Harrogate Borough Council‘s co-working space, Co-Lab, has opened.

Co-Lab consists of new offices, a meeting room and communal space. It’s based on level 3 of Harrogate Convention Centre on King’s Road.

The authority secured £540,000 of funding from the Leeds City Business Rates Pool to fund the project.

It aims to connect digital, tech and creative businesses in the Harrogate district.

Alistair Forbes, Harrogate Borough Council’s in-house growth manager who will support businesses at Co-Lab said:

“Co-Lab will be focussed on digital and tech businesses, but we are inviting anyone interested in collaborating with the business community to talk to us.

“From designers to hardware specialists, technologists, marketers and developers, our aim is that everyone works together to help our community become more successful.”

Ripon butcher wins contract with Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason

Ripon-based online butcher, Farmison & Co has won a contract to supply London stores Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason.

Farmison’s new Saucepan Ready range was curated by the company’s Michelin-starred executive chef, Jeff Baker, who has cooked for the Queen and Barack Obama.

The deal comes after Inverleith LLP, an Edinburgh-based specialist consumer brand investor, acquired a majority stake in the business, so it could press ahead with expansion plans.

Business founder and chief executive, John Pallagi, said:

“It’s a real feather in our cap to get Saucepan Ready listed with these two such iconic British retailers – it’s also recognition of the superb quality of the heritage breed meat our farmers supply.”

As well as the Saucepan Ready dishes, Selfridges and Fortnum & Mason are stocking Farmison & Co’s beef dripping and chicken schmaltz.

Battery storage facility planned for Burton Leonard

Plans have been submitted to build a battery energy storage system near Burton Leonard.

The application has been submitted to Harrogate Borough Council by Harmony Energy Limited. The company also hopes to build a solar farm nearby.

The battery energy facility will store electricity so it can support the National Grid and provide electricity during high demand.

It would be built next to the Wormald Green Northern PowerGrid substation, off Station Lane, Wormald Green.

The storage facility would be built in the field marked in red.

Allertons hair salon will open its fourth location, Allertons Harrogate, tomorrow.

The salon is located on Montpellier Street and will offer haircuts, colouring, treatments and styling.

Beauty treatments including massage and manicures will be available from the summer.

The company has two other locations in Leeds and one in Nottingham.

Founder Nicholas Nicola said:

“We think it will be well received. We aren’t led by fashion but what the clients want from root tints to bright blue. Harrogate already has so many lovely salons and hopefully we can bring something different.”

You can book online now by visiting this website or by calling us on 01423 608868.

Knaresborough-based maternity brand to launch next month

The Mum Collective is a Knaresborough-based maternity and nursing clothing brand that promises to offer “something different”.

Based in Knaresborough and set up by Sophie Baldwin, the online brand is launching with an essentials collection comprising of a t-shirt, sweater and hoodie. Each item has hidden zips for feeding.

Ms Baldwin said:

“When I fell pregnant one thing I found is that there wasn’t a great deal of clothes I actually wanted to wear that I would feel good in, that would also see me through my entire pregnancy as I was growing, and then through to my breastfeeding journey as well.”

“It was created with a mum and mum-to-be’s entire journey in mind.”

The new essentials range

Harrogate Business Improvement District has opened its 2022 Town Centre Improvements grant scheme.

Qualifying businesses will be able to claim match-funded grants of up to £750 for making a variety of upgrades, including paintwork, signage and accessibility, which are designed to make Harrogate town centre safe, clean and welcoming.

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“Harrogate BID is keen to support levy-paying businesses in making improvements to their street frontages, the accessibility of their premises and the gateways to the town centre, by providing financial support through match funding.

“We know that businesses in the town centre are facing unprecedented pressures, and we want to ensure that Harrogate remains a desirable place to do business by helping them deliver an aesthetic ‘Welcome to Harrogate’.

“These grants, which help support one of the key objectives in our business plan, namely Safe, Clean and Welcoming, can be used for a variety of different projects.

“As long as the work enhances a façade, or makes it more accessible for disabled customers, we will consider it. As there is a limited budget for the 2022 Town Centre Improvements grant scheme, they will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.”

Businesses should submit their request for grant support to Harrogate BID via email to: info@harrogatebid.co.uk including a brief description of the proposed work.

Grantley Hall restaurant launches new menu

The Orchard restaurant at Grantley Hall near Ripon has launched its new spring/summer menu.

It offers light, alfresco lunches in the sunshine and cocktails that overlook the manicured grounds of Grantley.

“The Orchard’s spring and summer menu compliments the change of the seasons by offering light and refreshing options, such as an array of succulent seafood dishes, with everything from king prawns and Whitby lobster to chargrilled swordfish – all cooked to perfection by our talented chefs.”

An online butcher from Ripon has been acquired by specialist consumer brand investor Inverleith.

Farmison & Co has a focus on British heritage and rare breeds, and an ethical, sustainable supply chain. It sells beef and pork.

John Pallagi, Farmison founder and chief executive, said:

“We now have the backing to take the business to the next stage and for our mission to encourage more people to eat better meat.”

Harrogate jeweller to sponsor football team

Ogden of Harrogate is supporting grassroots girls’ football by sponsoring Pannal Sport Pythons under-12s.

Rob Ogden, director of Ogden of Harrogate, said:

“The girls are talented and passionate and it’s great to see this and be able to encourage it. Due, in part, to the lack of funding and interest in female football a lot of young talented players give up.

“We’re hoping that in a small way our support will encourage some of the girls to keep going and, who knows, we may have a future Lucy Bronze or Rachel Daly in the team.”

Chamber meeting to focus on social media

David Simister (left), chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, with president Martin Gerrard.

Tonight’s meeting of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce will include a talk on how to maximise social media in marketing strategies.

Held at Pavilions of Harrogate from 5.30pm, it begins with informal networking before expert speakers deliver their advice to the audience.

Meetings are open to all chamber members and free to attend for first-time visitors. Subsequent visits are £10 per person.

To book a place, email ceo@harrogatechamber.co.uk.

Knaresborough medical manufacturer appoints new chief executive

Neo G, which makes medical-grade orthopaedic supports, has appointed a new chief executive.

Dan Jones (pictured above) will take over the role from founder Paul Starkey, who will become the company’s chairman.

Mr Jones was previously its commercial director and has helped Neo G to become a leading UK manufacturer in the UK of orthopaedic supports, holding contracts with Boots, Tesco, Walgreens and CVS.

The company is based at Knaresborough Technology Centre on Manse Lane.

Mr Starkey said:

“Dan has demonstrated his commitment to Neo G and our Medical Grade strategy. Over the last seven years, he has helped define and establish the company as the number one brand in the UK, and the fastest growing brand in the US.

“I am very proud of the way he has grown in the company and adopted the Neo G mantra as his own. I know he will take Neo G to new heights, and I will do everything I can as the chairman to support all of his and the teams’ efforts.”

Knaresborough digital agency appoints new co-director

Sophie Sanders

Eden Agency appoints co-director

Knaresborough-based Eden Agency has appointed Sophie Sanders as its new co-director.

The 29-year-old has worked at the agency since 2014 and was previously head of client services.

The agency is an ISO 27001-certified digital agency that specialises in UX design, web and mobile development.

Talking about her appointment, Ms Sanders said:

“I’m proud, as a woman in tech, to be given the opportunity to run a digital agency with Andy and I can’t wait to help deliver results to our clients and to help our team grow.”

Managing director Andy Litherland said:

“I have been very fortunate to work with Sophie over the last eight years. Her enthusiasm and passion for Eden Agency is infectious and I’m looking forward to seeing her drive the company forward in the future.”

Crimple adds afternoon tea to the menu

Crimple has launched an afternoon tea offering in time for Mother’s Day this month,

The new addition has been curated by executive chef Tim Kitchen and includes Vichyssoise soup, truffled cream cheese, chive and cucumber sandwiches, blackberry, tarragon and honey pavlovas, and of course scones.

Mr Kitchen said:

“Sticking to the Crimple brand ethos, my mission is to use local wherever possible and this menu reflects that.”

The restaurant and garden centre opened in November after a £6 million refurbishment.