Despite multiple weather warnings and a rather inconvenient March snowfall, the first Stray Ferret Business Awards was a roaring success.
With nearly 400 guests, a crowd of paparazzi and a lot of laughter, last night’s event was a fitting celebration of business across the Harrogate district.
The Stray Ferret Business Awards showcased a variety of talent from across the area, and 11 finalists were crowned the winners of their categories.
The Harrogate district boasts a high calibre of business, which was reflected in the submissions, but the winners’ entries particularly impressed the judges.
The Winners
Dynamic Leader – sponsored by Succession Wealth
Winner: Ian Baker, The Soundproofing Store
Ian Baker is the founder and managing director of The Soundproofing Store.
Ian has led the company to become the largest online retailer of soundproofing equipment and solutions in the UK.
Ian’s employees say “his style of leadership is instrumental in the success of the business and solutions offered to customers”.
The judges agreed that Ian’s innovative, open and creative approach to leadership merited first place.
Highly Commended: Suzanna Prout, Xenonex
Suzanna Prout is the founder and managing director of Xenonex, which offers leadership coaching and development programmes.
During covid, Suzanna shifted the business to be entirely online, which included online training and bespoke portals where users could access resources and track progress.
Suzanna also led the business to win the CorporateLiveWire Innovation & Excellence Award for Management Training Specialist of the Year – UK.
The judges felt Suzanna demonstrated incredible resilience and established necessary flexibility during challenging times.
Best Independent Retailer – sponsored by York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub
Winner: TravelGate
TravelGate is an independent travel agency in Harrogate, offering clients bespoke expertise and advice on holiday destinations.
As chaos ensued during covid, TravelGate was inundated with policies to follow and holidays to amend. However, the agency remained open throughout several lockdowns to provide support for clients, both locally and abroad.
The judges believed TravelGate’s relentless resilience and ability to adapt to such hardship made it deserving of the award.
Highly Commended: Whittams Hire
Whittams Hire offers luxury motorhome hire to the people of North Yorkshire and beyond.
Since launching in 2018, the company now boasts nine motorhomes and has even opened a coffee shop alongside the office space.
The judges felt the company keeps customer service at its core, – evidenced with a 100% 5-star Google review record – which merited a highly commended.
Highly Commended: Watermark Gallery
Watermark Gallery is a Harrogate art gallery selling original, contemporary and modern British art.
During the pandemic, the gallery offered customers the opportunity to watch live artist exhibitions through the gallery window – growing a large customer base.
In 2020, the gallery also adapted its space into becoming a workshop space to teach and learn.
The judges felt Watermark Gallery’s business growth and dynamic approach to retail was deserving of a highly commended placing.
Digital Innovation – sponsored by ASE Computer Services Ltd
Winner: Strive Group
Strive Group is a connected experience agency in Harrogate.
The company used its Interactive Customer Experience (ICE) software to establish a virtual specification configurator for Volvo.
The immersive software permitted customers to explore the features of the car, including testing the sound system, in aid of the Volvo C40 Recharge launch.
Strive Group’s cutting-edge innovation dazzled the judges.
Employee Development – sponsored by Jones Myers Family Law Solicitors
Winner: Grantley Hall
Grantley Hall is a luxury five-star hotel and wellness retreat near Ripon.
Grantley Hall offers staff an on-site training facility, as well as live-in accommodation, free meals and wellbeing support.
Staff can access additional training services from senior staff members, including Michelin-starred chef, Shaun Rankin.
Grantley Hall stood out to the judges with its five-star staff development programme.
Best Digital Marketing Campaign – sponsored by Next Chapter
Winner: Ogden of Harrogate
Historic jeweller Ogden of Harrogate impressed the judges with its virtual advent calendar.
The campaign enabled the jeweller to bring its annual Christmas catalogue online.
Each day, an animated image featuring the corresponding door was emailed to subscribers, showcasing a piece of jewellery.
The judges were impressed by Ogden’s strategy to marry the digital and traditional retail, delivering impressive results in sales.
Sustainable Business – sponsored by York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub
Winner: EnviroVent (Large Business)
EnviroVent is a designer and manufacturer of sustainable ventilation systems in Harrogate.
The company has recently moved from two separate sites into one zero-carbon building that uses low carbon heating and energy sources.
EnviroVent also aims to plant 5,000 trees a year in partnership with MoreTrees.
The judges were impressed by EniroVent’s clear objectives to becoming entirely net-zero carbon.
Winner: Resurrected Bites (Small Business)
Resurrected Bites is a food waste organisation, with pay-as-you-feel cafés and community groceries in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
The business collects short shelf life and excess food from local producers to distribute via the cafés.
Any food not fit for human consumption is passed onto livestock and peelings are gifted to allotments to make compost.
The judges felt that Resurrected Bites is solving an important issue by aiming to fill bellies instead of bins.
Rising Star Under 30 – sponsored by Thompsons Chartered Accountants
Winner: Laura Mounsey, Harrogate Family Law
Laura Mounsey qualified as a solicitor with Harrogate Family Law four years ago and is already a director of the firm. An equity stake in a legal firm usually takes at least 10 years to achieve.
Laura is the chair of the advisory board to the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS), as well as the youngest ever president of the Harrogate & District Law Society.
Laura’s clients describe her as “extraordinarily approachable and knowledgeable”.
Laura’s incredibly impressive career stood out to the judges. They agreed she would continue to rise throughout her career.
Highly Commended: Tiffany Snowden, Willow Heritage
Tiffany Snowden is the lead heritage consultant and director of Harrogate environmental consultancy Blue Willow Heritage.
Tiffany is just one of 500 women in the UK to be granted membership of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CifA), the highest level of accreditation that the most senior archaeology body in the UK offers.
Tiffany was also invited to join the Association for Studies in the Conservation of Historic Buildings (ASCHB), the UK’s premier body for the study of architectural preservation.
In just two years, Tiffany has led Blue Willow Heritage to become one of the top small heritage consultancies in Britain.
Tiffany dazzled the judges with her career to date and they believe she is certainly one to watch.
Highly Commended: James Owen Thomas, JOT’s Gallery
James Owen Thomas is an environmental artist and owner of JOT’s Gallery.
James was diagnosed with autism aged three and has since used this, as well as his love for the environment, as a means of inspiration for his art.
James is an ambassador the Tree Council, supporting its Force For Nature campaign.
James’s artwork has helped raise funds for The Alzheimer’s Society, Autism Trust, Disability Action Yorkshire, National Autistic Society and many more.
The judges believed James is a star in the making.
Business Growth – sponsored by Raworths Solicitors
Winner: The Soundproofing Store
The Soundproofing Store has seen consistent growth over the last eight years.
The company has recently established a commercial client sector, which resulted in significant growth in revenue and network.
The Soundproofing Store also created the only soundproofing floor mat without the need for an over boarding layer. Sales of the mat amassed to over 11,000.
The judges noted that The Soundproofing Store’s product and service innovation has led it to such significant growth.
Highly Commended: Bamber & Brown
Bamber & Brown is a hotspot for takeaway coffee that trades out of a converted horse box.
Since 2021, the company has seen significant financial growth, developed horse shelter into a pizza van and has recently acquired a premises license, which will be used to create a prosecco bar.
The judges loved Bamber & Brown’s story and were impressed by its exponential growth in just 18 months.
Highly Commended: TMR Foods
TMR Foods supplies premium quality fish and seafood across Yorkshire.
During covid, the new business began doing private deliveries, which resulted in a loyal customer base.
TMR has since added two more vans onto the roads, established a base in Ripon to work from, and is now developing pre-packed ranges to supply to retailers.
TMR Foods’ resilience throughout covid and subsequent growth stood out to the judges.
Unsung Hero – sponsored by Bigbamboo
Winner: Chris Ashby, Harrogate BID
In 2021, Harrogate BID recruited Chris Ashby to keep Harrogate town centre clean.
As the town’s street ranger, Chris Ashby has removed 126 graffiti tags, improved 38 building façades, and disposed of 57 used needles.
His actions in July 2022 hit the headlines, when he rescued a man who was trying to take his own life in the early hours of the morning.
The judges were very impressed by Chris’s commitment to maintaining the town’s beauty, but felt his actions in helping save a man’s life meant he was undoubtedly the Stray Ferret’s Unsung Hero.
Highly commended: Kayti Mewis, Mumbler
Kayti joined Mumbler as volunteer after moving to Harrogate and is now the content creator and social media manager.
Kayti has added value across the whole company, including working in the sales sector, creating inspiration for parents during lockdown and is even due to co-present the Harrogate Mumbler Awards in November.
Sally Haslewood, founder of Mumbler, said:
“To be honest, I don’t know what I would have done if she’d turned down the role, as she had fast become my right-hand woman.”
The judges felt Kayti’s work is exactly why the Unsung Hero award was established – she is a vital cog in the functioning of Mumbler.
Inclusivity Award – sponsored by Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors
Winner: Artizan Café and Creative Space
Artizan Café and Creative Space is a Harrogate café and workshop staffed entirely by adults with learning difficulties.
The café provides them with work experience and employment opportunities.
The staff learn vital skills such as food preparation, customer service, handling money, food hygiene and more.
The judges felt Artizan Café and Creative Space allows differently-abled people to fulfil a dream of paid employment.
Highly Commended: Horticap
Horticap is a Harrogate charity that has provided training in outdoor skills to adults with learning disabilities for nearly 40 years.
Horticap students can learn about garden maintenance, social skills, craft work and hospitality.
Horticap aims to immerse its students into society and provide them with skills that can be replicated at home and towards new career paths.
The judges commended both Horticap’s long-standing service and the significant impact the charity makes on the students’ lives.
The Stray Ferret would like to thank everyone who entered the awards and everyone who attended yesterday’s event.
Thank you to all our sponsors, including all the businesses supporting our individual categories, and our lead sponsor, Prosperis.
Keep an eye on our site and social media over the coming days to see more news and photographs from the awards ceremony.
