This is the latest in a regular series of Business Q&A features published weekly. This week, we spoke to Richard Bielby, director of Starbeck-based Harrogate Set.

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

We build sets and scenery for theatre companies around the world. We currently have scenery in the West End, on tour around the UK, and internationally in New York, Dubai and Australia.

What does it take to be successful in business?

That's the secret, isn't it? You need a good, all-round knowledge of the industry you're working in, and it also takes hard work and a good team to work with.

What drives you to do what you do every day?

I think anybody who works in this industry loves the job – you wouldn't do it otherwise. Personally, I love seeing the journey a set takes, from the designer's ideas, through 3D drawings or a 1:25 scale model, to producing the finished product.

When you get to see it on stage, and see the reactions of the client and the audience when it opens, that's great.

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

There's an ongoing issue with new blood coming into the industry – finding the right staff to carry out work.

Apart from that, we're much the same as any other industry, so the hike in employer's National Insurance and some of the other recent legislation have been tricky.

Which other local firms do you most admire and why?

Harrogate Theatre, obviously – we were founded as the scenery arm of the theatre, and were called Harrogate Theatre Scenic Services. We're independent now, but I still admire it as a company – it's made a remarkable comeback since covid.

Who are the most inspiring local leaders?

We kind of keep ourselves to ourselves where we are, so we're not too familiar with a lot of the likely candidates.

I do admire what the Starbeck in Bloom are trying to achieve in raising the profile of the area and give it some uplift.

What could be done locally to boost business?

That's a tricky one, because we work so much internationally. But it would be good if transport links in and around the town were improved. It was quite a boost getting additional train services to London, but east-west services are quite shocking, and the relaibility of trains to Harrogate from York and Leeds isn't the best.

Best and worst things about running a business from Harrogate?

One good thing is its location, in that it's a lovely place to come and live. We work with a number of people who have moved up from London, and they really love it here.

The worst is probably the transport, especially the level crossing in Starbeck. We lose a lot of time every week waiting in traffic for it to open.

What are your business plans for the future?

We've just undertaken a big expansion over the last 24 months, which has really come to fruition over the last three months. We've doubled our workshop space, so we've been able to take on more and larger-scale work. Before, we were having to knock back work because we couldn't accommodate it.

We really needed that – it's stabilised the business – because there are no givens in this business: we're not selling beans off a shelf. Ultimately, we just want to keep on doing what we're doing.

What do you like to do in your time off?

I don't have a lot of time off, but when I do I like to spend it with my family.

Best places to eat and drink locally?

I quite like the Barking George in Harrogate. I like what they've done with it, and it's a nice place to sit and enjoy a drink.

I also like a curry in Jinnah's. Whether you go as a couple or a gang, it's a nice place with good food and a relaxed environment.

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