This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Tom Tate, managing director of F Tate & Sons, which runs Larkhill Nurseries in Ripon.

Tell us in fewer than 30 words what your firm does.

We're a family-run garden centre specialising in large specimen shrubs. We've got the biggest pot selection in the North East.

We also have The Olive Tree at Tates, a spacious coffee shop serving home-cooked food, with a large outdoor seating area.

What does it take to be successful in business?

You need to know what your customers want. It's all about customer service these days.

Go out of your way for your customers and they'll really appreciate it. Some of ours come back practically daily.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

I just want us to move forward, and get bigger and better.

What’s been the toughest issue your business has had to deal with over the last 12 months?

Staffing issues. Finding staff has definitely got a lot more difficult over the last six months.

It wasn't too bad after covid; everybody said it was, but it wasn't for us. But Brexit made a difference. A lot of the people from abroad who would have worked here can't now – at least, not in the same numbers.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

We deal a lot with Ripon Farm Services, and we know them very well. They're family-run too, so they share a lot of the same values.

We also deal a lot with Kendall's Farm Butchers and know them well too. We support each other's businesses.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

Mark Nicholson, chair of the West Yorkshire group of the National Vintage Tractor and Engine Club (NVTEC), which along with the East Yorkshire and Pennine groups organises Tractorfest at Newby Hall – the UK's largest vintage tractor and engine show.

I know Mark well, and he always puts himself out for others.

What could be done locally to boost business?

Ripon BID (business improvement district) does very well for businesses near the Market Square, but we could do with more support for businesses around the edges of the city, like ours.

Best and worst things about running a business from Ripon?

The best is seeing people happy with the service or product you provide – or in the case of The Olive Tree, the food.

The worst is not being able to provide what the customer wants.

Specifically in Ripon, parking is bad, and it would be good to get a bit more support from the council. For example, there's a footpath alongside the B6265, but it peters out about 300 yards short of our business. Annually, about 300,000 people visit us, and quite a lot come on foot from the city, especially during the summer. So it would be good if they would just extend that footpath as far as us.

What are your business plans for the future?

To grow the business. We want to run a few more community events in the half-term and summer holidays, and develop a play-park.

I'd also like to grow the garden centre to accommodate more people, and stock a bigger range of hardware, garden tools and garden furniture.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I like spending time with my family and doing tractor runs.

Best places to eat and drink locally?

The George at Wormald Green is our go-to place. They're really good guys and are always busy. They really know what they're doing with food.

If you know someone in business in the Harrogate district and you'd like to suggest them for this feature, drop us a line at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.