It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
Knaresborough housebuilder partners with housing association
A Knaresborough house builder has partnered with a national housing association to build 449 homes.
Ilke Homes has announced the partnership with The Riverside Group, which currently oversees more than 75,000 homes across England and Scotland.
The company is working with the housing association to finalise plans for the homes at a 21-acre site in Kent.
The homes will be a mix of houses and apartments and will be manufactured at Ilke Homes’ factory in Knaresborough.
Subject to planning approval from Thanet District Council, the company hopes to start work at the site in 2024.
Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, said:
“ilke Homes continues to partner with some of the country’s most well-known housing associations, largely in part to our ability to deliver high quality, energy-efficient homes quickly. The Riverside Group, as part of its adopted ESG strategies, has acknowledged the increasing importance of sustainability and our partnership will help future-proof their investment from rapidly changing building regulations and government guidelines.
“We look forward to working with both local planning officials and other stakeholders to progress the proposals through planning to deliver a truly sustainable and well-designed community that will be providing much-needed, high-quality housing for the area.”
Harrogate business group appoints acting chief executive
Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce has appointed an acting chief executive.
Martin Mann, who was vice president of the organisation, has been confirmed to take on the role.
The move comes as current chief executive, David Simister, is seriously ill in hospital..
Mr Mann confirmed on LinkedIn that his new role would not affect is IT support business
Read more:
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- Business Breakfast: Harrogate property specialists move to new office
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate mobile company partners with United States firm
Business Breakfast: Harrogate mobile company partners with United States firm
It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
A Harrogate mobile applications company has announced a partnership with an American telecommunications company.
Mobile Tornado, which is based at Cardale Park, has partnered with Stolz Telecom, which provides telecommunication services to public safety and enterprise sectors in the United States.
The partnership will see the American company act a reseller for Mobile Tornado’s push-to-talk over cellular and workforce management technologies in the US.
Luke Wilkinson, of Mobile Tornado, said:
“We are delighted to be partnering with Stolz Telecom, a highly respected company in its field. This partnership will open up new growth opportunities for Mobile Tornado in the United States.”
Robert Stolz, president of Stolz Telecom, said:
“Our vision is to create safer, more proactive organisations by redefining the boundaries of critical communications.
“We are excited to be able to offer Mobile Tornado’s world-leading solutions to our customers, the people who keep our communities safe.”
Directors group celebrates 120th anniversary
Business leaders across Yorkshire are celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Institute of Directors.
The group was formed in 1903 and granted a Royal Charter in 1906 ‘to represent the interests of members and of the business community to government and in the public arena.
Jon Geldart, director general at Institute for Directors.
To mark its 120th anniversary, IoD members are gathering at their prestigious London headquarters – 116 Pall Mall – on 13 June to celebrate with networking, exhibitions, speeches and a tour of our iconic building.
IoD Director General Jon Geldart said:
“We are very proud of our heritage as the voice for business and directors across the home nations.
“The IoD is also a movement for good, shaping regional and national agendas and influencing policy makers and government.”
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesswoman wins lifetime achievement award
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Business Breakfast: Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate wins King’s Award
It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate has won a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade.
The awards programme is presented by His Majesty King Charles III recognises outstanding UK business.
It has four categories including International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.
Garry Nield, international director for Taylors, said:
“We are honoured to have been recognised with this prestigious Award, especially in the year of His Majesty The King’s Coronation.
“Over the last six years the International Team at Taylors has worked extremely hard and showed unwavering commitment to share our Yorkshire passion for top quality tea and coffee with the world, building genuine, lasting relationships along the way.
“We have overcome challenges such as successfully delivering the adaptation of our packaging in advance of Brexit, not to mention the difficulties presented by the covid-19 pandemic.”
Harrogate BID showcases pop-up garden
Harrogate Business Improvement District showcased a pop-up garden at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show this past week.
The garden was on show for the full four days and was made in partnership with Harrogate International Partnerships.
Harrogate BID Manager, Matthew Chapman with BID Project Manager, Jo Caswell at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show with other representatives.
The arrival of a pop-up garden at the Spring Flower Show, marks Harrogate BID’s launch of this year’s Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration, a two-week long campaign which will run from July 12 to August 4.
Harrogate BID Manager, Matthew Chapman said:
“After winning gold in last year’s Yorkshire in Bloom, and now being named as a finalist in this year’s 2023 RHS Britain in Bloom UK Finals, we are on a roll in helping the town regain its floral crown and are ready to rise to the challenge!
“Harrogate is famed as a floral town, and over the years has won many accolades. Our floral campaign, delivered by BID Project Manager Jo Caswell, is designed to celebrate our floral heritage and international relations.
“This year’s Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration theme will focus on the international connections our great town has around the world, told through a series of unique displays.”
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesswoman wins lifetime achievement award
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate property specialists move to new office
Business Breakfast: Harrogate environmental firm agrees Ministry of Defence contract
It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
A Harrogate environmental firm has agreed a contract to deliver services to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
Adler and Allan, which is based on Station Parade, confirmed the contract with VINCI Facilities to carry out maintenance work across the Ministry of Defence’s fuel infrastructure in the south east.
The work comes as part of the Future Defence Infrastructure contract with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, which oversees the MoD’s estate.
Charles Price, fuel infrastructure director at Adler and Allan, said:
“We look forward to a successful working relationship with VINCI Facilities over the coming years. Adler and Allan is committed to ensuring day-to-day delivery of great customer service and performance across the remit of our work at the 58 MoD sites under VINCI Facilities FDIS Built Estate Contract in the South East.
“Our experience working with MOD facilities across the design, build, installation and ongoing maintenance of fuel infrastructure, and our continued account management and sustainability credentials, positions Adler and Allan as a key supply chain partner for FDIS primes.”
Truth Legal launches new website
A Harrogate law firm has launched a new website.
Truth Legal, which is based on Victoria Avenue, set up the site to make the firm’s services “easily accessible”.
The Harrogate firm specialises in personal injury, immigration, clinical negligence and employment law.
However, the new site also includes information on the company’s professional negligence and business services.
Louis MacWilliam, director at Truth Legal, said in a post on the firm’s site:
“It has been carefully designed to make our wide range of services and free legal resources easily accessible to all.
“And with its open, clean, and vibrant style, we believe it perfectly reflects our values of truth, morality, and the determined pursuit of justice.”
Read more:
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesswoman wins lifetime achievement award
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Business Breakfast: Harrogate branding agency acquires East Anglian company
It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
A Harrogate-based branding agency has acquired an East Anglian company for an undisclosed sum.
Impression Studio, which is based on Albert Street, has made the acquisition of Norwich-based digital marketing firm FLOCC.
The addition of FLOCC will see another two members of staff join the business and add a base in East Anglia.
The company now has 15 staff across two brands, Impression and Next Chapter.
Charlie Hartley, founder and managing director of Impression Studio, said:
“I’m delighted to have added FLOCC to our business. It was clear from initial discussions that the values, expertise, client base and culture of FLOCC aligned so closely with our own, and the skills and capabilities of the existing FLOCC team will add significant value to our offering, and vice versa.
“As a growing and ambitious agency, this acquisition enables us to operate more cohesively in East Anglia, expand the group’s overall service offering, continue to recruit outstanding talent, and inject new life into our service delivery and client services.”
Daniel Swepson, head of marketing at Next Chapter, added:
“We’re really excited to welcome FLOCC’s team and clients to the business and have already identified a wide range of opportunities following the expansion of our service offering and capabilities, which will no doubt be of benefit to Impression, Next Chapter and FLOCC clients alike.”
Harrogate estate agents appoints new head of lettings
A Harrogate estate agency has hired a new head of lettings.
Myrings Estate Agents, which is based on Princes Square, has appointed Georgie Spence to the position.
Ms Spence joins the firm with 10 years experience in the field.
In a Facebook post, Myrings added:
“Georgie joins the team with 10 years of lettings experience, bringing a wealth of knowledge to support and drive the team.
“She is passionate about delivering outstanding customer service and happy to assist Landlords and Tenants throughout their journey with us.”
Read More:
- Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesswoman wins lifetime achievement award
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Knaresborough Pure Gym confirms May opening date
Pure Gym has confirmed it will open in Knaresborough on May 19.
The gym, on the site of the former Lidl supermarket on York Road in Knaresborough, is already inviting locals to sign up for membership.
Pure Gym first revealed it was planning to take on the Knaresborough site last March. In November, it said it planned to be open by March this year but this has been pushed back by two months.
The new gym is set to offer 220 pieces of fitness equipment, certified personal trainers, cardio and weights area and a fitness studio.
The site is set to create nine new jobs and provide free car parking.
A spokesperson for Pure Gym, said:
“We are delighted to be bringing the UK’s favourite gym to Knaresborough.
“Our newest gym will offer members high-quality, low-cost fitness facilities and provide them with access to state-of-the-art equipment to use to achieve their fitness goals whenever they choose.
“We look forward to welcoming new members to PureGym Knaresborough – look out for our opening offer.”
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The York Road site was previously a Lidl supermarket until 2018. During covid, it was used as a vaccination site by Homecare Pharmacy Services until it moved to larger premises on nearby Chain Lane in September.
The Pure Gym in Knaresborough will open at midday on May 19.
Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesswoman wins lifetime achievement awardIt’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
A Harrogate businesswoman has won a lifetime achievement award.
Sue Cawthray, who is chief executive of Harrogate Neighbours, was praised for her service to care catering at the Public Sector Catering Awards 2023.
The ceremony, which was held at the London Hilton Metropole on April 13, saw Ms Cawthray given the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards celebrate the best catering operators working across schools, hospitals, care homes, universities, prisons, catering colleges and the military.
Ms Cawthray said:
“I am absolutely shocked and did not expect it.
“I am just so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to do the job I do every day. I believe at Harrogate Neighbours we make a difference to people’s lives every day.”
She added:
“I have the most amazing team at Harrogate Neighbours who are dedicated and hardworking.
“I am just so grateful for the work they put in as well as their dedication and commitment because we do it together.”
Knaresborough not-for-profit exceeds numeracy scheme targets
A Knaresborough not-for-profit organisation has celebrated reaching its annual target for a numeracy scheme.
Better Connect launched its Multiply programme as part of a government initiative to improve maths skills for people from all backgrounds.
The scheme is scheduled to run for three years.
The organisation has gone on to exceed its targets for the first year of the scheme and have helped over 450 adults across eight districts in North Yorkshire, as well as engaging over 250 local employers to get involved.
Emma Lyons, Multiply programme manager at Better Connect, said:
“We’ve just completed year one, and we’ve absolutely smashed it. There’s been such great provision by such great partners, and we are really excited to move the programme forward on to year two.
“We’ve got even bigger and even better, so watch this space.”
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Business Breakfast: Harrogate property specialists move to new office
It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
Land and property specialist Strutt and Parker has moved to new offices in Harrogate town centre.
The business, which has been based in Princes Square for nearly 50 years, has moved to a new premises at Westgate House on Albert Street.
Nick Bramley, senior director at the firm, said the move will help Strutt and Parker continue to offer a “high quality” service in the district.
He said:
“This is an exciting opportunity for us as a team and reinforces Strutt & Parker long-standing commitment to the town of Harrogate and our business operation across the North of England.
“The location of the new office is fantastic and the space on offer will provide a first-class working environment for our growing team. Having a new office which our team and clients enjoy spending time in will help us to continue to deliver high-quality estate agency and rural services across Yorkshire and neighbouring counties.”
The new office will have 16 staff led by director James Wort who has been helping buyers and sellers move for nearly 25 years.
The Harrogate office also offers land management services to estates, farms and other rural business owners.
Harrogate rental company reports ‘good progress’ despite inflation
A Harrogate-based rental company has reported “good progress” since its last round of results.
In a trading update, Vp, which is based at Central House on Beckwith Knowle, said the firm has shown “resilience and growth” despite soaring inflation and volatile markets.
The update added that it expects to report results for the full year in line with the board’s expectations.
In its last round of results which covered the six months up to September 2022, Vp reported revenues of £186.5 million compared with £176.1 million on the same period last year.
Neil Stothard, chief executive of Vp, said:
“Since we reported our interim results last November, the group has continued to make good progress across our core markets and we are pleased that our performance for the full year will be in line with the Board’s expectations.
“In the period, we have worked hard to successfully mitigate cost inflationary pressures and we believe that the group is well placed to optimise performance in the current environment. We are confident that we will continue to deliver value growth for our shareholders and will be able to react quickly to both challenges and opportunities as specific markets recover.”
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Rudding Park refurbishment plan ‘could generate £14m’, say owners
A plan to renovate a golf and country club at Rudding Park estate could generate an economic benefit of £14 million a year to Harrogate, its owners have said.
The hotel and spa has formally submitted plans to North Yorkshire Council for the project.
It includes proposals to replace the current golf club, upgrade the family hub and create outdoor tennis courts and a pavilion.
It would also see the county’s first five-star country club created and restore the estate’s walled garden.
In documents submitted to the council, estate agents Carter Jonas, which is representing the hotel, said the move would contribute an additional economic impact of £14.3 million a year through employment, suppliers and tourism spend.
Masterplan of the renovations as proposed by Rudding Park.
It would also create 75 new jobs.
Simon Mackaness, owner of Rudding Park, said in a statement to the council:
“This application is an integral part of Rudding Park’s continuing programme for improvement and investment in the facilities so we can continue to fulfil our role as a responsible steward of the estate.
“To remain the jewel in the crown for Harrogate tourism, Rudding Park must develop these high-quality fitness, sports, leisure and recreational spaces to complement the hotel, spa and house and the legacy of the last 50 years development.”
North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
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Business Breakfast: New investor joins Harrogate IT company
It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.
Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.
A new investor has joined an IT hardware company in Harrogate.
Ryan McCarry has made the investment in Intelligent Servers and acquired a minority shareholding in the business amounting to a 14% shareholding with follow-on funding.
Mr McCarry, who founded Sleek Networks and was chairman of Concepta Capital, will also join the firm as a director and chairman of the board.
Andy Hughes, founder and chief executive of Intelligent Servers, said:
“Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge to our business and board. His appointment comes at a time when we plan to expand our services and reach to achieve our revenue target of £22 million in the next three years.
“We are delighted to welcome him to our team and look forward to working closer together.”
Mr McCarry said:
“I am thrilled to be joining Intelligent Servers as a shareholder and chairman. Having worked with Andy over the last year or two I know the company has a great culture, solid foundations, fast growth and huge potential.
“Intelligent Servers is very much a sustainable technology business with strong ESG credentials and significant growth potential in the UK, Europe and globally. The team have a fantastic reputation for delivering high quality services to their clients and we plan to achieve our targets through organic growth and selective acquisitions.”
Knaresborough company sets up employee ownership trust
A Knaresborough company has set up an employee ownership trust.
Consultancy service The Whole Systems Partnership, which is based on York Place, announced the move last week.
Peter Lacey, owner of The Whole System Partnership, and James Wright sign the trust papers.
An employee ownership trust sees staff at a company take shares in the business.
The move will see James Wright, Mark Gregson and Dr Pauline Milne MBE become initial directors of the trust at WSP.
Mr Wright said:
“I have always enjoyed being part of the WSP team and to be part of the management team only makes me more excited for the future.”
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