Harrogate business owner through to The Apprentice final

The owner of a Harrogate business has made it to the final of the BBC’s The Apprentice.

Rachel Woolford, owner of North Studio on Cold Bath Road, is just one of two remaining contestants competing for Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.

The two North Studio sites, in Harrogate and Leeds, currently offer small group fitness classes, including running, reformer pilates, boxing and HIIT workouts.

Over the 11-week series, the 28-year-old has sold and run a tour in Budapest, created a vegan alternative to cheese and even flogged paddling pools on a TV shopping channel.

Now, the Leeds woman has one final chance at convincing the British billionaire she is worthy of the prize money.

But her success has not come without obstacles.

In last night’s episode, the five remaining candidates were interviewed — and their business plans scrutinised — by business tycoons.

Rachel’s plan is to open three more North Studio sites in the north of England.

But Claude Littner, long-term business associate of Lord Sugar, crunched Rachel’s numbers — and not in the way she had hoped.

After failing to turn up with her company’s accounts, Mr Littner told Rachel she had made a “very serious mistake” before the interview had even started.

She told Mr Littner she spent more than £250,000 on both North Studio gyms, funded partly through a bank loan, plus monthly finances spent on equipment. But without the figures in front of him, he responded:

“All I can see is losses, loans. It’s impossible to get any idea.”

Rachel Woolford preparing for her interview. Pic: BBC Pictures.

Before Rachel thought the interviews could get much worse, they did.

Publishing pioneer Mike Soutar bought both website domains Rachel had anticipated on purchasing for her new gyms.

Her business plan included opening a site in Newcastle – or more specifically, Jesmond.

However, Mr Soutar beat Rachel to buying her desired website domain for Newcastle (www.northstudionewcastle.co.uk), as well as the Jesmond domain (www.northstudiojesmond.co.uk) – pointing out two flaws in her business plan.

The interview did, however, resolve in Rachel purchasing both domains from Mr Soutar for £34 plus VAT.

Mike Suter. Pic: BBC Pictures.

But despite the rocky interviews, Rachel was praised for her passion about her business.

Mr Soutar told Lord Sugar there may be financial “difficulties” when scaling her business, but added if it can be done right “she is definitely the person to do it”.

Lord Sugar even created a new tagline for Rachel: “You want people to get ripped in Ripon”.

When asked to convince Lord Sugar why she should be his business partner, Rachel said:

“In the first year, I turned over £85,000. However, for six months of that year, we were closed because of the pandemic.

“Now I’ve turned it into a profitable business, and I’ve got a model there that we can copy to other cities, to other locations, which I believe is successful.

“With your mentorship, I will put my all into this, as I already do. I’m willing to learn and I will continue to put my entire life into it.”

Rachel was the first contestant through to the grand final – and is now just one task away from £250,000.

It will be a battle between fitness and food as she faces owner of family-run pie business, Phil Turner, in next week’s final.

The Apprentice finalists Rachel Woolford and Phil Turner. Pic: BBC Pictures.

The final of The Apprentice will air on Thursday, April 18, at 9pm on BBC One.

You can read our interview with Rachel Woolford here.

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New ice cream parlour to open in Pateley Bridge

A new ice cream parlour is set to open in Pateley Bridge tomorrow (March 29).

Treats, which will take over the former Pateley Ice Treat unit, will be the latest addition to the High Street’s hospitality scene.

Owner Janet Chambers, who is originally from Liverpool but has lived in Yorkshire for 40 years, told the Stray Ferret she and her husband took over the business after it remained closed for more than a year.

She said Treats will serve Brymor ice cream, ice cream sundaes, banana splits and milkshakes, as well as vegan ice cream and sorbets, cakes and eventually hot sandwiches and soups.

Ms Chambers added:

“I am excited and nervous about opening. We are hoping to be more than an ice cream parlour and hope to collaborate with our neighbours, such as the new bookshop in Pateley, with events for both adults and children.

“As my background is in art and design I am also hoping to offer art classes and a space for children’s parties.”

Treats will serve a range of ice creams and sweet treats.

Ms Chambers also recently applied to the BBC’s Great British Bake Off, she said, but added due to working full-time she “could not put the usual time and effort into her application”. Instead, she and her husband put their savings into buying the parlour. She said:

“Long-term we are going to re-brand to be called Treats.

“I want it to be a place where people feel they can “treat” themselves, friends and family, and to offer the community something all year round.”

Ms Chamber said the parlour will open Friday to Monday this weekend, plus Tuesday if the weather permits, from 11am to 4pm. It will open Saturday and Sunday thereafter, while in its infancy.

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Charity Christmas shopping event to return to Hampsthwaite

A Christmas shopping event will be held in Hampsthwaite for another year to raise money for The Roddy Scott Foundation.

Lovingly Made in the Dales will make its return to the Harrogate village to showcase the work of local artisans and artists.

Guests can expect locally-made candles, jewellery, art and glass decorations, as well as a raffle and festive food and drinks.

The foundation is an educational charity that is dedicated to teaching English and providing career opportunities to the children of the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia.

Roddy Scott was a BBC journalist who was killed there while reporting on the second Chechen war – his family live near Pateley Bridge.

Founder Katie Andrew held the first event last Christmas raising £900 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

She said:

“It will be a fun evening to enjoy with friends, whilst doing your Christmas shopping, supporting local artists & makers, and the amazing charity, The Roddy Scott Foundation.”

Those that would like to be involved in showcasing their work can contact Katie on 0777 5630 260.

The event will take place in Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall on Thursday, December 7, from 6pm – 9pm.

Tickets, which can be bought by contacting Katie, cost £10 per adult and includes a glass of wine, nibbles and a raffle ticket.

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Local by-election candidates accuse BBC of bias

The three Independent candidates in this week’s Selby and Ainsty by-election have accused the BBC of bias.

Harrogate-based Andrew Gray, Tyler Wilson-Kerr and Nick Palmer issued a joint statement last night claiming they had been marginalised by the broadcaster.

The statement said:

“Absence of the Independent candidates from BBC coverage gives the electorate the impression that they are not able to win; that they are not working hard.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. The mood of the constituency is one of change. Most people we speak to do not align with any political party.”

Opinion polls suggest the by-election is a two-way fight between the Conservatives and Labour.

Betting company OddsChecker has Labour 1/7 to win, with the Conservatives at 11-2 and the Liberal Democrats at 100-1.

Conservative Nigel Adams, who won the seat in 2019 with a 20,137 majority in 2019, triggered the by-election when he resigned last month. It is one of three by-elections being contested on Thursday.

If Labour wins, it will be the biggest ever overturn of a Conservative majority. The party is expected to send several front bench heavyweights to the constituency this week as part of a final push.

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Thirteen candidates are standing in Thursday’s ballot.

The joint statement highlight how Independents came third at last year’s  local elections in Selby and adds:

“With so many candidates, the likely margin of victory is likely to be small. The State Broadcaster’s position could sway this election.

“Tyler, Nick and Andrew all bring valuable experience to this election. The habit of mainstream media to treat elections as a largely binary choice is both insulting to Yorkshire voters and damaging to democracy.”

Harrogate musician signs deal with global publisher

A young Harrogate musician has signed a global publishing deal after his music proved a hit on social media.

KiD RAiN – whose real name is Dan Reynard – has been working as a songwriter for many years, but has just signed with Peermusic, the largest independent music publisher in the world.

He has achieved 250 million video views and 30 million streams for previous releases, including I Hope You Never Fall in Love Again, and a cover of Counting Crows’ Accidentally in Love.

It’s on TikTok where he has become a real star: his music has been shared by celebrities including Khloe Kardashian.

Teasers for his new single Half got more than half a million views on the video sharing platform. He said the song explores the move from childhood to adulthood:

“I often find myself questioning whether I’m truly a kid or a grown-up. Half is a heartfelt anthem for those who find themselves caught in life’s limbo.”

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The former Ripon Grammar School student began writing music aged just 12.

After studying A level music technology, as well as history, economics and business studies in 2014, he toured the UK in his band :PM, formed with four of his schoolmates.

He has been a prolific songwriter throughout his career, having worked with songwriters for Little Mix, Years & Years, Lana Del Ray and Ed Sheeran.

After going solo in 2020, he climbed the Apple Music and Spotify charts, and had one of his songs chosen as a BBC Introducing Track of the Week. His music has also appeared on Nickelodeon, which declared “KiD RAiN is on his way up”.

Now being hotly tipped as the next big thing by music industry professionals, he still remembers his nerves when he embarked on his first headline tour:

“I was so certain we wouldn’t sell enough tickets and the venues would be mostly empty, but I was so blown away by how many people showed up.

“To go to places like Glasgow and see your name above the venue door and hear people sing songs you wrote in your bedroom was amazing. Surely they all have better things to do than watch an idiot dance around on stage? Apparently not.”

Harrogate man through to competition stage of MasterChef

A Harrogate man has made it through the first stage of the 19th series of MasterChef.

Hotel supervisor Owen Diaram made his debut on the primetime BBC programme last night.

He was one of nine contestants battling it out in the third week of heats for a place in the competition round, with only seven going through.

Drawing inspiration from his South African roots, Mr Diaram blended his style of cooking with some Indian flavours – making a “perfectly cooked” prawn biriyani, as described by the notoriously tough judges.

He found himself cooking a second time to fight for the final few remaining aprons that took him through to the next round.

It was his second dish that earned him a place in the competition round of the programme and a famous MasterChef apron.

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Asked about his food dream, Mr Diaram told the BBC:

“I am hoping that local restaurants in Harrogate will give me opportunities to work with them after seeing me cook in the MasterChef kitchen.

“Eventually I’d love my own business within the hospitality industry bringing my unique style of cooking to North Yorkshire for more people to enjoy.”

In the next episode, he will compete alongside six other contestants for a place in the quarter-final.

It will air at 8pm tomorrow night (Thursday, April 27) on BBC One.

Don’t miss former MasterChef semi-finalist Olayemi A Adelekan’s weekly food feature coming to the Stray Ferret on Saturday, April 29.

Strikers made in Harrogate set for FA Cup semi-finals

Two footballers who started out on pitches in Harrogate and Knaresborough will be bidding for a place in the Women’s FA Cup final this weekend.

Leah Galton and Rachel Daly have risen from local leagues to play as strikers for two of the biggest clubs in the country.

Galton, who began as a junior with Knaresborough Celtic and then played for Harrogate Railway, has banged in 29 goals for Manchester United Women since she joined them from Bayern Munich in 2018.

She is the joint third highest scorer in the Women’s Super League this season with eight goals.

Manchester United Women will line-up against Brighton & Hove Albion Women at 5.15pm today.

United, who have never won a major women’s trophy but are top of the Women’s Super League, will be fancied to beat lowly Brighton.

Tomorrow, Daly’s Aston Villa Women will take centre stage in the second semi-final against Chelsea Women at 2.15pm.

Daly, who started at Killinghall Nomads and won Euro 2022 with England last year, is second on this year’s leading scorer list with 13 goals.

If Manchester United and Villa win, it could result in the remarkable prospect of two local women playing up front in the cup final at Wembley.

Both semi-finals will be televised live on the BBC.

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Harrogate council’s Tory leaders take parting swipe at Gary Lineker and BBC

Harrogate Borough Council‘s Conservative leaders took a parting swipe at the BBC, Gary Lineker and local media at the final cabinet meeting last night.

The council will be abolished in just over a week’s time to make way for the new North Yorkshire Council.

The cabinet met to accept a £2.5 million grant from central government to help buy 21 homes for Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, as reported last week.

Graham Swift, deputy leader of the council, said:

“One of the frustrating things about being a councillor in Harrogate is the amazing good things that are done by the Conservative government.

“This is another example, £100 million putting into the aid of people who really need it most and yet is ignored by the Gary Linekers of the world, the BBC of the world and media organisations in Harrogate who aspire to operate under the same principles of the BBC.”

Cllr Swift, who lost to Liberal Democrat Peter Lacey in his bid to represent Coppice Valley and Duchy division on North Yorkshire Council, added:

“I think it’s just fantastic that these sort of things are carried out. “

Council leader Richard Cooper, who did not stand for election to the new council, nodded in support of Cllr Swift’s comments and replied by saying what the government does “dun’t fit with the narrative sometime”.

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Cllr Mike Chambers, the cabinet member for housing and safer communities, added:

“It’s well known that Harrogate Borough Council over the years has always stood by those people who are in greater need than many of us.”

The money will come from the government’s Local Authority Housing Fund, which is a £500 million grant fund launched enabling English councils to provide housing for those unable to find accommodation.

In the Harrogate district, just over £2 million will go towards buying 19 homes for Ukrainians and just under £500,000 will help buy two larger four-bedroom homes for Afghan families currently in temporary accommodation.

Harrogate head torn between ‘head and heart’ over teacher strike

A Harrogate headteacher has said he is torn between his head and heart over this week’s teacher strike.

Children in years seven to 10 and year 12 at Harrogate Grammar School will study remotely from home on Wednesday when the first of four days of planned industrial action take place.

Pupils in years 11 and 13 will attend school as usual and have lessons if teachers are not striking.

Speaking on the BBC News channel today, headteacher Neil Renton said half of the school’s 115 staff belonged to the National Education Union, whose members had balloted in favour of the strikes.

Mr Renton said that as head he was keen to ensure the school stayed open but at the same time he could see the issues teachers faced and he therefore had conflicting emotions between his head and heart.

He said “there are just not enough teachers out there” and added one recent vacancy for an English teacher at the 2,000-pupil school attracted just one application.

Mr Renton, who said the union he belonged to would not be on strike this week, said too many teachers were leaving the profession. He added:

“If this continues and we are not able to work with government and ministers to create an education for the future I would, as an educator, want to take steps to make sure we make a much brighter education for our children.”

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Is Harrogate district set for snow next week?

The Harrogate district could be set for its first significant snowfall of the winter.

According to the BBC’s weather forecast, which is provided by MeteoGroup, light snow will fall on Monday followed by heavy snow showers on Tuesday. Further snow is possible later in the week.

But the Met Office forecast for next week does not include any snow for the district.

Both sites, however, agree there will be a return to icy conditions with some areas struggling to get above sub-zero temperatures until Thursday.

Despite today’s drier weather, some roads remain flooded.

Group manager Bob Hoskins, who works for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted about three cars getting stuck at Cattal.

Further flood related incidents today.
3 cars stuck in flood water at Cattal, who had followed each other into the water.

Can I remind people the Fire Service DO NOT recover people’s cars

Whilst at the scene 3 further cars drove past appliance and into the water??????? pic.twitter.com/vXoFfX43ku

— Group Manager Bob Hoskins (@Golf_One4) January 12, 2023

 

Environment Agency flood alerts remain in place for the Lower River Nidd catchment area and the Lower River Ure, which burst its banks yesterday.

However, the flood warning for the caravan park at Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, has been removed.

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