Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesses collect chocolate for people in need

Excellence deserves to be recognised and celebrated. The 2024 Stray Ferret Business Awards is the event to put your business, people or great initiative in the spotlight!

Make the most of your efforts by reading our top 10 tips for writing your submission for success.

Entries close on January 19, 2024.

Harrogate businesses collect chocolate for people in need

Businesses on Harrogate’s Commercial Street are asking local people to donate chocolate to people in need this Christmas.

The Christmas Chocolate Collection, which collected more than 20 stone of chocolate last year, hopes to donate even more chocolate to local charities this year.

These include Harrogate District Foodbank, Disability Action Yorkshire, Supporting Older People, Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity and New Beginnings.

Lilly’s Café, Curtain and Blind Design, the Harrogate Town shop, Ben Barbers and White Rose Sewing are all taking part in the initiative and chocolate can be donated instore.

Sue Kramer, owner of Crown Jewellers of Harrogate, said:

“What resonates with this is that it is collecting chocolate items for local people who may not otherwise be able to enjoy some chocolate at Christmas.

“It’s very easy, simply buying an extra packet of biscuits or a box of chocolates or anything chocolatey provided it does not have alcohol in and dropping them off on commercial street at one of our five drop-off points.”

The initiative will continue until Saturday, December 15.

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Council threatens to remove mystery ‘no parking’ signs in Harrogate

Several unofficial ‘no parking’ signs have been put up on a grass verge on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

The signs, which are outside Harrogate Town Football Club, appeared about two weeks ago. It is not known who erected them.

The grass verge is part of Duchy land and is managed by North Yorkshire Council, which is also the highways authority, However, the council has not authorised the signs.

Barrie Mason, the council’s assistant director of highways and transport, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are aware of ‘no parking signs’ being placed on Wetherby Road, close to Harrogate Town Football Club.

“We are investigating the matter and if the signs are found to have been erected without proper authorisation, they will be removed.”

Parking is notoriously difficult around Wetherby Road, particularly on match days. These signs appeared during work to build a new stand at the Envirovent Stadium.

However, the club is not aware of who is responsible for the signs on the verge.

A spokesperson for Harrogate Town AFC added:

“Parking has never been allowed on it.

“Vans/cars were getting parking tickets for a long time before this, but it’s just got worse of late.

“There are several builders’ projects nearby adding to ours, so likely a combined problem and more deliveries etc.”

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate Town sign another sponsor

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is an after work drinks event on Thursday, August 31 at The West Park Hotel in Harrogate between 5-7pm. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Harrogate Town have announced a partnership with a Harrogate construction and plant hire firm.

Kitching Plant Hire has over 350 machines to buy and hire, including diggers, excavators, rollers and cement mixers.

The club said the firm’s commitment to innovation and quality mirrored its values.

Matthew Kitching, director of Kitching Plant Hire, said:

“We’re excited about our new partnership with Harrogate Town AFC, being proud supporters, we felt the timing is right to show our commitment to our local club.”

Joanne Towler, commercial director of Harrogate Town AFC, said the company’s support was “instrumental in driving our club’s progress”.

Harrogate and Boroughbridge companies help beautify York 

A  Borougbridge landscape contractor has partnered with a horticultural company in Kirk Hammerton to remodel the grounds of York Museum Gardens.

ATM Ltd, a landscaping, highway and maintenance company, has partnered with Johnsons of Whixley to supply thousands of plants to the 12.5 acre area of land as part of the recent Environment Agency flood defence improvements project.

ATM provided the project with all soft landscaping following engineering work to raise an existing flood bank, while the commercial plant suppliers selected plants to ensure pollination will thrive throughout the year.

The aim of the project is to rejuvenate the gardens, which were first established in the 1830s, and create a fresh and enjoyable space for the public.

Daniel McClaren, contracts manager at ATM Ltd, said:

“The plants were carefully selected with wildlife and seasons in mind. The gardens will be enjoyed all year round. ”

Eleanor Richardson, marketing manager at Johnsons, said:

“York Museum Gardens is on our doorstep, so it has been great to visit the site and see the hard work ATM have completed and see the plants thriving.”

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Plummeting temperatures prompt weather warning across Harrogate district

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for North Yorkshire amid freezing temperatures this week.

Lasting until Thursday lunchtime, the warning is for snow and ice which could lead to travel disruption.

In its warning, the Met Office said:

“Snow showers and icy surfaces will bring some travel disruption, [including] some roads and railways likely to be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services, some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces, [and] probably some icy patches on some untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths.”

The forecast for this week suggests temperatures are unlikely to rise more than one or two degrees above freezing during the day, with night-time temperatures dropping as much as five degrees below zero on Thursday night.

After the home match against Northampton Town last weekend was called off thanks to a frozen pitch, Harrogate Town is warning that its away game at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday could also fall foul of the weather. Supporters are asked to check for updates before travelling – and are being warned not to travel by train because of planned industrial action.

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In the second half of the weekend, the forecast begins to change.

There is the possibility of some snow early on Sunday morning, before temperatures are expected to rise throughout the day and reach 10C overnight on Sunday.

At present, the forecast in the week up to Christmas suggests the weather will be warmer and wetter. Temperatures could rise to around 6C during the day and drop to 3C at night.

The likelihood of a white Christmas in the Harrogate district remains uncertain at this stage, though in the wake of the recent cold weather, bookies have slashed the odds of a white Christmas being reported somewhere in the UK.

Simon Weaver’s tribute to Harry Gration: ‘He was a premier league host’

The manager of Harrogate Town has paid tribute to Harry Gration, the Yorkshire TV legend who died suddenly last month, saying the club was privileged to have worked with him.

In the past year Harry had taken on the role of match day host for Town. He welcomed corporate sponsors and chaired Q and A sessions with invited guests and members of the team.

Simon Weaver told the Stray Ferret that Harry’s interest in working with Harrogate Town had come as something of a surprise to his father, Irving, who owns the club.

“My dad was nicely surprised to get a letter from Harry saying how much he loved the atmosphere at the stadium and was offering to lend a helping hand.

“Dad got on the phone and Harry become a host. He was very happy to pick up the mike for Q and As. He might ask the odd difficult question but he always did it with humour”

Simon played golf with Harry two days before his death as part of a fundraiser for Harrogate Homeless Project.

He said they were all devastated to learn of his death.

“We were all shell-shocked when we heard the news 48 hours later. Mum and Dad were so upset –he’d quickly became part of the club and part of our home games.

“He gave a feeling of familiarity straight away and made you feel like you could be yourself — as though you were chatting with a friend.

“Harry gave the club something new. It was like having a Premier League host at the club”.

The Weaver family and members of the management team at Harrogate Town attended Harry’s funeral at York Minster on Monday.

Like so many organisations that Harry worked with, they will miss him tremendously.

The funeral of Harry Gration held at York Minster on Monday

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Business Breakfast: New Harrogate Town sponsorship deal

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

Harrogate Town has announced a new partnership with Barclays LED Solutions.

As a result, the Wetherby Road Terrace at the EnviroVent stadium has been renamed the Barclays LED Solutions Stand.

Barclays LED Solutions has been working with the club over the summer to install new energy saving LED floodlights that will improve the lighting at the ground and reduce environmental impact.

Dave Barclay, owner of Barclay LED Solutions said:

“We are thrilled to partner with the club, after completing works on replacing the floodlights with LED we knew we wanted to continue working with Harrogate Town and the right opportunity came at the right time.

“Harrogate Town is an integral part of the community that brings so many people together and we are delighted to be involved with the club and show our support of Town.”

Barclay LED Solutions, founded over 30 years ago as an electrical contracting business now specialises in the design, supply and installation of LED lighting to the sports, commercial and industrial markets.

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Ripon pies win taste award

Ripon based Yorkshire Handmade Pies has picked up a 3 star Great Taste Award for its steak and kidney pie.

The company was also awarded  2 stars for its steak and black pudding and Yorkshire samosa pies, and 1 star for its mushroom and ale and steak and ale pies.

More than 14,000 products were put through the competition’s rigorous blind judging process, with only 241 products from around the world being awarded the Great Taste 3-star accolade, which is awarded for ‘extraordinarily tasty food and drink’.

Yorkshire Handmade Pies are made from local ingredients including slow-cooked Heritage breed beef, herb-fed free-range chicken and grass-fed Wagyu beef, all farmed in harmony with the environment.

Founder James Sturdy said:

“We are over the moon. So fantastic for the team to be recognised for all their hard work. Five awards is a seriously impressive haul – it’s hard to get any awards so five is really good, especially the 3-star one.

“We’re so proud of our local area and of representing Yorkshire’s finest produce on an international stage. Great Taste is the most recognised accolade in the food and drink world. For independent producers like Yorkshire Handmade Pies it really means a huge amount to be recognised.”

 

The award winning steak and kidney Yorkshire Handmade Pie. 

Harrogate chamber announces all-female line-up for June meeting

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce has announced it will have three female speakers at its June meeting.  

The business networking event will include talks from Sarah Barry, chief executive of Harrogate Town, Rhiannon Wilkinson, headteacher at Ashville College, and Charlene Lyons, chief executive of Black Sheep Brewery.

Sue Kramer, president of the chamber, said:  

“For my first meeting as chamber president, I’m delighted that we are hearing from three inspirational women leaders.  

“I’m really looking forward to hearing from Sarah, Rhiannon and Charlene about their career paths, and it will be interesting to learn if they faced any challenges along the way.” 

The meeting will take place on  June 13 at 6:15pm at Harrogate’s Crown Hotel, and is open to non-members.  

Doors open at 5.30pm for informal networking.  

Rudding Park to host ‘dine in the dark’ 

Rudding Park will host its first ever ‘dine in the dark’ experience on Friday to raise money for Guide Dogs charity. 

Guests will be served a three-course meal whilst blindfolded, with the main course being eaten in complete darkness.  

The event aims to raise awareness of how visually impaired people experience daily activities, and educate people on the work of guide dogs in the region.  

Organiser and guide dog owner, Kim Murphy, said:  

“Even eating a meal without dropping the peas or knocking a glass of wine over is quite a challenge and that’s just one part of your day when you’ve lost your sight.”

Nicola Ridgway, community fundraising manager at Guide Dogs,  said:

“Dine in the Dark experiences are just a small insight into the world of sight loss, but people often come away feeling enlightened and more aware of the challenges people with vision impairment face day to day.” 

The evening will take place from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. Tickets are available here. 

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