The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024 are for businesses across all sectors within the Harrogate district including Ripon, Masham, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough. The Stray Ferret Business Awards will recognise and celebrate your business achievements culminating in an awards dinner on Thursday 14 March 2024.
Businesses are encouraged to enter more than one category and will be judged by a judging panel including Sarah Barry Chief Executive Officer at Harrogate Town AFC, James Rycroft Managing Director of Vida Healthcare, Niall Gunn CEO of Prosperis and Heather Parry Director of Expect Events Ltd.
Entries have now closed, and the shortlist will be announced on Friday 26 January 2024. Tickets for the awards ceremony and gala dinner can be purchased here.
The Award Categories
Dynamic leader
These people are key for any successful business. They drive progress, activity and change in their organisation.
Business growth
A business that has seen significant growth in the last three years either financially, by employee numbers or market share increase.
Sustainable business
This award recognises those businesses that have put sustainability at the top of their agenda. These businesses are helping drive change and leading the way by reducing their impact on the environment.
Best employer
Best Employers embrace a culture of high performance, stress company values and have systems in place to inspire their workforce to do their best.
Rising star under 30
This award highlights the up and coming talent at a business. These people are sure to make waves and build a successful career in the years to come.
employee appreciation
This person is the glue of the team. They are not only integral to the day to day, but they also bring a personal touch that makes the business that bit brighter.
Business of the Year
A business which is leading the way in strategy, growth, community involvement and people development.
Best use of digital
A business which has embraced the digital world to drive success.
Best independent retailer
This business has survived the pandemic and now tackling a cost-of-living crisis. They are truly beating the odds to support customers and make the high street work for them.
Inclusivity Award
Vital recognition for a company that have demonstrated working practices with a proactive approach to inclusivity, giving people a chance to thrive.
Winners lounge
This is the moment the entrants for the Stray Ferret Business Awards have all been dreaming about. The Winners Lounge, sponsored by LCF Law, will be where we interview and take lots of pictures so we can celebrate your success.
The Finalists
Dynamic Leader Finalists
Little Bird Made, Jackie Crozier
NYNET, Alastair Taylor
Mumbler, Sally Haslewood
Greenwoods, Camilla Greenwood & Dawn Hudson
Grantley Hall, Tracey Ractliffe
Business Growth Finalists
Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen
Envirovent
Lucy Pittaway
Live for Today
Sustainable Business Finalists
Number Thirteen
Greenhouse, Ripon
Saint Michael’s Hospice
Harrogate Organics
Flotilla
Harrogate College
Best Employer Finalists
Grantley Hall
Network Scientific
Northern Energy
Harrogate Bus Company
LCF Law
Rising Star under 30 Finalists
Envirovent, Elise Stephens
Marketing Adventures, Emily Smailes
Harrogate International Festivals, Ellen Fletcher
Pavilions of Harrogate, Becky Andrews
Studio Nest, Rosie Rushton
Employee Appreciation Finalists
Greenwoods, Stuart Hudson
The Soundproofing Store, Phil Lyons
Pavilions Of Harrogate, Darren Hall
Artizan International, Steff Winter
Resurrected Bites, Sam O’Brien
Business of the Year Finalists
Grantley Hall
Little Bird Made
Vida healthcare
Belzona
Number Thirteen
Best Use of Digital Finalists
Harvey George
Harrogate Community Radio
Ake & Humphris
Show & Tell
Provenance Collection
Best Independent Retailer Finalists
Number Thirteen
Best Kept Secret
Ake & Humphris
Georgie’s
Harrogate Tipple
Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen
Harvey George
The Cheeseboard
Inclusivity Award Finalists
Artizan International
Disability Action
Harrogate College
Horticap
Network Scientific
The Judges
Sarah Barry
Chief Executive Officer at Harrogate Town AFC
Sarah began her career in advertising at the Yorkshire Post and Harrogate Advertiser series before joining Harrogate’s first local radio station, Stray FM – which was the start of a varied management career in commercial radio before finally becoming the Managing Director of multi-award winning Stray FM – one of the UK’s most successful commercial radio stations of its size.
In September 2021, Sarah joined Harrogate Town AFC as CEO and in June 2023, Sarah was recognised at the Football Business Awards as the SkyBet League Two CEO of the year, as voted for by fellow SkyBet League Two CEO’s.
James Rycroft
Managing Director of VIDA Healthcare
James Rycroft formed Vida Healthcare in 2010 in order to offer exceptional care for people living with Dementia.
Over the years he has designed, developed and now operates 300 beds and employs over 500 staff. All Vida’s homes have been rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission which a direct result of James’ passion for quality care and quality environments.
Niall Gunn
CEO of Prosperis
Niall is an executive in retail financial services, wealth management and employee benefits with over 40 years’ experience in various executive roles with more recent focus on management. Niall operates at board level with UK regulatory approved designations, possessing excellent broad-based problem solving, communication and stakeholder management skills to ensure delivery and high effectiveness.
Experienced in developing strategies, functions and frameworks, transformational change and developing/managing existing teams.
He is the former Chairman of the Yorkshire Life & Pensions Society for an unprecedented three terms.
Heather Parry
Director of Expect Events Ltd.
Heather is an events professional who has spent the last 30 years building successful businesses on the Great Yorkshire Showground, including Pavilions of Harrogate, Yorkshire Event Centre, Fodder and the Harrogate Caravan Park.
Committed to good people management, communication, pushing boundaries for success and having a happy culture
Judging Information
- The Stray Ferret Business Awards is judged by an independent panel of experts. They are chosen for their expertise, experience and positions in the industry and its various sectors.
- Judges give their free time to participate in the judging process.
- Judges with conflicts of interest in categories will not participate in the judging of those categories.
- Following the deadline, judges are given every entry, provided in the same format and without any material that goes against the terms and conditions.
- Judges score each entry according to the criteria of each category.
- Judges will then meet to discuss their scores and make a final decision during a single day of judging, based on the contents of the written entry.
- The judging process is confidential and all decisions are final.