Business Breakfast: Harrogate Christmas window competition set to return

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A Christmas shop window competition for businesses in Harrogate is to return this year.

Organised by Harrogate Business Improvement District in partnership with the Rotary Club of Harrogate, the contest is set to include awards for large retailer, medium retailer and small retailer.

The competition, which is returning for its third year, promotes town centre shopping and broadcasts the ‘shop local’ message in the run up to Christmas.

The competition is limited to 50 entrants within the BID Levy area. Before dressing their windows, participants are asked to take into account the following criteria:

Sara Ferguson, chair of Harrogate BID, said: 

“We are delighted to announce the return of the Harrogate Shop Window Competition, once again in partnership with the Rotary Club of Harrogate.

“The town was beautifully presented last Christmas, with scores of retailers getting in the festive spirit and entering the competition. With the return of the competition, as well as our dazzling Christmas lights, Harrogate will very soon be looking at its absolute best.”

The competing retailers must have their windows completed by 8am on Tuesday, November 29 in time for shortlisting, with judging taking place on Thursday, December 1, between 3.30pm and 8pm.

The awards will be presented at prize giving ceremony being held on Tuesday, December 6, at the West Park Hotel.

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Ripon BID helps local businesses make savings

Businesses in Ripon have made nearly £30,000 worth of savings following the introduction of a support scheme nine months ago.

Ripon Business Improvement District launched the savings scheme with Place Support Partnership in an effort to help local firms.

To date, Ripon BID says they have identified £29,829 of savings against the project with several businesses taking on their advice and contracting services or renegotiating with their suppliers.

Helen Thornton, director of Ripon Museum Trust said 

“Ripon Museum Trust has just fixed its utility contracts in the most challenging of circumstances with the help of Rishi Sood from Place Support Partnership provided by the Ripon Business Improvement District. Rishi came to see us and gave us very level-headed and honest advice. 

“All the usual norms of the market for buying gas and electricity have basically flown out of the window recently and none of us in the trust are remotely qualified to understand the market – except we all knew it was going to be a pretty terrifying price.”

A final round of visits from PSP will be announced in the New Year, but businesses are urged to register their interest now via info@riponbid.co.uk.

Business Breakfast: Spotlight on state of business at Harrogate chamber meeting

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

The current state of business will be in the spotlight at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting tonight.

Held at the Double Tree by Hilton in Harrogate, the meeting will hear from Paul Mount, Bank of England deputy agent for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Mr Mount, who lives in South Yorkshire, is one of 12 regional agents who engage with business and public sector leaders to understand the environment they face, and to explain the policy stance and work of the bank.

David Simister, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said: 

“We are delighted to have Paul joining us for our November meeting, when he will give an economic update and speak about the true state of business in the UK.

“With the current state of the economy, many businesses are finding themselves under extreme pressure, and in the last week alone we have sadly learned of the closure of a number of Harrogate restaurants.

“With all the resources of the Bank of England at his fingertips, Paul will tell us exactly what the future holds in store for us.”

Doors open at 5.30pm for open networking with the meeting proper commencing at 6.15pm.

Chamber members and first time guests from the local business community are asked to register their attendance in advance on the Chamber website here.

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Masham brewery partners with Doncaster Knights

A Masham brewery has announced a partnership with Doncaster Knights RFC.

The partnership will see Theakston become the Knights’ exclusive cask partner for the next three years, with the brewery’s Old Peculier ale having been introduced to the club’s concourse bar, now renamed the Theakston bar.

The high-profile partnership will support the Knights’ ambitions of reaching the Premiership by increasing the team’s visibility throughout Yorkshire and helping to attract more punters into its bar.

The Theakston bar at Doncaster Knights.

The Theakston bar at Doncaster Knights.

It marks the latest partnership for the family-run brewery, which has long supported sport across the region, having sponsored the Voneus Village Cup, the Nidderdale Cricket League and Ripon Rugby Club.

Simon Theakston, joint managing director at Theakston Brewery, said: 

“With almost 350 years of combined history, Theakston and Doncaster Knights are two Yorkshire institutions which have not only stood the test of time but evolved in order to find continued success. 

“Given our heritage and shared love for God’s Own Country, the partnership made perfect sense.”

Elliott Horan, head of commercial and media at Doncaster Knights, added: 

“We’re proud to be Yorkshire’s highest ranked rugby union club and we wanted a partner whose values fit with our own.

“As a brewery with almost 200 years of brewing expertise, and a fantastic range of cask ale products on offer, partnering with Theakston was a no-brainer. We’re really proud to have such a strong Yorkshire brand backing us, helping us to fly the flag for the White Rose and support us as we look to secure promotion to the Premiership.”

Furnish and Fettle to close Harrogate showroom at end of the year

The owners of Furnish and Fettle have announced they are to close their Harrogate showroom.

Glyn and Eleanor Goddard said changes in the marketplace with more online shopping and rising costs led them to make the decision to shut the branch on Crescent Road.

The showroom will close at the end of the year. 

All staff will be moved to the branch in Wetherby. The business has also taken on additional storage and workshop space at Thorp Arch as part of the move.

Mr Goddard said a significant change in footfall was part of the decision to shut the showroom.

He said:

“Footfall has changed dramatically over the past couple of years and the marketplace has polarised.

“The more price-sensitive shoppers are increasingly turning to the internet, while at the other end of the spectrum are people looking for expertise and service, and these are the majority of our clients. 

“With rising costs, it just makes no sense to have two showrooms so close to each other, so we have taken the opportunity of a break in our lease to refocus how we can best serve our clients.”

The business has also invested in new, larger vans to make delivery of larger pieces of furniture easier.

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It is also looking to recruit an additional experienced interior designer and a tradesperson to work as part of the installations team. 

Mrs Goddard said:

“This is a really exciting time, we have seen a huge increase in the projects side of our business, while the retail side has become a bit of a distraction. 

“Both our Wetherby and Pocklington showrooms will continue to display inspirational room sets and will still feature pieces that can be bought there and then, but they will mainly serve to showcase design ideas and our bespoke craftsmanship. 

“Yes, it is a bit sad to be leaving Harrogate, especially as we are in such a beautiful building, but our Wetherby showroom is less than 10 miles away and this move just makes sense on every level.” 

Knaresborough set for Winter Fayre and Christmas window contest

A Winter Fayre and Christmas window competition is being held in Knaresborough in December as part of continuing efforts to boost the town.

The event, which is being organised by Knaresborough Business Collective, follows on from the success of the Spring Fayre in April.

Annie Wilkinson-Gill, from The Crystal Buddha, and Natalie Horner, from Sid Horner and Son, founders of the business group, said the event would feature a host of exciting attractions.

They will include children’s rides, a Father Christmas grotto,  live entertainment and music, food and drink stalls and craft workshops, as well as a local artisan market.

The fayre will take place on December 10 from 10am until 4pm on Knaresborough Market Place.

To accompany the event, the group is also hosting a Christmas window competition, which will see businesses in the town create displays with a festive theme before December 9. Prizes will be awarded to the top three best dressed windows.

Ms Wilkinson-Gill said:

“We are so excited to see all your fantastic efforts for Christmas. Knaresborough’s window displays are becoming a tourist attraction for visitors. They are so fantastic, and of course everybody wants to get their hands on one our prestigious trophies!”

The Winter Fayre will take place the week after the Knaresborough Christmas Market weekend on December 3 and 4.

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Business Breakfast: Executive search firm moves to Harrogate’s Windsor House

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A n executive search firm the global chemical, medical and industrial sectors has moved into Harrogate’s Windsor House.

George Thomas, which was founded in 2018, helps with recruitment for senior management, executive and c-level placements.

The company has joined more than 115 other businesses in Windsor House, the former Grand Hotel, on Cornwall overlooking the Valley Gardens.

Thomas Flaherty, director of George Thomas, said: 

“We are delighted to have recently moved into Windsor House, the building is the perfect location for us to operate in and offers us all the facilities we need to run our business.”

Windsor House is undergoing major refurbishment to its ground floor, which is seeing its communal areas modernised and the creation of new co-working spaces.

Karen Winspear, property manager at Boultbee Brooks which manages the building, said: 

“We are delighted to welcome George Thomas and his 14-strong team to Windsor House.

“The company, our latest tenant, chose Windsor House because of the quality of office space, affordability, its proximity to the town centre, and onsite car parking.”

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Grantley Hall wins best countryside hotel award

Grantley Hall has won a national award for best countryside hotel.

The hotel near Ripon picked up the award as part of the Condé Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence 2023.

Condé Nast set up the scheme to “acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across our recommended properties”.

Grantley Hall posted on its social media:

“This would not have been possible without our loyal guests and our incredible staff. 

“Thank you to all who voted for Grantley Hall.”

New Pannal business park rejected

Senior Harrogate councillors have rejected plans for a new business park in Pannal as the proposal was “not viable without significant support”.

Harrogate Borough Council’s cabinet last night put the brakes on the proposals for a site off the A61 Leeds Road between the railway line and Crimple Beck.

Councillors also paused plans for a redevelopment of Dragon Road car park in Harrogate and agreed to progress with a housing plan for the Harlow Nursery site provided a new nursery is found.

It comes after council-appointed consultants BDP and Colliers undertook a study to come up with options for three brownfield sites under the Harrogate district Local Plan 2014-35.

Cllr Tim Myatt, cabinet member for planning at the council, told a meeting last night he was not comfortable with the standard of the design for the Pannal proposal.

He said:

“The options presented, which aren’t viable without significant support, are not up to a standard design with which I can feel comfortable.

“There seems little hope to producing something to the quality that I believe the site needs. I will therefore propose that we do not progress with options for the site.”

He also recommended that the employment site be removed from the local plan “at the review stage or during the creation of a new local plan on a North Yorkshire Council geography”.

The proposed layout of the employment site along the A61 near Pannal

The proposed layout of the employment site along the A61 near Pannal.

An officer’s report said the site could be used for high-tech manufacturing, research and development, or business headquarters. Buildings would be up to three storeys and 5,000m sq in size.

The total office space allocated for the site was 10,000m sq alongside 31,500m sq of industrial space.

The officer’s report acknowledged that any development of the site was likely to take place after Harrogate Borough Council is abolished next spring, when the new North Yorkshire Council comes into effect.

Dragon Road redevelopment paused

Meanwhile, senior councillors also decided to pause plans for development on Dragon Road car park in Harrogate.

The site could be used to create affordable flats or extra care housing.

However, Cllr Myatt proposed that the council should ensure that “adequate parking for Harrogate Convention Centre associated vehicles take primacy over site redevelopment”.

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He added that the council should “pause consideration of this site until it is clear that the Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment will be able to accommodate exhibition traffic on site”.

The cabinet did, however, approve plans to procure technical drawings and surveys into how infrastructure for the Nidderdale Greenway cycle route, which passes through the car park, could be improved.

Cllr Myatt said:

“We do certainly want to see improvements to the cycle path.

“But greater development isn’t possible until the site’s role as a car park for Harrogate Convention Centre traffic has been explored during Harrogate Convention Centre redevelopment.”

Harlow Nursery housing

The council approved plans to press ahead with housing for the site at Harlow Nursery provided a replacement nursery is found.

Cllr Myatt recommended that any sale of the site was “contingent on the relocation of the existing council nursery”.

Consultants hired by the council came up with two options for the site this year. The first option was to build a mix of 57 family homes and flats. The second was to build 62 homes and flats with smaller gardens.

Harlow nursery council

The Harlow Nursery site in Harrogate.

A report before councillors recommended the 62-home option and invites expressions of interest for the land before proceeding to tender for a conditional sale.

Cllr Myatt told councillors:

“On Harlow Nursery, we must make sure that a successful nursery relocation is prioritised and that should be explicitly referenced in our recommendations.”

Harrogate BID manager to remain in post

Harrogate Business Improvement District has confirmed that manager Matthew Chapman will remain at the organisation.

Mr Chapman announced in September that he was due to leave the BID to take up a position at North Yorkshire Council.

However, the organisation has now confirmed that Mr Chapman will no longer be leaving.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID chair said: 

“Following a change of heart, Matthew Chapman will now not be leaving Harrogate BID.

“This is extremely good news for us and Harrogate town centre businesses, and we look forward to continuing the relationship developed over the last 18 months.”

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Mr Chapman, who took up the role in May last year, was previously Leeds BID operations manager in 2016 before becoming Huddersfield’s BID manager in November 2019.

Businesses within Harrogate’s town centre pay the BID 1.5% of their rateable value a year on top of their usual business rates.

Harrogate BID brings in around £500,000 from local firms, which it spends on projects to improve the town centre and increase the number of visitors.

During Mr Chapman’s 18 months in Harrogate, BID campaigns include power washing 80,000 square metres of the town centre, painting drab walls with colourful murals and buying more than 500 pieces of outdoor furniture for businesses to use.

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough marketing agency makes three new appointments

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A Knaresborough marketing and PR agency has announced three new appointments amid continued growth.

Allott and Associates, which has offices at Claro Chambers, has made the recruitment after securing new accounts from both UK and international companies.

Emily Evans has joined as an account manager, Beth Hamby as a PR executive and Josie Bridson as a marketing assistant.

Emily said:

“I’m thrilled to be part of the Allotts team. 

“Despite these challenging times the company is going from strength to strength. I love the can-do philosophy that helps clients get the best results.”

Director Carol Rees said: 

“I’m so pleased to be welcoming Emily, Beth and Josie to Allotts and I’m confident that they will make valuable contributions to the continuing success of the agency.

“Despite the challenges both at home and abroad, we continue to invest in all aspects of the business to deliver effective and fully integrated PR and marketing campaigns, which are enabling our clients to continue winning new work in multiple market sectors.”

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Harrogate Bus Company to mark remembrance

Harrogate Bus Company has announced that its buses will adorn commemorative poppies to mark this year’s Remembrance Day.

The poppies will be prominently displayed on the front of buses on routes covering hundreds of miles every day across the Harrogate district and into West Yorkshire.

ictured from left are: Terry Wood, President, Royal British Legion; veterans Brian Whittaker and John Mainland; and Transdev engineers Patrick Mclaughlin and Stephen Buckley.

Pictured from left are: Terry Wood, President, Royal British Legion; veterans Brian Whittaker and John Mainland; and Transdev engineers Patrick Mclaughlin and Stephen Buckley.

The company will also provide free travel on Remembrance Day this Friday (November 11) and Remembrance Sunday (November 13) to all current service personnel with forces ID, and to veterans in uniform or with their medal.

CEO of parent firm Transdev, Alex Hornby said:

“With financial challenges currently affecting many veterans and their families in the communities we serve, it’s more important than ever that we continue our support for the excellent work done by the Royal British Legion.

“We hope that by prominently showing our support for the Poppy Appeal on our buses, many of our customers will join us in contributing to this excellent cause.

“We want to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, and to support those living with the impact of conflict today. All our teams at our depots across the North are fully behind this.”

Harrogate BID cleaning ‘grot spots’ ahead of Christmas

Harrogate Business Improvement District has started a town centre clean up ahead of Christmas celebrations.

Crews have been steam cleaning and power washing ‘grot spots’ across the town.

The targeted areas include Parliament Street, Cambridge Crescent, Oxford Street, James Street, John Street, Albert Street and Station Square.

Christmas will see an ice rink in Crescent Gardens, the return of the Candy Cane Express, Harrogate Christmas Fayre, a shop window competition, an observation wheel and free parking.

The BID charges town centre businesses a levy, which it uses to improve the town centre and increase footfall.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID chair, said: 

“With the countdown to Christmas well underway, we want Harrogate to be looking at its best, hence deploying our cleaning team.

“Using low water volume, high pressure steam cleaning, they are working evenings this week tackling high footfall areas. And with Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday just days away, the team are also cleaning paths and street furniture around the town centre war memorial.”

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The work of the cleaning team, from UK Nationwide Cleaning, compliments the efforts of street ranger Chris Ashby, whose daily regime includes power-washing, weeding, painting and litter-picking.

Business Breakfast: Reed Boardall awarded top ranking for product safety

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Boroughbridge firm Reed Boardall has achieved top ranking for its product safety and best practice.

The Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standard audit awarded the company an AA+ rating.

The certification entails an annual audit covering compliance in hazard and risk analysis, vehicle operating standards, product quality and safety management.

Vicki Rushworth, site quality manager at Reed Boardall, said: 

“This industry-leading accreditation provides another layer of reassurance for our customers, adding the benefit of visibility of food safety and integrity in the supply chain. 

“It also reduces some of the audit burden on customers as the BRCGS seal of approval assures them of Reed Boardall’s compliance.

“To elect for a 20-hour unannounced audit as we did, is a demonstration of total confidence in the robust systems we have in place and that the site operates to the BRCGS’s rigorous standards of product safety 24/7.”

Marcus Boardall, chief executive of Reed Boardall, added: 

“Over the last 30 years, Reed Boardall has played an active role in driving up standards within the food industry.

“Our latest BRCGS AA+ rating gives customers the additional peace of mind of knowing that the most rigorous procedures for ensuring product safety are embedded in our business and that we are committed to continuous quality improvement.”

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Harrogate law firm founder to retire

The founder of Harrogate law firm Jones Myers is set to retire after a 42-year career.

Peter Jones founded the company back in 1992 as the sole practitioner specialising in marital difficulties.

He soon attracted fellow family lawyers, who shared his ethos in resolving relationship breakdowns in a non-confrontational and constructive way.

Peter Jones, founder of Jones Myers Family Law.

Peter Jones, founder of Jones Myers Family Law.

The law firm now has offices on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate, as well as in Leeds and York.

Mr Jones was also a founder member and former national chair of Resolution, the national association of family lawyers which now has over 6,500 members.

He also chaired its accreditation committee, which remains at the forefront of developing high academic standards and promoting excellence in family law.

Appointed a Deputy District Judge, Mr Jones served in that judicial capacity for 15 years, during which time he also lectured nationally in family law. He qualified in 2012 as one of the country’s first Family Law Arbitrators.

Mr Jones said:

“It has been a privilege to play a part in the evolution of family law since qualifying in 1980 and to have made a real difference to the lives of the valued clients.

“I am immensely proud of the development and expansion of Jones Myers and the consistently high quality of its constructive guidance and client support. The firm has a reputation for attracting the best family lawyers in its field and I am confident of the practice’s continued success as it goes from strength to strength.”