North Yorkshire County Council has reported a £327,000 loss for its Brierley Group of companies for the last financial year.

The council set up the group in 2017 to bring together council-owned companies and save money.

But the group, which includes housebuilding firm Brierley Homes, NY Highways and Yorwaste, reported the loss for the 2021/22 financial year against a budgeted profit of £324,000.

The group lost £639,000 in the previous financial year and the latest figures have raised questions about the council’s ability to run businesses.

According to a council report, authority officials put the loss down to the “impact of covid and the current and emerging market conditions”.

It remained confident that the Brierley Group would turn around the financial situation and post a profit in 2022/23.

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The council said the overall loss was “driven principally” by two of the companies, Brierley Homes and NYHIghways, posting losses for the year.

However, it added that Brierley Homes’ loss was in line with budget as three of its sites “were in a construction phase during the year” and expected sales were to be realised next year.

The sites include Woodfield Square in Bilton, Millwright Park in Pateley Bridge and Yew Tree Farm in Marton-Cum-Grafton.

NYHighways’ loss was attributed to it being its first year of operation and “higher mobilisation and integration costs”, the report said.

The council report said:

“The expectation is a return to a positive profit after tax position through FY22/23.”

“Brierley Homes will see the sales completion of a number of sites; Woodfield Square, Millwright Park and Yew Tree Farm and NY Highways are now in a stronger position to refine and streamline the business, with other companies in the portfolio like First North Law, Align, NYnet and Veritau building on the successes of FY21/22 with high levels of customer retention and satisfaction as well as additional capacity and expertise into their teams.”

‘Sad state of affairs’

Stuart Parsons

Cllr Stuart Parsons, leader of the Independent group on North Yorkshire County Council, described the loss as a “sad state of affairs”.

He added it would mean less money for vital services.

Cllr Parsons said:

“It’s a sad state of affairs. The company was created by North Yorkshire County Council to generate profits which would be used to support services like adult social care. 

“Expecting North Yorkshire County Council to guarantee this loss means that even less money is available for front-line services.

“North Yorkshire County Council obviously does not have the capacity, nor the ability, to run commercial companies.”

Cllr Gareth Dadd, the council’s executive member for finance, assets and resources, said:

“The Brierley Group includes several companies providing services for us and financially most performed well last year, with some outstripping expectations.

“While we are disappointed the group recorded an overall loss, we recognise the unique set of circumstances  which contributed to the position and are also reflected across the whole of the economy last year. However it should also not be forgotten that the profit or loss a Brierley group company makes is only part of the picture.

“All companies generate a value for North Yorkshire County Council as shareholder and last year the value of this was £5.6m through interest payments to the council alongside contributions towards council service costs.”

“We are confident in the outlook for the future as the group emerges from the challenges of covid and that it will return to a financial surplus in the current year.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate-based Cloud Nine sees turnover rise by a third

Well-known hair tool brand, Cloud Nine, is based in Harrogate and has this week reported a rise in turnover of more than a third.

The firm, based at Hornbeam Park, said turnover increased by more than a third to £35.7m for the year ending December 2021.

It also posted an operating profit of £9.9m, a 39 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.

The company employs more than 60 members of staff at its Harrogate headquarters and said the growth was due to significant growth in Australia, new product launches, and global exposure from its Love Island sponsorship deal.

Chief executive, Martin Rae, said:

“This is a very pleasing set of results, which cements our position as one of the world’s leading sellers of hair styling and beauty products.

“Our Australian business, which grew by over 100 per cent on the previous year, plus the launch of several new products has lifted our turnover and profitability. Over the last few years our online growth has been huge, and this remains a major focus area of our business today.”

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Networking Event Harrogate

The next The Northern Affinity monthly event is being held in Harrogate for first time at the new Wizu Workspace  this Friday.

The Northern Affinity describes itself as “a partnership of SMEs and businesses in the North of England who collaborate with shared values and beliefs”.

There are a few places left for guests . The event starts at 9am.

For more information click here. 

For the first time ever it now costs over £2 a litre to fill up with diesel at a fuel station in Harrogate.

A photo taken outside Texaco on Skipton Road reveals it is the place in the town to have broken the £2 barrier for diesel, with others in Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon heading in the same direction.

Prices at the pump are rising due to increases in the cost of crude oil, which is used to make petrol and diesel.

Diesel in particular has jumped sharply over the last few days. Trade publication Rigzone blames the Russian invasion of Ukraine for a shortage of barrels across Europe this week.

This week’s rail strikes will also see more commuters using their cars which will increase demand and could push up prices.

This month it was announced that it now costs over £100 to fill up a 55-litre family car, which motoring body RAC called a “truly dark day” for motorists.

Read more:

• Petrol station in Harrogate district has joint most expensive fuel in country

• No trains in Harrogate and Knaresborough as strike begins

Where is the cheapest place to fill up?

The website PetrolPrices publishes up-to-date fuel prices at sites across the country.

It says the cheapest place to fill up in Harrogate is at Asda where it’s currently 182.7p per litre of petrol and 190.7p for diesel.

In Knaresborough, it is Co-op Manse Road where petrol costs 188.9 per litre and diesel is 191.1p.

In Ripon petrol is cheapest at BP where it currently costs 188.9p per litre. Esso is the cheapest for diesel at 192.9p per litre.

How has the rise in fuel affected you or your business? email contact@thestrayferret.co.uk 

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Knaresborough barbers celebrates 20 years in business

Knaresborough barber shop, The Barber Asylum, celebrated 20 years in Knaresborough last week with a day of festivity.

The Barber Asylum, on the High Street, was first opened in Knaresborough on Cheapside by Alex Tabor.

After 20 years Mr Tabor has said barbering has definitely changed, with new styles and trends keeping him and his five staff on their toes.

He said:

“It feels good it seems to have gone really quick. We’ve had customers that have supported us from day one, we’ve got to know them really well. We’ve also watched some of our youngest customers grow up and go off to university.”

The shop is looking to hire one or two new barbers currently:

“Covid was a bit of a nightmare, we lost three members of staff. We’ve just recruited EJ but it’s been really bad getting staff. People have moved out of the industry over covid and there’s probably been a bit of a lag with the colleges getting people trained.”

Mr Tabor also owns Bluebeards Barber Shop on Commercial Street which opened 18 years ago.

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Former Harrogate Convention Centre operations head promoted

A former head of operations at Harrogate Convention Centre has taken up a senior post at Leeds First Direct Arena.

Martin McInulty, who has 20 years experience in the industry, will become general manager at the arena.

He said:

“I have lived and worked in Leeds for over 20 years and I have a real passion for the city.

“I started my events career at Leeds Town Hall in 2000. In this time, I have worked at some of the region’s most iconic venues.”

Harrogate Spring Water unveils mindful drinking bar at Royal Ascot

Harrogate Spring Water has opened the first mindful drinking bar at Royal Ascot with celebrity guests.

The company teamed up with wellbeing advocate and former Love Islander Dr Alex George and much-loved bartender from First Dates Merlin Griffiths for the launch.

The reduced and no-alcohol bar was devised after a survey of 2,000 people showed 24% had cut down their alcohol intake post-covid.

The water brand has launched its Drinking Life In campaign with a dedicated platform encouraging people to make the most of their experiences. It also includes mindful drinking tips from Dr Alex George.

Richard Hall, managing director at Harrogate Spring Water, said:

“Our survey clearly shows how adults really are being more mindful about their alcohol intake post-lockdown as they now focus on creating memories from their experiences.

“With that in mind, it’s such a joy to bring people together to connect again at Royal Ascot as we encourage racegoers to make the most of their celebrations.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Ernest Jones jewellery store closes
• Harrogate’s Nelson Inn sold to pub restaurant chain

Harrogate wealth management firm acquired

Harrogate-based wealth manager Gore Browne Investment Management (GBIM) has entered into a deal with Hawksmoor Investment Management.

The merger means Hawksmoors is set to acquire 100% of GBIM. The amount offered has not been disclosed.

While Gore Browne and Hawksmoor will become a single enterprise, the Gore Browne name and offices will be maintained, and the business will continue to use Pershing as its custodian.

The GBIM firm has a reported funds under management of £520 million across its offices.

Chief executive of GBIM, Mark Awkwright, said:

“For some time the Gore Browne board and shareholders have been seeking a partner who was already operating in the private client sector, to invest in our business.

“We selected Hawksmoor as this was the best fit for our clients and our people. It has always been our creed, in an increasingly unapproachable investment world, to put clients first. We have known and respected the team at Hawksmoor for many years and feel confident that together we will continue to deliver an exceptionally high quality, personal service.”

The Ernest Jones shop on James Street in Harrogate has closed.

Removal vans were spotted outside the jewellery store yesterday morning.

The store has been a fixture on James Street for 20 years, having opened in 2002.

Attempts to clear the unit began yesterday morning.

There have been a number of shops opening and closing in Harrogate recently, particularly on James Street.

Last week Oliver Bonas announced its new Harrogate store would open on James Street in September.

Ernest Jones set up in 1949 in London’s Oxford Street and now has more than 100 stores across the UK.

The company did not respond to the Stray Ferret’s enquiries by the time of publication.

Read more:

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• Much-loved Skelton on Ure pub up for sale

Melmerby eco business park set to expand

A business park at Melmerby, near Ripon, has been granted planning permission to build a further three units at its 60-acre site.

The park, owned by Potter Space, is located close to the A1 (M) and has previously won awards for its carbon neutral unit.

The new units will add 70,000 square foot to the site and include solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and cycle stores.

Potter Space operates five business parks across England with a business model that prioritises sustainability, biodiversity and wellbeing.

Jason Rockett, managing director at Potter Space, said:

“We’re pleased to be able to bring our latest investment plans to fruition at our Ripon business park and create more high-quality warehousing and industrial space to meet demand.”

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Nominations open for Knaresborough Business Awards 

Nominations for the first Knaresborough Business Awards are now open.

The awards, which will be held in August, have been organised by Knaresborough Business Collective.

Members of the public can now nominate their favourite Knaresborough business in 15 categories, including business of the year, favourite family run business, favourite group or class and favourite place to stay.

To nominate, click here.

Sainsbury’s supermarket on Harrogate’s Wetherby Road looks set to remove eight manned checkouts to make way for more self-service tills.

Over the past decade, self-service tills have become increasingly the norm for shoppers.

A survey published by The Grocer last year found that manned checkouts were still the most popular choice for both men (42%) and women (39%), but 31% of shoppers now prefer to pay using self-service.

The Stray Ferret understands from a source at the Wetherby Road store, which is the largest supermarket in Harrogate, that it plans to replace eight manned tills with self-service checkouts later this summer.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson confirmed it plans to introduce more self-service checkouts, which it said would meet customer demand for the service.

She said:

“We regularly review the services available in our stores to make sure we offer the most convenient experience to our customers.

“This summer we will slightly increase the number of self-service checkouts at our Harrogate store so that we can meet customer demand for this service.

“Our colleagues are on hand to help anyone who may need support using them and we continue to offer manned checkouts for our customers who wish to use them.”

The spokesperson added that no jobs will be lost in the Harrogate store but staff that did work on the checkouts will be working “in a slightly different way”.

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Self-service checkouts are now ubiquitous in every major supermarket but they are not always popular, particular with older shoppers who like to have a chat with the person serving them.

This year a pensioner in London called Pat McCarthy launched a petition against Tesco, which is also replacing manned tills with self-service checkouts.

At the time of publication, it’s been signed by over 170,000 people.

Ms McCarthy, 69, wrote:

“What used to be a great shopping experience has now become physically difficult, overwhelming, and a ‘nightmare’.

“I love chatting with the staff, albeit briefly, especially as l live on my own. Talking with human staff is important to me. Now that experience has been taken away.”

Oliver Bonas has confirmed it will open a new store on Harrogate’s James Street in September.

The clothing and homeware store will be based in the former Next unit after agreeing a lease for the ground floor, which includes 3,700sqft of space.

The store agreed the lease on James Street with property owners Countrylarge, which is set to unveil proposals to convert the upper floors into serviced apartments.

Antony Rosindale, from Countrylarge, said:

“We’re very excited to be bringing a leading lifestyle brand to the heart of Harrogate town centre and our vision for the building will fully utilise all the existing space. It’s a grand building and we want to ensure that it is all used in the best way possible.”

Oliver Bonas, which was founded by Oliver Tress, opened its first store in London in 1993. It now has 75 outlets in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

This will be its first shop in the Harrogate district, adding to a number of new arrivals on James Street in recent months.

Rumours of its impending arrival began to circulate earlier this year, as reported by the Stray Ferret. Fashion retailer Jules B is also set to open in September in the former Jaeger unit on Cambridge Crescent.

Tom Limbert, Director of niche property consultants, Central Retail, who acted for Countrylarge said: 

“It’s been a pleasure working with Countrylarge and Oliver Bonas is an iconic brand who befits such a majestic building. Having acted for various landlord clients over the past 12 months, we have introduced Pret A Manger, Ebru Evrim and Carl Scarpa to the street and have also upsized Hotel Chocolat.

“James Street has been reinvigorated and its vibrancy has returned to a pre-pandemic state. There are more outstanding high-end retailers destined for the area. The good news is that all units are now fully occupied.

“Oliver Bonas will be a great addition to the existing tenant line up on James Street which truly is one of the best high streets in the north of England.”

Read more:

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• Reservoir parking costs could cause ‘tremendous problems’ on nearby roads

Harrogate solicitors set to expand with office in York

A Harrogate law firm is set to open a new office in York to meet growing demand from clients in the city.

Berwins plans to expand its regional footprint by opening an office in the newly-developed Guildhall. This will be the firm’s fifth office alongside Harrogate, Leeds, Sheffield and London.

Managing director, Paul Berwin, said:

“York is a natural fit for us. As a firm, we have a long track record of supporting businesses and individuals in the area and expanding our presence there will enable us to better serve their needs.”

“As well as supporting clients, committing to a physical office also enables us to fully play our part as a member of the city’s burgeoning business community. That dedication to caring for both client and community is at the heart of the way Berwins has operated since day one and will remain so as we continue to grow as a business.”

Berwins will support clients with a full range of legal advice from commercial matters to dispute resolution, family law to property.

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