A judging panel made up of leaders from top local businesses and organisations have shortlisted finalists for the Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023, sponsored by Prosperis.
It wasn’t a simple task, with more than 100 entries across 10 categories, which highlighted the strength of the local business community.
Our four judges were Marcus Boardall, chief executive of Reed Boardall, Black Sheep Brewery chief executive Charlene Lyons, Cloud Nine founder and chief executive Martin Rae, and James Farrar, chief operating officer of York and North Yorkshire LEP.
The judging panel met at West Park Hotel in Harrogate in the morning and debated well into the afternoon.
On Friday, January 20, the Stray Ferret will announce the shortlist for each of the 10 categories.
From growing businesses to the up-and-coming stars of the future, the categories are designed to allow businesses to showcase their strengths.
The glittering, black tie awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 9 at Pavilions of Harrogate. To book your tickets, click or tap here.
More pictures from the judging day:
There were lots of entries for the judges to get through.
Our judges enjoyed debating about each of the entrants.
Marcus Boardall of Reed Boardall and Martin Rae of Cloud Nine.
James Farrar of the York and North Yorkshire LEP and Charlene Lyons of Black Sheep Brewery.
The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.
In these final few days before entries close, we are revealing the last of what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.
The final category up is the Best Digital Marketing Campaign Award, which is sponsored by Next Chapter.
Digital is clearly the way forward. This award recognises the work of businesses that have run incredible campaigns on purely digital campaigns.
Companies looking to enter need to provide information on the digital marketing plan, including its aims and objectives. Also provide statistical information on why the campaign was a success.
Does your business deserve to win the Best Digital Marketing Campaign Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close at 12pm on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!
Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.
The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.
In this final week before entries close, we are revealing the last of what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.
Next up is the Best Employee Development Award, which is sponsored by Jones Myers, Family Law Solicitors.
This award is designed to highlight businesses that develop their employees, giving them the best start for a new career.
Those looking to enter this award need to give details of the business values and culture that lead to the creation of the training programme and highlight employee successes that came as a result.
Do you know a person that deserves to win the Best Employee Development Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!
Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.
The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.
In this final week before entries close, we are revealing the last of what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.
Next up is the Unsung Hero Award, which is sponsored by Big Bamboo.
This award is designed to shine a light on those people who are truly the glue of the team.
These people are not only integral to the day to day, but they also bring a personal touch that makes the business that bit brighter.
Those looking to nominate for the Unsung Hero Award need to provide details of the contribution and the impact this person has made as well as details of the person’s background and current position.
Do you know a person that deserves to win the Unsung Hero Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!
Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.
The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 sponsored by Prosperis is set to celebrate the best of businesses from across the Harrogate district.
With the deadline for entries fast approaching on Monday, January 16 we are revealing the top reasons why businesses simply cannot miss the opportunity to get involved.
The entry process is simple, fast and free, so what are you waiting for? Enter or nominate today!
Shout about your achievements
We know the Harrogate district is home to thousands of incredible small, medium and large businesses.
In the face of the coronavirus pandemic and now a cost of living crisis, local businesses are doing amazing things for their staff and customers.
So why not get recognition for those achievements? Whether your business has seen significant growth, made positive changes for sustainability or inclusivity, we can help you celebrate.
Attract top talent and keep employees motivated
Now more than ever we know just how important it is to attract new employees and keep your existing employees motivated.
Winning or being shortlisted for an award is a great way to set your business apart from the rest. Who doesn’t want to make for an award-winning business?
Not only do we have awards celebrating overall business achievements, we also have awards geared specifically towards celebrating the work of your best staff.
So if you have a Rising Star Under 30 or an Unsung Hero at your business then show them your appreciation and nominate them today.
Exposure with the Stray Ferret’s audience
The Stray Ferret has a huge, local audience. We get more than 200,000 readers every month from across the Harrogate district and beyond.
With ten categories come ten winners and we will profile the great work of all of our winners. So this is a great chance to get your business in front of our readers.
Incredible judging panel
When you are looking to get recognition for your business, it is key that those on the judging panel are the best of the best.
That is why we have handpicked the leaders of top businesses from across the Harrogate district with expertise and experience in a wider variety of sectors.
We have Charlene Lyons, CEO of Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, Marcus Boardall, CEO of Reed Boardall in Boroughbridge, Martin Rae, CEO of Cloud Nine in Harrogate and James Farrar, COO of the York and North Yorkshire LEP in Northallerton.
Network with the best local businesses
The Stray Ferret Business Awards will be a great way to network with the event culminating in a glittering awards dinner on March 9.
With our stellar judging panel, sponsors and shortlisted businesses for each of our ten categories, this is not an event to be missed.
You can see a full list of award categories on the Stray Ferret Business Awards page. Entries close on Monday, January 16.
Stray Ferret Business Awards: North Yorkshire Council chief executive to be keynote speaker
The Stray Ferret is delighted to announce that the chief executive of North Yorkshire Council will be the keynote speaker at the inaugural Stray Ferret Business Awards.
Richard Flinton’s speech at the awards in March 2023 will be timely because the new council will come into existence the following month.
Mr Flinton, who is currently chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council, is at the forefront of the creation of the new unitary authority so he is well-placed to give our audience an insight into the changes to come.
Since joining North Yorkshire County Council as a trainee trading standards officer 30 years ago, Mr Flinton has held many roles including assistant head of trading standards, lead of the council’s economic development team, assistant chief executive and director of business and environmental services before becoming chief executive.
As chief executive he has covered statutory roles as director of children and young people’s services and director of health and adult services. He now chairs the chief executives group and the local resilience forum.
From April 2023, he will oversee the merging of the existing seven district and borough councils with North Yorkshire County Council to form North Yorkshire Council.
Once complete, he will be responsible for around 10,500 staff and a budget of £1.4 billion.
Many challenges ahead for North Yorkshire Council
There are significant challenges ahead for North Yorkshire Council, with inflation at its highest level for 40 years, a growing elderly population which is already at one-in-four of the county’s population and a recruitment crisis.
With so many changes and challenges for North Yorkshire Council, this is a keynote speaker that can’t be missed.
Get your early access tickets for the Stray Ferret Business Awards now and make sure to enter your business for one or more of our ten award categories by clicking or tapping here.
The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.
Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.
Next up is the Digital Innovation Award, which is sponsored by ASE Computers.
This award is designed to highlight those businesses which are leading the way in the digital world.
These businesses have embraced digital and grown the business as a result.
This innovation can come in many forms, including putting your business online, developing an app or using other digital applications like social media.
Companies looking to enter for the Digital Innovation Award need to provide examples of the success your business has had with digital, including any statistical data to support.
Do you know a business that deserves to win the Digital Innovation Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!
Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.
The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023 are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district.
Over the next few weeks we will reveal what our judging panel is looking for when it comes to each of the 10 categories.
Next up is the Rising Star under 30 Award, which is sponsored by Thompsons Chartered Accountants.
This award is designed to highlight some of the young talent from across the Harrogate district.
Those nominated or who enter for the Rising Star under 30 Award are sure to make waves and build a successful career in the years to come.
Entries for this category need to provide details of the person’s background and position they hold in the business. Provide examples of how the entrant’s work ethic has affected the business.
Do you know someone who deserves to win the Rising Star Under 30 Award at the Stray Ferret Business Awards? Entries close on January 16. It’s simple and quick, so enter today!
Click here or the banner below to enter for the Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis.
Does your business or workplace have a good story to tell? We’re looking to recognise the best and the brightest in the Harrogate district’s business community.
On March 9 next year, the Stray Ferret Business Awards will celebrate those businesses at a glittering black tie ceremony in the Pavilions of Harrogate and we want your entries.
The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2023, sponsored by local financial advisers Prosperis, are for businesses across all sectors in the Harrogate district including Ripon, Masham, Boroughbridge, Harrogate, Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough.
We are delighted to announce four of the region’s most influential leaders are on the Stray Ferret Business Award’s judging panel:
- James Farrar: COO, York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership
- Charlene Lyons: CEO, Black Sheep Brewery
- Marcus Boardall: CEO, Reed Boardall
- Martin Rae: CEO, Cloud Nine
There are 10 award categories − from Dynamic Leader to Business Growth and Inclusivity.
It doesn’t matter if the business is large or small − the awards are to recognise excellent organisations, their leaders or unsung heroes.
It’s free to nominate and we will profile the great work of all the winners, so we would encourage you to put forward your business today.
You can see a full list of award categories on our Awards page. Entries close January 16.
In tough times we need, more than ever, to celebrate success and give individuals and teams the recognition they deserve.
Knaresborough car finance company shortlisted for four awards
Oracle Car Finance, based in Knaresborough, has been shortlisted at the Car Finance Awards.
The prestige, sports and classic car company has been shortlisted in the following categories:
- Best Car Finance Company to Work For
- Customer Service Excellence
- Rising Star
- Best Specialist Car Finance Provider
Peter Brook, managing director, says:
“Having been voted best specialist car finance provider in 2020 and 2021 we are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for a third year running.”
Fran Irvine celebrates 25 years at Harrogate Ladies College
Fran Irvine started at Harrogate Ladies’ College in 1997 as a PE teacher.
Since then she has been promoted to assistant head and has now celebrated 25 years at the independent school.
Talking about her time at the school, Ms Irvine said:
“I’ve stayed at Harrogate Ladies’ College for such a long time because the teaching is so rewarding, and there’s such variety in the job — both coaching many different sports and abilities, and taking care of the Middle School pupils in her care, academically and pastorally.
“I love seeing the pupils progress from Year 7 all the way through to upper sixth when they are ready to leave and embark on the next part of their journey.”
Fran Irvine