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.

Read more:

• Rudding Park unveils golf and country club renovation plan
• Fruit and veg shop to move to Harlow Hill after 50 years in Harrogate

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.”

Read more:

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A new pub is set to open in Starbeck tomorrow with the aim of bringing back a “community feel” to the area.

The Office Ale House, which is based on High Street, will be open from midday to 9pm, seven days a week.

Kevin Jones, owner, told the Stray Ferret that he came up with the idea for the pub after finding he had nowhere to go for a pint after working from home in Starbeck during covid.

He said:

“I wanted somewhere to go for a pint and a chat after work and there was just nowhere that suited me.

“I wanted something with a community feel.”

He added that part of the reason for the name was to create that “after work pint” place that he wanted.

Mr Jones, who now lives in Knaresborough, secured planning permission and licensing for the vacant unit on the High Street in the last year.

Inside the Office Ale House in Starbeck.

With the help of Pete Valentine, owner of Yorkshire Bespoke Renovations, the project was complete within four-and-a-half weeks.

It includes an array of seating and tables, bar stools, USB charging points and speaker system.

Read more:

• Sneak Peek: Cheers! New Harrogate craft beer bar opens
• Sneak Peek: Starling shows off new spacious bar after major renovation

Part of the inspiration was also to create somewhere that both Mr Jones and his partner would feel comfortable going in for a drink.

Mr Jones said:

“It is a comfortable place. It’s somewhere where you feel comfortable walking in. You don’t want to feel intimidated walking in.

“It makes no difference if you are having a pint or a coke.”

The bar area inside the new Starbeck pub.

The pub, which is dog friendly, will offer drinks from a range of local breweries including Roosters, Daleside and Turning Point.

There will also be musicians performing, starting with Christopher Taylor playing an acoustic set this weekend.

The Office Ale House in Starbeck will open tomorrow, Friday, April 7, at midday.

A new kitchen showroom has opened in Harrogate.

Designer Kitchen Direct, which is based in Sheffield, has opened the outlet on Ripon Road.

The company was founded by Mary Major and Dawn Raynor seven years ago and has since expanded to four showrooms and a manufacturing facility in the north east.

It also has showrooms in Staffordshire, Newton Aycliffe and Sheffield.

Gareth Wiseman, a director at Designer Kitchen Direct, said:

“Harrogate was an obvious choice to the directors for a new showroom as Harrogate is a beautiful popular location for retail.

“We chose the location on Ripon Road. It’s a unique spot and building with character with free parking outside.”

A display in the Harrogate showroom.

The showroom will include six displays over two floors.

The Harrogate site will be open seven days a week from 9am until 5pm.

You can find out more here.

Read more:

• Ofsted praise for Harrogate training centre’s new salon-based approach
• ‘Broken’ system prompts closure of Harrogate hair and beauty training school
• Taxidermy displays star in Harrogate’s alternative Easter window

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 dementia care provider is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Vida Healthcare was set up in 2013 and now employs 550 staff and cares for 230 residents across its care homes.

The company currently has homes in Starbeck, Pannal and Harlow Carr.

As part of the milestone, Vida held an awards ceremony and tea party for its staff.

James Rycroft, managing director of Vida Healthcare, said:

“My father and I established Vida to transform the care available to people living with dementia. It was clear at the time that many traditional residential care homes simply didn’t have the resources or expertise to fully support their residents who were living with dementia.

“We set about challenging perceptions and practices in dementia care, with an emphasis on reducing the use of medications and instead providing bespoke environments and alternative therapies. I’m extremely proud of how far Vida has come since we opened the doors to our first care home back in 2013.“

Pictured above left to right: Chris Rycroft, chairman, Bernadette Mossman, healthcare director, Jillian Young, operations director and James Rycroft, managing director at Vida Healthcare.

Harrogate law firm hosts networking event

A Harrogate solicitors is set to hold a free networking event next month.

Ison Harrison Solicitors will host the session at West Park Hotel on Thursday, May 4.

It will be held from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.

The event will include a quiz, networking session and fundraising for charity Harrogate Neighbours.

For more information and to register for a place, visit the EventBrite page here.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Knaresborough pest control company appoints new chief
• Business Breakfast: Masham brewery partners with donor milk charity

A ping pong parlour has returned to Harrogate’s Victoria Shopping Centre.

The attraction, which was set up by Harrogate Business Improvement District, will be open for seven days a week during retail hours.

It includes four table tennis tables and bats and balls are provided.

The BID is funding the free initiative as part of its mission to encourage people to visit town centre shops.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:

“This is ever popular with workers and students alike and evidentially brings people into town. It is open until mid-July before it will take a short break for the Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebrations’ immersive exhibition. It will then return and run through to the autumn.

“Table tennis is a great sport, and anyone can play it, no matter how young or how old. This parlour is for the public to use, free of charge. All we ask is that if there are a lot of people wanting to play, then please be sensible and don’t hog the tables too long. Give others a chance.”

The BID is encouraging people to come along and take part and there will be a monthly competition for those who ‘check in’ through a QR code to win a £50 Harrogate Gift Card.

Read more:

• New chair to take the reins at Harrogate BID
• Harrogate firms prepare to vote on whether to continue funding business group

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.

Harrogate’s Adler and Allan has completed the acquisition of a Lancashire sewer monitoring company.

The environmental firm has acquired Detectronic, which is based in Colne, which specialises in helping customers prevent flooding and pollution.

The company said the move would help it to position itself strategically in the utilities sector and provide asset maintenance, environmental monitoring, and emergency pollution response.

It comes as Adler and Allan agreed a similar deal with Aqua Consultants in February this year.

Henrik Pedersen, chief executive officer at Adler and Allan, said: 

“This is our fourth acquisition in the utilities sector, and sixth overall in the last 18 months. It is a further step in the Group’s ambitious growth plans to support customers with a broader set of environmental challenges including trade effluent, wastewater management and the hugely divisive and the high-profile topic of CSOs. 

“With this latest acquisition, we are cementing our position as a strategic partner to the water industry to manage and monitor their assets through the full lifecycle.”

Neil Butler, managing director at Detectronic, said:

“We are delighted to be joining the Adler and Allan Group.

“The services Adler and Allan offer, combined with its established position in the utilities market, allows us to extend our expert monitoring and management solutions to more companies.”

New showhome in Green Hammerton

A housing company has opened a new showhome at a development in Green Hammerton.

Avant Homes is currently building a £21.5 million 80-home development in the village off the A59 called Ambretone Park.

The Avant Homes showhome at Green Hammerton.

The scheme is set to see a range of three, four and five bedroom homes built.

Now, the company has opened a showhome on the site and at its 154-home development in Easingwold.

Both homes include open-plan living space, kitchen with integrated appliances and boutique bathrooms complete with designer tiling and contemporary sanitaryware.

Dan Hardcastle, Avant Homes North Yorkshire head of sales, said: 

“Following the successful launch of our regional operation, we’re pleased to have opened our first showhomes in North Yorkshire for buyers to view.

“Our developments in Green Hammerton and Easingwold are already making great progress and we would encourage potential purchasers to come and experience our new showhomes first hand.”

For more information on the new homes, visit the Avant Homes website.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Knaresborough pest control company appoints new chief
• Business Breakfast: Masham brewery partners with donor milk charity

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.

Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery has partnered with a baby charity to help support the donation of milk to sick and premature babies.

The brewery is supporting the Human Milk Foundation with a fundraising campaign for the second year running.

The charity provides donor human milk to over 40 NHS hospitals and thousands of families across England and Wales.

Black Sheep will help to raise awareness of the issue by placing a ‘peel and read’ label on its Milk Stout drink in supermarkets, which will direct people to the HMF site with instructions on how to donate.

Charlene Lyons, chief executive of Black Sheep Brewery, said: 

“We’re delighted to once again partner with the incredible people at Human Milk Foundation to launch this fundraising campaign.

“We consider the blood bikers to be real heroes; when they receive the call, they do whatever it takes, day or night, to pick up the donation from the nearest milk bank and quickly but safely transport the milk to the necessary hospital or family in need.”

Natalie Shenker, co-founder and director of the HMF, added: 

“We are delighted to again partner with Black Sheep brewery as we aim to raise further funds to save the lives of sick and premature babies, as well as supporting the ‘blood bikers’ in their incredible efforts.

“The support of Black Sheep has allowed for the expansion of our milk bank operations so we can make safe, screened donor milk available via the blood bikers for hospitals and families across England and Wales.”

Harrogate MP visits local health business

Andrew Jones MP visited a Harrogate business supporting NHS hospitals with patient discharges.

Vivid.Care, which is based at Forest Lane Head, sells rehabilitation and recovery equipment across the UK.

Andrew Jones MP visits Vivid.Care.

The Harrogate and Knaresborough MP visited the firm this past Friday and was shown products which were being given to the NHS.

Tristan Hulbert, managing director of the company, said:

“We wanted to demonstrate just how Vivid.Care products and healthcare solutions help to enable timely patient discharge from hospitals and reduce system costs where possible.” 

Mr Hulbert added:

“We showcased some of our innovative healthcare solutions such as the Raizer lifting chair and our Lento specialist seating range which are being used by healthcare providers across the UK to reduce delays to patient discharge and existing backlogs.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Knaresborough pest control company appoints new chief
• Business Breakfast: Knaresborough finance firm makes three new hires

A Brighton firm has hired 23 former staff members of failed Harrogate telemarketing firm Amvoc after setting up a new office.

The company, which was based at Cardale Park, entered administration on Friday after abruptly closing its offices last month citing “covid debts” as the cause.

Up to 450 people lost their jobs as a result of the move.

However, One Family, a financial firm based in Brighton, said today 23 former Amvoc staff had started work at its new call centre in Leeds on Monday.

One Family was a customer of Amvoc before it entered administration.

Matthew Ellis, sales and marketing director, said:

“We were saddened to hear of the closure of Amvoc, which is a company that we have worked with for three years.

“We were worried about the talented team who had been working so hard for us during that time. We wanted to help them and swiftly put plans in place – sending colleagues to Leeds to find new office space, meet the team, unpack kit and make the seemingly impossible possible. We set up a fully operational call centre in just eight days.

“It was a very quick turnaround, but I’m absolutely delighted to welcome our new Leeds team members to One Family.”

Read more:

• Law firm to represent about 100 staff at failed Harrogate firm
• Hundreds of job losses as Harrogate company goes under
• Collapsed Harrogate firm Amvoc set to enter administration

The move comes as Leeds-based Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency has taken over as administrators of Amvoc.

Director of the firm, Gareth Lewis, and Matthew Russell have been appointed joint administrators.

Law firm Atticus said in the days after Amvoc’s collapse it has been contacted by 145 former employees.

The law firm says it is investigating the circumstances of the company’s collapse and concerns around how the redundancy process was managed, as well as whether ex-staff are eligible to claim for compensation. 

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 specialist health and nutritional supplement shop has opened in Harrogate.

Go Herbs, which is based on Station Parade, offers customers a a wide range of vitamins, natural health products and sports supplements.

The store is overseen by Emilija Krukoniene and Abbie Green, who wanted to create a welcoming, positive and educational experience for customers to learn how they can improve their health, wellbeing and sports performance.

Ms Krukoniene said:

“We are really excited to see our vision coming to fruition as we open our first store in Harrogate and welcome customers. 

“Whilst most of us can get all the vitamins and minerals we need by eating a healthy, balanced diet, sometimes we need a little extra help and so we are looking forward to getting to know the  local community. 

“Health and nutrition is my passion and it has always been a dream for me to  be able to help people look and feel their best by helping them find the best products to support them whatever their goals, with a welcoming in-store experience.”

The store is planning a series of events throughout the year such as Q&A sessions, collaborating  with local groups and organisations, providing expert advice and support alongside high-quality products.

Women’s networking event to be held in Harrogate

A networking event for women in business is set to be held in Harrogate.

The event is organised by She Business UK, which aims to support women within the workplace.

The networking lunch will be held at Co-Lab on Kings Road and will take place from midday until 2pm on Tuesday, April 18.

It will include a discussion led by Fiona Kearns, women’s ambassador at She Business UK.

For more information, visit the networking EventBrite page here.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Knaresborough pest control company appoints new chief
• Business Breakfast: Knaresborough finance firm makes three new hires