Two appointments at Roecliffe pub

A new chef and general manager have been appointed at the Crown Inn in Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge.

The 16th century coaching inn was bought by the Coastal and Country Inns Group in September 2020 and was subsequently refurbished.

The group has hired chef Paul Murphy, who previously helped to establish the Timble Inn near Otley into a five-star hotel. He also worked with fellow chef Frances Atkins at the Michelin-starred Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge.

Paul Bennington will also join the team as general manager.

Mr Binnington, who first teamed up with Paul Murphy at the Station Inn in Birstwith, previously ran the Black Lion in Thirsk.

Chris Hannon, managing director of Coastal and Country Inns, said:

“These two appointments are crucially important for the future of the Crown. The two Pauls, who are both very experienced and very talented, are a true dream team. They work brilliantly together.”

Harrogate’s Duchy Hospital sends medical supplies to Ukraine

The Duchy Hospital in Harrogate has worked alongside a UK-based Ukrainian Doctor to deliver more than 110 tonnes of medical supplies to Ukraine.

Working with the Ukrainian doctors’ union and the British Red Cross, the Duchy Hospital has identified the supplies needed by war-hit hospitals.

The Duchy Hospital is one of 53 Circle Health Group hospitals that has stockpiled supplies such as ventilators, crutches, respiratory masks, scrubs, wound kits and operating tables for Ukrainian hospitals.

The latest delivery contained £185,500 of medical equipment loaded on 35 pallets.

Staff and doctors at Duchy Hospital have raised additional funds with a bake sale, food collection and a 12-hour continuous cycle, which have raised more than £2,000.

Harrogate-based marketing agency to represent Henry vacuum brand

Harrogate digital marketing agency Extreme has won a contract to handle marketing for the Henry vacuum brand.

The Henry brand, which is known for colourful vacuums with faces, is manufactured by Numatic International.

The Harrogate team will focus on search engine optimisation, pay per click and paid social advertising.

James Brunyard, client services director at Extreme said:

“We’re really excited to have the chance to work with such a legendary brand. Henry is an icon and one we’re all familiar with, so our team is revelling in the opportunity to help get these products in front of new audiences in a variety of creative ways.”

Extreme has worked with other well-known brands, such as Nisa and Black Sheep Brewery.

Harrogate Borough Council supports free Federation of Small Businesses membership

Harrogate Borough Council is giving 200 businesses the opportunity to have a fully-funded membership to the Federation of Small Businesses.

The offer is available to those who are self-employed, as well as to micro and small businesses with up to 250 employees in the Harrogate district.

FSB members gain access to a range of services, including legal help, advice on cyber protection, free banking and help to access funding.

This is another scheme funded by the government’s covid business recovery funding. Last week, the council announced it was supporting free memberships to the Institute of Directors for all small and medium sized businesses in the Harrogate district.

Trevor Watson, the council’s director of economy, environment and housing, said:

“FSB membership will offer up to 200 businesses with employment advice and protection and one-to-one legal advice, and a wide range of benefits from the FSB, which should help speed their recovery from the crisis.”

Carolyn Frank, development manager York & North Yorkshire, FSB, said:

“We are seeing more demand than ever for our services as small businesses and the self-employed find themselves needing advice and guidance, financial support and a powerful collective voice with government.

“We are very grateful to Harrogate Borough Council for their support, they have rightly identified the importance of the smallest businesses to the local economy and we look forward to supporting these businesses by welcoming them to the FSB.”

Business who are not already members of the FSB can apply via email by contacting Nick.Bradley@fsb.org.uk with the reference ‘HBC’. They will be then be contacted by a membership advisor who will help them unlock the funding and sign them up to start using the benefits.

Rail campaigner Brian Dunsby has said his pleas to reinstate the cancelled 6.07am train from Harrogate to Leeds have been ignored by publicly-owned rail operator Northern.

The Stray Ferret reported last month that the weekday service — the first of the day — will be axed from May 15. Some evening services will also be cut.

Mr Dunsby, of Harrogate Line Supporters Group, branded the move ‘disgraceful’ and called for a rethink. He said the service is vital for commuters and voiced his concern that losing it will damage Harrogate’s business community.

Since the decision, he said he’s been lobbying Northern as well as Transport for the North and local Conservative MP Andrew Jones, but he’s been left disappointed.

He said:

“There’s been no progress at all. It’s quite unjustifiable. We can’t understand why they are cancelling them. It’s very unsatisfactory.”

Northern blamed lower passenger numbers, issues with rolling stock and staffing problems for the cuts, which has seen a raft of services across Yorkshire withdrawn.

Read more:

• Northern to continue with Harrogate train cuts despite pressure from MP
• Early morning train from Harrogate to Leeds cancelled

Northern will put on a bus to replace the lost early train service from Harrogate to Leeds, but it could be December at the earliest until Northern will look at reintroducing the rail service. Mr Dunsby said this was “not good enough”.

He added:

“That’s eight months away. People need this train for business trips.”

Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern, said:

“Customers are at the heart of everything we do, and the new timetables are designed to deliver high levels of reliability.

“We’ve made decisions about our timetables based on the levels of resource we have available and prioritising the routes with the highest customer demand, and which support the region’s economic growth.”

Knaresborough car finance company shortlisted for four awards

Oracle Car Finance, based in Knaresborough, has been shortlisted at the Car Finance Awards.

The prestige, sports and classic car company has been shortlisted in the following categories:

• Best Car Finance Company to Work For
• Customer Service Excellence
• Rising Star
• Best Specialist Car Finance Provider

Peter Brook, managing director, says:

“Having been voted best specialist car finance provider in 2020 and 2021 we are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for a third year running.”

Fran Irvine celebrates 25 years at Harrogate Ladies College 

Fran Irvine started at Harrogate Ladies’ College in 1997 as a PE teacher.

Since then she has been promoted to assistant head and has now celebrated 25 years at the independent school.

Talking about her time at the school, Ms Irvine said:

“I’ve stayed at Harrogate Ladies’ College for such a long time because the teaching is so rewarding, and there’s such variety in the job — both coaching many different sports and abilities, and taking care of the Middle School pupils in her care, academically and pastorally.

“I love seeing the pupils progress from Year 7 all the way through to upper sixth when they are ready to leave and embark on the next part of their journey.”

Fran Irvine

Woods of Harrogate, one of the town’s oldest businesses, had a celebration today to mark its 127th anniversary.

Since the company was set up in 1895, it has expanded into Woods Fine Linens and William Woods Interior Design.

The family business began with William Ernest Woods, who opened the first linen shop after watching his father, George Woods, weave linen at the local flax mill in Knaresborough.

Since then it has been managed by multiple members of the Woods family. William Woods, grandson of the founder, currently runs the venture alongside his daughter and son-in-law.

The shop has been on Prince Albert Row since 1927

The shop, which describes itself as one of the finest linen shops in Europe, has supplied the royal family since 1923.

William Woods said:

“The quality that we have and the range makes us the finest. You can have over 100 different bed linen colours made to order in  in three weeks and not many shops can do that.”

Inside is a vast array of goods from around the world including a selection of showrooms arranged by interior design director Sarah Woods.

Read more:

• Interior designer selling her Harrogate home after huge transformation
• Display of 1,300 clay poppies takes over Himalayan Gardens

Some of the old traditions remain intact. For example, the building on Prince Albert Row has workshops where all furnishings and designs are produced in-house and purchases are still wrapped in brown paper and string.

The building itself hosts the oldest lift and exterior clock in Harrogate. The clock was installed on the building when Woods moved from Princes Square in 1927.

These days Woods has an online presence, allowing customers worldwide to purchase traditional and modern styles.

The company employs 16 staff and plans to keep the family’s history and reputation at its centre.

Free business group memberships available to Harrogate district SMEs

The Institute of Directors is offering free memberships to all small and medium sized businesses in the Harrogate district.

The IoD provides advice, discounted professional development and events to businesses and also lobbies government.

The free memberships are being offered with the support of Harrogate Borough Council, using government covid recovery funds.

The IoD, which was founded in 1903, has 20,000 members.

Caroline Pullich, chair of IoD North Yorkshire, said:

“The IoD exists to supports members to become better directors and develop their businesses.

“We look forward to hearing from directors in the Harrogate district and welcoming them to our community.”

To be eligible, directors must work for an SME business based in the Harrogate district and not have held an IoD membership within the previous two years from the date of enquiry. A maximum of two memberships are available per eligible business.

To apply email senior branch manager Helena.drake@iod.com.

Harrogate funeral directors partner on annual conference 

Full Circle Funerals, which is based in Harrogate, is the lead partner for this year’s annual conference of Leeds Bereavement Forum.

Next month’s conference will focus on the Lancet Commission’s recent report The Value of Death: bringing death back to life.

Held on May 19 at the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds, the event includes talks with experts including palliative physician Dr Ros Taylor MBE.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Odeon cinema up for sale for £7m
• How Stean Gorge plans to expand under new management

The Half Moon pub in Knaresborough has been sold.

The free house on Abbey Road has been bought by Trust Inns, a Chorley-based company that owns nearly 500 pubs in England, Scotland and Wales.

The landmark pub is close to the town’s Low Bridge and has been extensively refurbished in recent years.

A team from the Half Moon takes part in the annual tug-of-war competition over the River Nidd against punters from nearby Mother Shipton’s Inn, although the event has been cancelled for the last two years due to covid.

Trust Inns tweeted news of its new purchase today, and included a photo of the pub’s new landlord, Tom.

https://twitter.com/trustinnsuk/status/1518969438405632002?s=20&t=fejl1LtYkJh3DBFS29WLXA

Read more:

• Bank machines to be fitted in Knaresborough Library building
• Calls for archeological survey into Knaresborough’s Roman past

Businesses in Yorkshire’s tourism industry are being invited to an online event to ask them what they want from a new tourism organisation.

In March the troubled tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire went into administration as council leaders withdrew funding for it.

The Yorkshire Leaders Board, which is made up of local authority leaders, says there now needs to be a new approach to marketing the county. It plans to set up a new organisation to replace WTY and will meet in May to agree a timeline for its creation.

In a statement on the new website Yorkshire Tourism it said:

“We would like to ensure that Yorkshire’s tourism and hospitality businesses, and local destination managers are involved in the development of this organisation. We believe in the power of collaboration and open communication, and look forward to creating a more positive future for the Yorkshire tourism industry.”

If you want to be part of the free Zoom discussion contact Yorkshire Tourism here. 

Property firm, Artium Group, launches in Harrogate

A new Harrogate firm specialising in property development, investment, construction, and asset management is to launch.

Artium Group is headed by property developer Thomas Shotton and chartered surveyor Sam Colley, owner of Ousebank Consultancy.

The firm will have three subsidiaries; Artium Investments, Artium Construction and Artium Asset Management.

The pair have already secured projects totalling almost £30m in gross development value including two high-end residential conversion schemes, a leisure conversion with a rooftop in Harrogate and a residential new build scheme in York.

Mr Colley said:

“We are thrilled to announce the establishment of Artium Group.

“Operating initially in Yorkshire and the Humber, we are positive about the prospect of owning and operating a portfolio, focussing on occupiers and their requirements which drive quality throughout and give our investors added confidence.”

Harrogate Wedding & Events have been awarded the Regional Wedding Award for the Décor category.

Its partner business, DJMikeRobson, won the Regional Wedding Award for the DJ category.

The business, which provides wedding services in Harrogate, won the award for within the Yorkshire and North East region.

It was presented by the Wedding Industry Awards for the year 2022.

The awards bring together businesses in the wedding industry from across the UK and are held every year in London.

Ina Robson, owner of Harrogate Wedding & Events, said:

“We are delighted to receive the award and pride ourselves on excellent customer service. To know this award is also driven from customer feedback, means a lot to us.

“The industry itself has had a very difficult few years, but we are now looking forward to a bright future.

“I would like to thank all our clients and DJs for all of their support over the last year, and for helping to make our businesses a great success.”

New managing director appointed at Ripon BID 

Lindsay Elizabeth Mcphearson Austin has been appointed as managing director at Ripon BID.

News of the appointment was recently published on Companies House.

The appointment replaces former directors Sheila Webb and Sarah Blenkinsop.

There are currently twelve active directors as a part of the Ripon BID.

BIDs, which are funded by a levy on local firms,  aim to increase visitor numbers to towns and cities.

Real Food Harrogate asks for local food producers to join market

Real Food Harrogate market, Crescent Gardens

Real Food Markets is looking for independent food producers to join its Harrogate market.

The not-for-profit organisation operates in both Harrogate and Ilkley and supports local, independent and speciality producers.

Real Food Harrogate is run by a selection of traders and volunteers on Crescent Gardens on the third Sunday of each month from 10-3pm.

Set up in 2022 with the support of Harrogate BID and Harrogate Council, the market has gradually expanded in size.

Now, organisers are looking for local food producers to take part in Real Food Harrogate.

To join their group of traders and volunteers, you can find out more information here. 

Read more:

• Bettys and Taylors win Queen’s Award for Enterprise
• ‘Right’ for commons to investigate MPs, says Harrogate MP

Send us your firm’s business news and we’ll publish it.  Business Breakfast is a daily round-up of all things related to business and the economy in the district. Get in touch at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk

Harrogate Chocolate Factory will be hosting an informal business networking event on Monday.

Coffee and cake will be included, with a tour of the chocolate factory.

The event will run from 9:30am on Monday 25 April and will all be completely free of charge for anyone wanting to attend.

Attendees are free to bring a guest, and are asked to reserve a place by emailing Angela at the factory at angela@hs4lc.org.uk.

Harrogate Chocolate Factory is a social enterprise café launched in 2019. The company sells dark chocolate made from Peruvian cacao beans, and aims to support young adults with learning disabilities and autism to gain vital skills to enter employment.

Elexshow comes to Harrogate

The UK’s largest trade event for electricians, the Elexshow, is coming to Harrogate.

Businesses such as Alltrade, Aico, CK Tools, and Metrel will be at the show, which will be hosted in Great Yorkshire Showground this year.

Exhibitions of equipment, tools, new apps and systems will be available to view for tradespeople in and around the region.

The event spans over the course of two days, from Thursday 28-29 April.

Tickets are available to book online for free, and can be found on the Elexshow website.

Inhealthcare UK raises money for Frank’s Fund 

Inhealthcare UK has raised more than £200 to support a local charity.

The raffle gifted the winner a Bettys Yorkshire Delights hamper.

The company, which provides digital health and remote patient monitoring, donated the money to Frank’s Fund.

Frank’s Fund was set up by the family of a young boy who died from a rare form of bone cancer

Frank’s Fund is a local Harrogate based charity. It was set up in memory of Frank Ashton, a Harrogate schoolboy who died from Ewing’s Sarcoma. The charity aims to raise awareness and funds for this rare form of bone cancer. You can read more about it on a Stray Ferret Charity Corner here.

To date, the charity has raised £299,170.77.

Read more:

• Chocolate project seeks new business links to build on students’ growth
• Councillor says future of Harrogate primary school now a matter of ‘extreme urgency’