A new manager is being sought for Harrogate BID as it enters its third year of operating.
The organisation is offering a salary up to £45,000 for the permanent role, which will lead the business organisation as it tries to support town centre businesses through and beyond the coronavirus crisis.
Simon Kent, who helped to establish the BID (Business Improvement District) in late 2018, was appointed interim manager last April and announced in December he was stepping down. The BID had been without a manager for six months prior to that, following the resignation of its first manager after less than four months in the post.
The newly-advertised job description says the manager will be responsible for the budget of £3m over the five-year term of the BID, managing staff and partners, driving forward projects and delivering on key performance indicators (KPIs).
Harrogate BID acting chair Sara Ferguson said:
“This is very much a hands-on role, and ideal for someone already used to leading a team, supervising a number of external contractors, and leading high-profile consumer campaigns with tangible results for sponsors and stakeholders.
“Additionally, the position will require the successful candidate to report to a board of directors on a regular basis, understand the sometimes challenging differences between the private and public sector, liaise with other interested parties, to act as an ambassador, and be (traditional and social) media savvy.
“Most importantly, they will bring with them fresh and exciting ideas to help promote Harrogate as a must-visit destination for residents and visitors alike, looking for a welcoming and friendly destination to ‘stay, shop, eat and drink’.”
The manager will report to the 14-person BID board, made up of representatives of different sectors in the business community. The role has a six-month probation period.
In the last year, the BID has used its funds – taken from a levy on business rates – to carry out additional street cleaning, provide signage to aid social distancing, and put up Christmas lights around the town centre. It also brought a giant elf to Harrogate in the run-up to Christmas, encouraging families to come into town in order to support local businesses.
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Florist wins Harrogate Christmas shop window competition
A florist has won this year’s Harrogate Christmas shop window competition.
It was hard fought with 27 shops taking part but Helen James Flowers, on Station Parade, took the top spot.
The competition aims to promote the town centre’s shops and encourage people to shop locally.
With shops pulling out all the stops it also gives Harrogate a festive boost.
As in previous years there are three separate categories for large, medium and small retailers.
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Mama Doreen’s Emporium was the winner in the large shops category, Helen James Flowers won the medium shops category, and Boho Chic, on West Parade, was the winner in the small shops category.
Graham Saunders, who organised the judging on behalf of the Rotary Club, said:
“We were delighted to be able to organise the competition again this year particularly with the problems for retailers brought about by the coronavirus lockdown.
“Harrogate is lucky to have so many independent shops who enjoy taking part in the competition.”
This year Harrogate BID partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate on the initiative. Each of the winners took home a Harrogate BID gift card.
Sara Ferguson, the Acting Chair of the BID, congratulated all the retailers for making the extra effort to decorate their window for Christmas and take part in the competition during this very difficult time.
Giant elf makes Harrogate debut ahead of town centre tour“The retailers who took part in the competition have gone to great lengths to make their shop windows look fabulous, which in turn has given the town centre a real festive boost.”
A four-metre tall elf has made his debut in Harrogate ahead of his festive tour around the town centre.
Harry the Harrogate Elf made his first appearance at the Yorkshire Hotel this morning and will move to a new location every day for a total of nine days.
The Harrogate BID, which is behind the festive campaign to bring people into the town centre, is keeping the details of the tour under wraps.
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He will be in shop windows and and a variety of spaces outdoors where people can see him for a safe distance.
When Harry the “naughty elf” appeared at the hotel this morning he got stuck in the lights. The fire service was soon on scene to rescue him.
Sara Ferguson, the acting chair at Harrogate BID, said:
“We always wanted to do something spectacular this December, but Covid made planning especially tricky.
“However, we persevered, and I’m delighted to say Harry the Harrogate Elf’s first adventure has been unveiled today.
“We want as many people to come and see Harry on his adventures, and because these will be taking place over nine days, there is no need to rush.”
The elf will be on display from today until Monday and will appear again from December 18 until December 22.
Watch the rescue of Harry the Harrogate Elf on the Stray Ferret’s Facebook page as part of a live video.
Free buses and parking for Harrogate Christmas shoppersFree Sunday buses and free weekday parking after 3pm are being introduced this month to encourage shoppers to spend money in Harrogate’s shops this Christmas.
Harrogate Business Improvement District, which aims to boost the town centre, is behind both projects.
The ‘free after three’ parking initiative allows motorists to park in the Victoria car park on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays free of charge after 3pm.
It begins on Monday and will run until Christmas Eve.
The ‘Sunday Freeway’ initiative, which returns this year, gives people the chance to catch a free ride on one of Harrogate Bus Company’s electric buses on a Sunday.
It includes the 2A, 2B, 3 and 6 services, which link Bilton, Dene Park, The Knox, Jennyfield and Pannal Ash with the town centre. The initiative will run through December and into the New Year.
The projects are part of the BID’s Harrogate at Christmas campaign, which encourages shoppers to support local businesses after a difficult year that has seen many closures.
Harrogate BID acting chairman Sara Ferguson said:
“Because of the lockdown, traders in the town have already lost a month’s worth of business and are playing catchup.
“Now we are coming out of the second lockdown, we are launching these two initiatives to bring people into town, via two different modes of transport.”
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The Harrogate Bus Company chief executive Alex Hornby said:
Harrogate post box with a direct line to Santa opens“It’s amazing news for our town – reducing emissions and congestion, while making it easier for everyone to support our local economy and get our town’s traders back on their feet.
“Harrogate’s businesses have had an incredibly tough year, with two lockdowns and continued restrictions impacting everyone. It’s now up to us all to support them as they re-open for the crucial run-up to Christmas by taking advantage of free travel.”
A new post box with a direct line to the North Pole has opened in Harrogate offering children the chance to write to Father Christmas.
Harrogate International Festivals has turned its Cheltenham Parade office a magical makeover.
As well as the post office, the site has snow flurries and Christmas music, and Father Christmas also makes appearances in the window.
The North Pole Post Office, which will be open right up to Christmas eve, aims to bring some festive cheer to children denied the chance to visit Santa due to covid.
Children posting letters should include their name, age, what they would like for Christmas and something they like doing. Those who would like Santa Claus to write back should also include their address.
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Lizzie Brewster, Harrogate International Festivals’ head of development and communications, said:
“Because Santa’s grottos will be few and far between, we are inviting the town’s children to write a letter to Father Christmas and then pop it into our post box.
“And naturally we would also ask that social distancing is adhered to at all times. The last thing we want is Father Christmas and his elves coming down with covid!”
Harrogate Business Improvement District has sponsored the North Pole Post Office as part of its Harrogate at Christmas campaign.
Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID, said:
Search to find Harrogate’s best Christmas shop window begins“Harrogate International Festivals are known for their creativity. The North Pole Post is simply genius. We are delighted to partner with them for this end of year treat.
“It is a feature of our Harrogate at Christmas campaign, designed to bring residents into town all through the week, not just at the weekend when it’s at its busiest.”
Harrogate Business Improvement District launched its annual Christmas window competition today.
The annual contest was featured in the Channel 5 documentary, Harrogate: A Yorkshire Christmas, last year.
It aims to promote the town centre’s shops and encourage people to shop locally using the BID’s online directory of shops.
Shops have until 8am on December 8 to dress their windows. After a few days of deliberations a winning window will be announced.
The judges will be looking for three elements: illumination, innovation and the sprit of Christmas.
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The contest will be restricted to 50 businesses within the BID’s quarters of Kings, Montpellier, Victoria and West Park.
As in previous years there are three separate categories for large, medium and small retailers.
Winners will be presented with a framed certificate to display on December 14. The overall winner will receive the prized rose bowl.
This year Harrogate BID has partnered with the Rotary Club of Harrogate on the initiative. One of the club’s members, Graham Saunders, said:
“More than ever we need to encourage residents and visitors alike to venture into Harrogate and view the wonderful Christmas display the town is famed for.”
Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID acting chair, said:
Covid-safe Halloween trail begins this week in Harrogate“We would encourage everyone to come in to Harrogate town centre, but in a Covid-safe way, and wherever possible, do all their Christmas shopping with local traders.
“The Harrogate Gift Card is also a great Christmas present and ensures every one pound loaded onto a card is one pound spent within local community.”
Families in Harrogate can take part in a new town centre Halloween trail, thanks to Harrogate Mumbler and the Harrogate Business Improvement District.
The aim of the trail is to find Halloween images in the windows of 10 Harrogate shops.
Once the trail is complete, children can collect a Halloween treat.
The initiative will run from Thursday until October 31.
Parents group Harrogate Mumbler and the Harrogate Business Improvement District hope this alternative to trick or treating will entertain children during half-term and encourage families to support the town centre.
All resources, including easy, medium and hard sets of clues and answer sheets, can be found on the Mumbler website here.
Harrogate Mumbler founder Sally Haslewood said:
“As a mum of two, I know how difficult it can be to shop with young children, yet there has never been a bigger need to support our town centre retailers.
“My hope is that this Halloween trail makes a trip to town much more fun for young families, provides a completely free activity for families during half term and brings some much-needed footfall to our town centre.”
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To ensure the trail is covid safe, those taking part are asked to do so in small groups or within households or support bubble. All displays are visible from outside so there is no obligation to enter any shops.
Harrogate BID acting chair Sara Ferguson said:
New directors sought for Harrogate BID board“The trail will allow them to fully explore Harrogate town centre, taking them down streets and into shops they may not have visited before. And once they see just what the town has to offer, I’m sure they will return time and time again.”
New directors are being sought to lead Harrogate Business Improvement District in the coming year.
The BID is preparing to hold its annual elections and is inviting BID members to put themselves forward.
Requirements include attending a BID board meeting each month as well as giving at least two hours each week to BID activities.
The board is currently planning Christmas lights displays for the town centre, new planters and hanging baskets for outside shops, and schemes to support businesses facing a tough retail climate in the run-up to Christmas.
Harrogate BID acting chair Sara Ferguson said:
“I’m incredibly passionate about Harrogate town centre, and last year, I put my name forward to join the BID board. I stood for election because I wanted to be a loud voice for the town’s independent businesses.
“I will be standing again as there is still plenty to do. The job is not finished yet. The last 10 months have not been without their challenges, However, in that time, we have achieved a number of objectives with plenty more in the pipeline.
“The qualities we are looking for in a board member include having the time to devote to the BID activities, totally committed to the aims of the BID, willing to make bold decisions and, above all, wanting to see Harrogate town centre thrive.”
Ms Ferguson became acting chair earlier this year when then-chair Bob Kennedy stepped down, along with three other board members. They cited undue council influence and a lack of progress on important projects in their joint resignation letter.
Harrogate Borough Council leader Richard Cooper also left the board in June and was replaced by the authority’s director of economy and culture, Trevor Watson.
Though nominations are limited to BID members, organisations can join the BID by filling in the application form on the BID website by Thursday, October 15. Applications will be presented to the BID board on October 19.
BID members will then be invited to express an interest in becoming a director of the BID. There can be up to 15 directors, with nine currently in post.
If more than 15 people put themselves forward, a ballot of members will be held.
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Harrogate BID aims to bring town centre businesses together
Uniting Harrogate’s town centre businesses with a common voice is one of the biggest challenges facing Harrogate BID as it approaches its second anniversary.
With numerous groups and organisations representing different elements of the town, the BID hopes it can find common ground and bring different factions together to make progress for the benefit of all.
However, even within its own membership, there is no consensus on what the town centre needs. BID ambassador Jo Caswell said it is surprising how wide the range of opinions is on matters like pedestrianisation.
“It’s very mixed. A lot of it is to do with the demographics of the outlet and their customer base and what suits them as a business.
“We’re here to get feedback and put all that information together and put some kind of strategy together as a consequence of it. We’ve been very proactive – I’ve got a good feeling about what Harrogate BID will deliver if we know it’s the right thing that the retailers and general public want.”
Having been in post for five weeks, with the official title of Harrogate Host, Jo has spent a lot of time going from business to business, finding out what they need to make their lives easier in such difficult times.
A Harrogate resident for more than 20 years, she feels a sense of loyalty to the town and is enjoying being able to “put something back” by supporting the town centre. But she has been surprised by the lack of a sense of community across the town centre.
“There’s not as much of a community hub as I thought there would be. Why that is, I’m not sure.
“In a way, that excites me, because I think the initiatives that we’re putting forward are addressing that directly: networking with the councils, meetings with the homeless project. Our responsibility is to bring all those people together, give a bit of cohesion to it and represent those views.”
Harrogate BID’s new project manager, Dawn Gennery
Jo will be joined by a second Harrogate Host next week, as well as project administrator Dawn Gennery, who is supporting acting BID manager Simon Kent in his work.
Alongside liaising between organisations and business owners, the BID is aiming to provide a practical boost for local businesses over the coming months. A £100,000 investment is being made in Christmas lights – compared to around £30,000 raised in previous years through donations – to drive visitors into the town centre.
With retail and hospitality facing the most challenging times in most businesses’ histories, the BID is also working on more schemes to increase footfall and improve the environment of the town centre over the coming months. Measures including additional street cleaning and new planters to brighten up shop frontages through the winter months.
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Since it was launched in early 2019, Harrogate BID has faced its own challenges. Board members have come and gone – including the resignation of its first manager after less than four months last year, and the departure of four board members including the chairman in April, citing undue influence from local authorities and an inability to make progress on important projects.
Jo recognises the challenges still facing the organisation, but said the reception so far for her proactive approach has been reassuring.
BID prepares to brighten Harrogate with new Christmas lights“Generally, I’m finding it very positive. Because Harrogate BID has been quite invisible so far, there’s a bit of scepticism sometimes, but when you talk things through and talk about initiatives, I’ve had very little negative comeback.”
Brighter, better and more extensive than ever: that’s the promise from the organisation now responsible for Harrogate’s Christmas lights.
Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID) will be organising the displays for the first time this year and has appointed Gala Lights to make the town shine brighter than ever during the festive season.
Although the traditional Big Switch-On will not be possible, retailers and restaurants will be hoping the new and improved displays will draw people in to the town centre. The BID is hoping an online switch-on, taking place on Saturday, November 14, will help members of the community to get involved, as well as supporting local businesses.
Harrogate BID acting chair Sara Ferguson said:
“For a number of years, Harrogate’s annual Christmas lights have been funded by donations from local businesses and individuals, match-funded by Harrogate Borough Council.
“The appeal was launched on Stray FM and raised tens of thousands of pounds each and every year, with the switch-on taking place live on radio with stars from Harrogate Pantomime playing leading roles.
“Whilst none of that will be happening this year for obvious reasons, Harrogate’s Christmas lights will shine brighter than ever and be a reason for people to come into town during the festive season to shop, eat and drink.”
Custom made
The lights will be switched on in mid-November and will be strung between buildings, wrapped around lampposts and housed in trees, including those in front of the war memorial at the top of Parliament Street.
There will also be an illuminated, programmable and multi-coloured tunnel on the piazza in front of Victoria Shopping Centre, controllable via an app. Ms Ferguson added:
“Following a competitive pitch, we have chosen Gala Lights as our partner of the next four years. They are Christmas lighting specialists and work with towns, cities and BIDs throughout the UK. And for the first time in many years the lights are being custom-made for us.
“We are also looking at a lights switch on, but this won’t be a physical countdown in the town centre, but an online one involving local businesses and, hopefully, a big name or two.”
Gala Lights managing director Christopher Stille said:
“We are proud to be creating bespoke new Christmas lights for Harrogate town centre and we hope the new scheme will be well received by residents and visitors alike.”
Harrogate BID has recently expanded its team with the appointment of a ‘host’ to liaise with businesses and local authorities, and a project co-ordinator to support interim manager Simon Kent. It is funded through a levy on business rates applied to all businesses in the town centre over a set rateable value.