood plan if you have one.”

There are currently 25 flood warnings, where flooding is expected, and 64 flood alerts, where flooding is possible, active in England.

Another band of rain is expected across the district at about 7pm this evening but should clear up overnight and give way to a dry day tomorrow.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate IT company posts improved revenue in interim results

Now is your time to shine with the Stray Ferret Business Awards. We are encouraging businesses of all sizes from right across the Harrogate district to enter for our awards and get recognition from our top panel of judges. Entries close on January 16.

Harrogate IT service provider Redcentric has posted improved revenues in its interim results.

In the six months to September 2022, the company’s total revenue grew by 38.8% to £61.5 million.

The figure is up from £44.3 million in the same period in 2021.

The results come as the company, which is based on Otley Road, acquired both Sungard Availability Services Ltd the entire issued share capital of 4D Data Centres for £10 million last year.

Peter Brotherton, chief executive officer at the company, said:

“The last six months have been a transformational period for the business, with three acquisitions completed. These acquisitions, together with the two acquisitions completed in the previous financial year, have significantly enhanced our product offerings, and substantially increased run rate revenues from c.£90m to c.£150m.

“The integration of the businesses acquired in the last six months is progressing well, with annualised savings of c.£10m already realised and initiatives underway to deliver a further c.£7m of annualised savings.

“The outlook for organic growth is also favourable, with positive net new business achieved in each of the last six months to 30 November 2022.

“We look forward to building on the success of the last six months and to fully capitalise on the very significant opportunities resulting from the enlarged customer base and increased breadth of products and services.”

Businesses invited to bid for £7m net zero grant schemes

Businesses are being invited to apply for new grants aimed at net zero projects in North Yorkshire.

The move comes as the county is set to be awarded £7 million worth of funding as part of a devolution deal from government.

York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership is running two grant schemes.

One is a £1m project development support scheme, which is aimed at supporting net zero ideas so they are ready to take to investors.

The second grant stream has £6 million of funding and is aimed at delivering net zero projects.

Applications and expressions of interest are open until midday at February 6.

For more information, visit the York and North Yorkshire LEP website here.

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Harrogate council agreed £222,000 in exit packages due to tourism restructure

Harrogate Borough Council agreed exit packages worth £222,000 last year with the bulk of the payouts given to former marketing staff in its culture and tourism departments.

In the summer of 2021, the council agreed to create a new destination management organisation for the district called Destination Harrogate after a review found the authority had a “fragmented” approach to tourism and marketing.

Destination Harrogate was set up to raise the profile of the Harrogate district and help attract tourists and investment but the restructure meant its marketing teams from Visit Harrogate and Harrogate Convention Centre were merged into the one organisation, resulting in job losses.

The council’s draft statement of accounts, which lists income and expenditure during 2021/22, includes details of 14 exit packages with the majority of payments linked to the restructure.

It says 12 payments worth up to £20,000 were agreed as well as one payment worth between £20,001 and £40,000 and another worth between £80,001 and £100,000.

The number of exit packages last year was unusually high for the authority. In 2020/21 it only agreed one worth £15,000.

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In 2022, Destination Harrogate unveiled a three-year plan to position the Harrogate district as a “first choice destination for tourism, large-scale events and investment”.

Alongside its partner Market Place Europe Ltd, it recently organised Christmas festivities in Harrogate, which included a Ferris wheel, ice rink and Christmas market.

A council spokesperson said:

“In summer 2021, Harrogate Borough Council agreed a restructure of the culture, tourism (including Visit Harrogate) and Harrogate Convention Centre marketing teams in order to establish a new destination management organisation for the Harrogate district.

“The destination management organisation’s purpose was to raise the profile of the Harrogate district as an exceptional place to visit, meet and invest.

“The destination management organisation required a staffing structure that was fit for purpose and suitably flexible to respond to changing customer expectations/market developments and seasonal demand. The restructure supported this and enabled the right mix of skills and experience to be in place to deliver the DMO’s vision and strategy.”

Man arrested and £100,000 seized after A1 Boroughbridge police chase

A 30-year-old man has been arrested and £100,000 of cash seized after a police chase on the A1 near Boroughbridge.

North Yorkshire Police were alerted to erratic driving southbound near to Scotch Corner yesterday at 1.50pm.

Officers located the vehicle which near Dishforth and followed it towards Boroughbridge.

As they approached Wetherby Services, police got in front of the vehicle and directed the driver to leave the carriageway into the service station.

As they got nearer to the services, the driver made off and drove at speed through the service station car park towards the hotel at the back of the site, colliding with a member of the public’s vehicle on its way through.

A police statement said:

“Officers pursued on foot and within four minutes of running from the car, the suspect had been located by officers with the support of a police dog. He was arrested for failing to stop when instructed and handcuffed.

“A search of his vehicle uncovered a substantial amount of cash estimated to be around £100,000 and two large tubs of plant food. The driver also failed a roadside drug test, testing positive for cocaine.”

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The 30-year-old, of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of failing to stop for police.

He was also arrested on suspicion of drug driving and on suspicion of being in possession of criminal property, dangerous driving, driving otherwise than accordance with a licence, failing to stop after a road traffic accident, money laundering, theft of a motor vehicle and for driving without insurance.

The man remains in custody while police enquiries continue.

Dismay as North Yorkshire awarded just £220,000 to boost cycling and walking

A councillor has expressed dismay as it emerged North Yorkshire stands to receive about a third of a penny per resident to boost active travel schemes this year, as part of Boris Johnson’s £2bn “walking and cycling revolution”.

An officers’ report to a meeting of senior North Yorkshire councillors and officers states the county has been offered £220,780 of the £30m on offer to develop active travel across England this year despite having received below average funding last year.

While neighbouring authorities in West Yorkshire and Teesside each received £1.3m in 2022, North Yorkshire was given just £207,683, which the council announced would be used to plug a shortfall in government funding for school Bikeability courses and to review several Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans.

The announcement follows the government rejecting the authority’s bid for a £116m share of its Bus Back Better initiative in its entirety, saying the North Yorkshire council had failed to show ambition.

Ahead of this year’s funding allocations being decided Active Travel England issued a social media post stating it wanted “to work with the willing and that means sharing our faith and the majority of our funding with councils that have the highest levels of leadership, ambition and ability to deliver”.

It said councils’ capability and ambition to deliver successfully, alongside their recent track record would inform the funding allocations for active travel schemes.

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Of the £220,780 funding this year, the officers’ report states £143,000 could be spent on developing a route connecting Brayton to nearby Selby town centre and the rail station.

The remainder of the funding will be used to buy intelligent traffic sensors to gather data about walking and cycling and for behaviour change initiatives, such as travel planning at schools and marketing schemes.

The report states: 

“It is believed that all three elements will complement each other well. To meet the fund objective of sustained increases in walking, wheeling and cycling for everyday journeys including to school and work we must focus on having shovel ready schemes ready for future capital funding.

“We must also focus behaviour change initiatives where infrastructure is being developed such as Harrogate, Skipton, Selby and Scarborough.”

North Yorkshire County Council’s Independent group leader, Cllr Stuart Parsons welcomed that the funding was due to be spent somewhere other than Harrogate, following numerous transport schemes being focused on the county’s biggest population centre in recent years.

He said: 

“It would be nice if they could try to remember Scarborough, Ryedale, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Craven next time they are given money. In fairness, to have spread that amount of money across the whole of North Yorkshire would have been laughable.

“A third of a penny a person is not going to make a huge difference in most locations. We can celebrate that we are getting a footpath, but for active travel and connectivity in North Yorkshire it is a very disappointing total.”

Harrogate College backs PM’s call for compulsory maths until 18

Harrogate College has backed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s bid to ensure all students study maths until the age of 18.

A government press release has said Mr Sunak will this afternoon “commit to starting the work of introducing maths to 18 in this Parliament and finishing it in the next”.

In his first speech of 2023, he is expected to say studying maths to 18 will equip young people with skills needed for jobs and increase their financial confidence later in life when dealing with issues such as mortgages and savings rates.

Mr Sunak will say:

“One of the biggest changes in mindset we need in education today is to reimagine our approach to numeracy.

“Right now, just half of all 16–19-year-olds study any maths at all. Yet in a world where data is everywhere and statistics underpin every job, our children’s jobs will require more analytical skills than ever before.”

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Harrogate College principal Danny Wild said Mr Sunak’s goal was admirable -— but needed to be supported by significant funding. Mr Wild said:

“Numeracy is increasingly important for all of us, and especially for young people entering a competitive and ever-evolving job market.

“So we do support the Prime Minister’s aim of ensuring that as many students as possible continue studying maths until the age of 18.

“Colleges and other further education providers will play a crucial role in delivering this goal – but it will only be achievable if we are given proper funding to recruit and retain the maths teachers we need.”

The college, a further education provider on Hornbeam Park, provides a wide range of courses including apprenticeships, T-levels and higher education for students in the Harrogate district.