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.

Now is your time to shine with the Stray Ferret Business Awards. We are encouraging businesses of all sizes from right across the Harrogate district to enter for our awards and get recognition from our top panel of judges. Entries close on January 16.

Harrogate IT service provider Redcentric has posted improved revenues in its interim results.

In the six months to September 2022, the company’s total revenue grew by 38.8% to £61.5 million.

The figure is up from £44.3 million in the same period in 2021.

The results come as the company, which is based on Otley Road, acquired both Sungard Availability Services Ltd the entire issued share capital of 4D Data Centres for £10 million last year.

Peter Brotherton, chief executive officer at the company, said:

“The last six months have been a transformational period for the business, with three acquisitions completed. These acquisitions, together with the two acquisitions completed in the previous financial year, have significantly enhanced our product offerings, and substantially increased run rate revenues from c.£90m to c.£150m.

“The integration of the businesses acquired in the last six months is progressing well, with annualised savings of c.£10m already realised and initiatives underway to deliver a further c.£7m of annualised savings.

“The outlook for organic growth is also favourable, with positive net new business achieved in each of the last six months to 30 November 2022.

“We look forward to building on the success of the last six months and to fully capitalise on the very significant opportunities resulting from the enlarged customer base and increased breadth of products and services.”

Businesses invited to bid for £7m net zero grant schemes

Businesses are being invited to apply for new grants aimed at net zero projects in North Yorkshire.

The move comes as the county is set to be awarded £7 million worth of funding as part of a devolution deal from government.

York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership is running two grant schemes.

One is a £1m project development support scheme, which is aimed at supporting net zero ideas so they are ready to take to investors.

The second grant stream has £6 million of funding and is aimed at delivering net zero projects.

Applications and expressions of interest are open until midday at February 6.

For more information, visit the York and North Yorkshire LEP website here.

Read more:

• Harrogate IT firm makes £10m acquisition
• Ripon business gets Dragons’ Den star endorsement

Now is your time to shine with the Stray Ferret Business Awards. We are encouraging businesses of all sizes from right across the Harrogate district to enter for our awards and get recognition from our top panel of judges. Entries close on January 16.

Benchmark Capital has acquired a majority stake in a Harrogate-based financial and wealth management company.

The Horsham firm has confirmed an agreement is in place for a 51% shareholding in Oculus Wealth Management, subject to approval from the Financial Conduct Authority.

Oculus, which is based on Grove Park Court, offers financial planning and wealth management advice to business owners, professionals and the retired.

The acquisition of the company, an existing Benchmark partner which looks after £2 billion of client assets, will provide Benchmark with a broader range of services.

Ed Dymott, managing director at Benchmark, said:

“We are thrilled to welcome Oculus to Benchmark and provide the support to allow further growth and progression for an already highly successful business. Oculus have been incredibly successful in helping advisers who have previously worked at larger wealth managers and private banks set up their own practices, and we see this as a key growth area in the market.

“Their business-in-a-box model, bringing together Benchmark’s and Oculus services, is a compelling proposition, and we have seen great demand for this offering.

“We have known the team for several years and are excited by the potential for the future with our new partnership.”

Harrogate company customers win awards

A Harrogate-based website company is celebrating after 11 of its customers picked up awards.

Garages Services Online, which is based on Hornbeam Park, builds sites for independent garages as part of a subscription service.

This past year, the company has seen its customers win at the national Top Garage and Top Technician Awards.

Across all seven categories, the company celebrated four of its independent garage customers being category winners, one being a runner-up and one being a finalist.

Meanwhile, five other customers won their respective categories in the Motor Ombudsman Star Awards, Servicesure Awards and GroupAuto Awards.

Among the winners include Shaikly Motor Company in Colchester and Hunters of Linlithgow.

Jim Lang, managing director of Garages Services Online, said:

“We’re incredibly proud to be the company behind the online presence of these 11 award-winning garages.

“They’re all thoroughly deserving of their accolades and have worked incredibly hard to get to this level. A common factor is they all have one of our websites; I’d like to think it’s not just a coincidence.”

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Reed Boardall awarded top ranking for product safety
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate solicitors funds junior staff development
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate law firm makes senior appointment

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.

A Harrogate-based law firm has made a new appointment to its senior team.

Jones Myers has appointed senior family law specialist Neil Dring to lead its office on Victoria Avenue.

Mr Dring joins the firm’s financial remedies department, which is regularly instructed in multi-jurisdictional proceedings and cases involving complex corporate and offshore trust structures.

He said:

“Jones Myers’ standing as an award-winning leader in its field which attracts the best family lawyers is acknowledged on a regional and national level. Its esteemed Children’s Department is also renowned internationally.

“The firm’s ethos of seeking non-confrontational solutions to relationship breakdowns resonates with my approach and values, and I am looking forward to playing a key role in the practice’s continued expansion.”

Richard Peaker, Jones Myers managing partner who heads the financial remedies department, said: 

“Neil is a highly respected and well-known family lawyer whose breadth and depth of experience highly complements our expertise and approach in delivering bespoke solutions for our clients.

“We warmly welcome him to the team as we continue to go from strength to strength in Yorkshire and beyond.”

Harrogate BID to host counter-terrorism workshops

Harrogate BID is set to host counter-terrorism workshops for its members this month.

The workshop will deal with ‘Document Awareness’ and is aimed at those in HR or those responsible for recruitment in their organisations, helping recruiters identify false documentation.

This initiative coincides with an announcement that new counter-terrorism legislation will be introduced for UK venues as a reaction to the 2017 attack at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert.

Bethany Allen, Business and Marketing Executive at Harrogate BID, said: 

“At the same time as Martyn’s Law shores up the UK’s venues against attacks, the BID is partnering with Counter Terrorism Policing North East to help Harrogate’s business stay prepared.

“It essential that criminals seeking unlawful access into an organisation be caught in the recruitment stage, which is exactly what our workshop should help business accomplish.

“The practical workshop is approximately two hours long, and provides detailed training in how to identify document fraud, looking at passports and driving licences, comparing features of real and false documents.”

The workshop will take place on Thursday January 12, between 1.30 and 3.30pm at The Crown Hotel, Crown Place, Harrogate, HG1 2RZ.

BID Members wishing to attend this session should email info@harrogatebid.co.uk.

Read more:

• Business Breakfast: Reed Boardall awarded top ranking for product safety
• Business Breakfast: Harrogate solicitors funds junior staff development

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 Best Independent Retailer Award, which is sponsored by the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

This award recognises the work of independent retailers across the Harrogate district that have survived the pandemic and are now tackling a cost-of-living crisis.

These businesses are truly beating the odds to support customers and make the high street work for them.

Companies looking to enter for the Best Independent Retailer Award need to provide information on the challenges your business faced in 2022, what the business did to overcome those challenges and evidence the success the actions had on the sutainability of the business.

Does your business deserve to win the Best Independent Retailer 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 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 Sustainable Business Award, which is sponsored by the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

This award recognises those businesses that have put sustainability at the top of their agenda.

These businesses are helping drive change and leading the way by reducing their impact on the environment.

Companies looking to enter for the Sustainable Business Award need to provide details of the changes the business has made, the impact the changes have had on the business and wide community with any details of any planned changes.

By giving vital recognition to those who have sustainability at the heart of their business, we hope others will follow their example.

Does your business deserve to win the Sustainable Business 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 Dynamic Leader Award, which is sponsored by Succession Wealth.

This award is designed for those people in the Harrogate district who are driving progress, activity and change in their organisation.

These people have helped guide the business through tough years and are sure to make it thrive in the years to come.

Those looking to enter or nominate need to provide details of how this person leads, including an account of their skills. Also detail how this individual’s style has had a significant impact in the way the business now operates.

Does your boss deserve to win the Dynamic Leader 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.