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17
Jun
Harrogate business leader’s sudden departure shocks town
Over the last four years, Matthew Chapman has been one of the town’s most high profile and influential people. So news of his sudden departure today surprised many.
Mr Chapman, a former bricklayer and semi-professional rugby league player, was appointed manager of Harrogate Business Improvement District in May 2021. He was previously manager of Huddersfield BID.
The BID, which businesses voted to create in 2019, had been riddled by in-fighting in its early years.
Mr Chapman’s cheerful and personable style brought harmony and won over many sceptical businesses who weren’t convinced about the value of paying a levy to fund its work attracting town centre visitors. He remained steadfastly neutral on the £12.6 million Harrogate Station Gateway project.
In September 2022, he was set to leave to take up a role at North Yorkshire County Council but two months later changed his mind.
Promoting an initiative with former BID chair Sara Ferguson and former Harrogate Bus Company chief executive Alex Hornby.
The following year he secured a second five-year BID term when a landslide 76% of eligible businesses voted in favour.
Mr Chapman, whose title changed from manager to chief executive this year, oversaw a £485,000 annual budget to increase town centre visitors.
He oversaw initiatives such as the Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration, fashion shows and dog shows, the Harrogate Gift Card, street art and targeted free parking.
Sudden departure
But an 83-word statement today (June 17) announced he had resigned “with immediate effect for personal reasons”.
It added:
His resignation has been accepted and the board is now focused on ensuring continuity and maintaining the delivery of key projects and support for Harrogate’s business community. Harrogate BID remains committed to enhancing the town as a thriving destination and will continue to work closely with stakeholders, partners and our local community. No further comments or updates will be made at this time.
The statement wasn’t attributed to any individual and, unusually, did not include any quotes paying tribute to Mr Chapman.
Shortly after securing the BID’s second term in 2023, Mr Chapman was asked by the Stray Ferret if his near-departure the previous year meant he was unlikely to see out his term. He replied that he was “very confident of staying for the next five years”, adding: “What that process made me realise is I'm very passionate about BIDs and Harrogate is a great place to deliver one."
He likened leading Harrogate BID to being in the Premier League. "I've learned that Harrogate is a very traditional place where people are really passionate about its history,” he said. He was particularly mindful of the town’s floral heritage and pumped money into improving the town’s displays.
Promoting the BID's Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration
'Matthew will be missed'
We asked BID chair Simon Midgley who had assumed day-to-day charge of the BID and whether it intended to appoint an interim chief executive while a permanent successor was recruited. Mr Midgley said it had nothing to add to its earlier statement and “further updates will be issued in due course”.
Martin Mann, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said it was “very sorry to hear of Matthew's departure today”.
Mr Mann added:
Matthew's involvement in the town has been significant, working tirelessly across the BID district for the benefit of the levy payers and the town in general.
Harrogate chamber has forged a close working relationship with the BID under Matthew’s leadership, hosting joint social events between the BID and the chamber, assisting with judging for various events, and for the first time this year, sponsoring the floral trail later in the year.
As some may remember, the BID did get off to a rocky start, but Harrogate has seen far more events and marketing work done to complement the town’s businesses since Matthew joined to head up the team. The work done by the rest of the team cannot be underestimated and we are very grateful for the work they all do, but Matthew will be missed, and everyone at the Harrogate Chamber wish him well for the future.
Mr Chapman will no doubt be missed personally by many. But professionally, the questions surrounding his departure and what it means for the BID and Harrogate's retail sector remain unanswered.
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