Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm secures £165,000 growth loan

A Harrogate law firm has secured a £165,000 loan to support its growth.

Harrogate Family Law, which is based on Victoria Avenue, received the funding from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.

The fund, which is managed by Mercia Asset Management, offers business loans to firms to support growth.

Harrogate Family Law said the funding will help to provide additional working capital to enable it to further expand the team and take on additional casework.

Andrew Meehan, managing director at the firm, said:

“After 13 years in Harrogate, we are now firmly established on the legal landscape and continue to grow on the back of referrals from satisfied clients.

“We will continue to grow and build the team while ensuring we choose the right people so we can deliver the best service to our clients.”

Knaresborough pest control employee takes on cycle challenge

An employee at a Knaresborough pest control specialist is set to cycle 4,500 miles around the UK coastline in aid of charity.

Adam Sims, who works in the finance team at Pelsis Group, will take on the challenge after his wife of 35 years, Christina, developed a serious mental health condition three years ago.

The challenge will see Mr Sims depart from Angmering, West Sussex, and cycle around the UK mainland coast. He hopes to cover the 4,500 miles in 45 days.

Adam Sims, who is taking on the cycle challenge in aid of Mind.

Adam Sims, who is taking on the cycle challenge in aid of Mind.

Mr Sims, who started the challenge last week, is raising money for mental health charity Mind as part of the fundraiser.

He said:

“We are fortunate that Christina is now doing better, in part thanks to be brilliant support we have received from Mind. That is why I wanted to do this challenge to give back and raise funds so others who go through what we did are able to be supported as well.

“I’m already extremely grateful for all the support and donations I’ve received from the friends, colleagues and the general public and look forward to seeing how much we can raise for this worthy cause.”

You can find Mr Sims’ JustGiving page here.

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate education companies to host schools conference

Three Harrogate district education companies are set to host a conference for the school sector.

BlueCow Education and Pobble, both from Harrogate, and Ripon-based Picture News have organised the event, which will see more than 100 school leaders from across the UK “inspire, innovate and improve” as the latest challenges in education come under the spotlight.

Among those taking part in panel discussions will be the Harrogate Grammar School head Neil Renton, who will also be signing copies of his new book New School Leader: What Now? at the conference.

Other speakers include Dave McPartlin – the head famous for taking his school onto TV’s Britain’s Got Talent programme; the world-leading authority on artificial intelligence in education, Dan Fitzpatrick; and Simon Hunt, the BBC Bitesize teacher.

Simon Blower, co-founder and director of Pobble, said:

“As a company with strong Harrogate roots, working closely with North Yorkshire schools, it has long been an ambition to bring a high-quality event to our home town.

 

“These leading experts-in-their-field will help those attending to think about new ways to innovate, inspire and improve pupil outcomes, whilst reflecting on today’s challenging climate for current and aspiring leaders.”

The event will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Harrogate on Friday, October 13, from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

For more information visit the Blue Cow Education website here.

Harrogate company agrees deal to expand into Africa

A Harrogate telecommunications company has agreed a deal to expand its presence into Africa.

Mobile Tornado, which is based at Cardale Park, has reached the agreement with communications company Instacom which extends its partnership until 2026.

Instacom, which has headquarters in South Africa, provides critical communications solutions to government agencies and private enterprises on the continent.

The agreement will see the company extend its resell contract of Mobile Tornado’s push-to-talk over cellular technologies.

It will also see the Harrogate company act as exclusive UK reseller for Instacom’s PTX personnel management platform.

Luke Wilkinson of Mobile Tornado, said: 

“We have been working with Instacom since 2010 and are thrilled to be taking our relationship to the next level. 

We are looking forward to working more closely and sharing our mutual knowledge and expertise. 

“We are already discussing a number of exciting ideas and can’t wait to start implementing them. 

“The continued growth of mobile network coverage across Africa is creating big opportunities for government agencies and private enterprises to increase safety, reduce costs, boost productivity and improve efficiency among their remote workforces.”

Business Breakfast: Care recruitment event to be held in Harrogate

A recruitment event for the care sector will be held in Harrogate.

Yorkshire Care Alliance, a charity which was launched to help recruit staff, is set to host a workshop on September 26.

The event will take place at Pavilions in Harrogate from 10am until 11.30am.

Facilitated by Nick Bramley from Impactus Group, the workshop will focus on the challenges care companies face both recruiting and retaining staff.

Nick Swash, chief executive of Yorkshire Care Alliance, said: 

“There are so many challenges facing not only care companies, but unpaid carers and the whole industry.

“No one organisation exists to take on these challenges and look for solutions. We have set up the Yorkshire Care Alliance to fill this void and bring together people from across the whole sector to help address the problems.

“It is all about working together, positivity and finding solutions together. This is why we launched with six free sessions across the region, each covering different topics such as CQC inspections, insurance and recruitment.”

Harrogate independent nursery makes new appointments

A Harrogate independent nursery has appointed new senior staff.

Magic Tree Nursery, part of independent Harrogate prep school Belmont Grosvenor, has appointed a new head and deputy head of early years to lead the nursery.

Mother-of-two Hayley Thompson, 37, and Sarah Birt, 27, have been appointed to the roles.

The pair will be tasked with leading a new ‘curiosity approach’ to early-years learning and development.

Nathan Sadler, headmaster at Belmont Grosvenor School, said:

“There have already been a number of changes in our early years department over the summer, and we are excited about the future as we help build strong foundations for our children to thrive in an ever-changing world.”

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm appoints first apprentice solicitor

A Harrogate law firm has appointed its first apprentice solicitor.

McCormicks, which is based on East Parade, has hired Sophie Hussain to the position.

Ms Hussain graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2020 with a first-class dual honours degree in law and criminology.

She will be based in the firm’s commercial property team and work on all aspects of transactional property work.

Claire Baker-Kemp, head of commercial property at McCormicks, said: 

“Sophie has come to us with more than two years’ solid commercial property experience, which makes her appointment a real benefit to our clients.

“I am also very impressed by Sophie in the short time she has been here.”

Hull company acquires Harrogate care home

A Hull-based care company has acquired a Harrogate care home for an undisclosed sum.

HICA Group has taken on Hampden House on Duchy Road from Elizabeth Finn Homes.

The 66-bed purpose-built nursing home is located within the Duchy Estate and provides nursing care, short-stays and end-of-life care.

The employment of all 70 plus staff has been secured in the handover to new ownership and general manager Jane Hooren continues to lead the team.

Terry Peel, chief executive at HICA Group, said: 

“This new venture marks a significant milestone for us, as we expand our commitment to delivering exceptional care and support services to our community.

“As we extend our care footprint with the introduction of Hampden House into the HICA portfolio, we are excited about the opportunities it brings to enrich the lives of our residents and their families.”

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New children’s cafe opens in Knaresborough

A new children’s cafe has opened in Knaresborough.

The Hungry Caterpillar opened its doors on High Street on Saturday.

The cafe aims to provide a “safe and friendly environment” for young children and adults to enjoy playtime, as well as food and drinks.

It includes a play area with pool pit, toys, books and sensory toys on the wall.

Danielle Bartley-Mould, owner of the cafe, said in a Facebook post:

“My aim when opening this café and doing the refurbishment was to provide a safe and friendly environment for young children and their grown-ups, while enjoying some playtime with some food and drinks.”

The cafe will be open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, Saturday 10am until 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm.

For more information, visit the Hungry Caterpillar Facebook page here.

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Celebrate this weekend as Jules B Harrogate turns one

This story is sponsored by Jules B

After opening its doors for the first time in September 2022, the team at Jules B Harrogate are all set to celebrate its first birthday. To mark the milestone, the designer womenswear store is planning a special event this coming weekend.

On Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September, the Harrogate team are welcoming visitors to join in the celebrations with cake and refreshments in store. Those who make a purchase on full-price items can also expect another exclusive treat.

Jules B Harrogate is the youngest of five Jules B stores selling a handpicked selection of designer brands like Barbour, Holland Cooper and OSKA.

Located at 5 Cambridge Crescent, Harrogate, fashion enthusiasts can find luxury clothes, shoes and accessories covering two whole floors. And it’s fair to say it’s been a successful first year with an incredible response from all involved.

Founder Julian Blades said:

“It’s been an enjoyable first year in Harrogate getting to know our new customers and building a fantastic enthusiastic sales team here, and it has not disappointed! We are really excited about our new autumn/winter collections, introducing some amazing new brands to our portfolio. 

“It makes all the hard work worthwhile when you have such an appreciative audience, and we are looking forward to continuing the progress we have made so far.”

If you’re in the area this weekend, drop by to raise a glass and discover the new arrivals awaiting. To discover more about the first year, read this interview with store manager Lynne Markham.

Business Breakfast: Harrogate care provider opens new training centre

Harrogate-based Vida Healthcare has opened a new training centre.

The 2,500 square foot centre, which is on Starbeck High Street, will be used to help train staff at the dementia care provider.

The site will form part of the company’s Vida Healthcare Academy, which will host training and recruitment fairs.

It will offer a range of courses, from the induction programme for new starters to specialist training courses and apprenticeships.

James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare, said:  

“Our team is our greatest asset and the new centre will ensure we can provide significant professional growth and development opportunities throughout their time with us.

“This will also ensure we can continue to provide residents with the highest  quality of compassionate care.”

Harrogate estate agent sponsors local hockey club

A Harrogate estate agent has agreed to extend its sponsorship Harrogate Hockey Club.

Verity Frearson, which is based on Albert Street, has agreed the deal which will run until 2026.

Matt Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, pictured with Josh Lyon of Harrogate Hockey Club.

Matt Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, pictured with Josh Lyon of Harrogate Hockey Club.

The agreement covers sponsorship of all home and away senior shirts and signage around the club facility, as well as weekly coverage on social media.

Matt Stamford, director at Verity Frearson, said:

“Having been main club sponsor since 2017, we know what a fantastic, inclusive, family-friendly organisation Harrogate Hockey Club are, and their core values align very well with our own.

“We look forward to continuing our positive partnership and here’s to a successful season ahead.”

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Natural beeswax shop opens in Knaresborough

An independent shop that sells a range of beeswax products has opened in the centre of Knaresborough.

The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Company opened in Green Dragon Yard on Saturday.

It previously traded at Yorkshire Farmers’ Market in Knaresborough Market Square, which no longer exists, before trialling a premise on Waterside.

Inside the new shop.

The family-run business, which was launched in 2019, sells a variety of beeswax candles, organic body care products and diffusers.

It also offers several Yorkshire honey products, including one sourced from a Knaresborough hive located just off Waterside.

The premises on Green Dragon Yard.

In a social media post, owner Michael Landreth, said:

“It’s been a crazy few weeks and months but we have done it and ready to open our doors.

“We would like to thank everyone who has helped us and supported us over the months and years and we really look forward to you all visiting our brand new home.”

The Yorkshire Beeswax Candle Company is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

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Trespass applies to open in former Ripon bank

A new Trespass store looks set to open in the former Barclays bank in Ripon.

The bank closed its doors on Market Place in August last year.

Barclays made decision despite the number of counter transactions at the branch increasing in the two years to March 2020.

Now, Jacob and Turner Ltd, which trades under the name Trespass, has applied to North Yorkshire Council for advertising consent at the site.

It would see two signs implemented at the former bank site.

North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

The Stray Ferret approached Trespass to ask why it had chosen the site in Ripon and if it had further details on an opening date, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

The outdoor clothing specialist currently has a store on Harrogate’s James Street.

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Business Breakfast: Knaresborough businesses sponsor Knaresborough Celtics FC

Two Knaresborough businesses have agreed to sponsor Knaresborough Celtics girls football team.

Kelly Teggin Hair and Beauty and Huttons will sponsor the under 16s side this season.

It will see the businesses provide kit and training wear for the girls.

Kelly Teggin, owner of Kelly Teggin Hairdressers, said:

“Kelly Teggin hairdressing have sponsored the team for five years buying a kit every year so they can pass it down so all the age groups have a kit to play in moving forwards.

“Huttons have sponsored the training tops that the girls keep as they have their initials on and they will have them as a keep sake for all the hard work both the parents, team and coaches have put in over the last eight years.”

Pictured above (left to right) Kelly Young, Jaden Rigg, Issy Colbert, Lily Howliston , Lilly perry, Issy stobbs, Grace Denny, Amelia Trougton, Poppy Naylor, Poppy Johnson, Bella Richardson, Camilla Rishton ,Abigail Rushworth, Bella Bere, Freya Welbourne

Council awards Harrogate maintenance contract

North Yorkshire Council has awarded a contract for maintenance of public buildings in Harrogate to a Bingley company.

Europe Air Conditioning Ltd, which is based in Cottingley near Bingley, has been commissioned to cover “reactive call outs” in the area.

The contract is valued at £86,723.47, according to the council website.

It adds:

“This work forms part of legal compliance and is essential for the continuation of business and health and safety of our staff, occupants and public.”

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