The Best Independent Retailer award is sponsored by York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub aims to provide businesses of all sizes and sectors effective and impartial business support.

As a local organisation, the service provided is tailored to the needs of individuals of the region.

The Best Independent Retailer Award recognises the work of independent retailers across the Harrogate district that have survived the pandemic, support customers and make the high street vibrant.

Finalists

Watermark Gallery

Watermark Gallery is a Harrogate art gallery selling original, contemporary and modern British art.

During the pandemic, the gallery regularly changed its window displays to brighten people’s daily walks.

It also offered customers the opportunity watch live artist exhibitions through the gallery window and on social media during lockdown.  Such improvisation during covid was appreciated and a loyal customer base grew.

In 2020, the gallery also adapted its space into becoming a workshop space to teach and learn.

Liz Hawkes, Director of Watermark, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled to be shortlisted for the Stray Ferret Independent Retailer of the Year Award. It is great to be recognised for championing the visual arts in an area which has such a strong heritage of arts and culture.

“Opening just before the pandemic was a tough start for our business but with awards like this, and the support of our customers, we are very positive for the future. Thank you.”

Fodder

Based at the Yorkshire Show Ground, Fodder is a Harrogate farm shop and café that champions local produce.

During the pandemic, Fodder expanded its online store, developed an online click and collect system, and utilised the café space as an order packing area whilst hospitality remained closed.

Fodder frequently hosts events to showcase its supplies. The business even hosts a Dragons Den-style event, where new suppliers can ‘sell in’ their produce to the farm shop.

Vanessa Pitt, Manager at Fodder, said:

“We are super proud of the team who work so hard to keep Fodder at the top of its game. Being shortlisted for this award is testament to their resilience and commitment.

“It’s given us a real spring in the step, and we thank all our customers, producers and suppliers for their continued support.”

TravelGate

TravelGate is an independent travel agency in Harrogate, offering clients bespoke expertise and advice on holiday destinations.

During the pandemic, TravelGate was inundated with policies to follow and holidays to amend as covid caused chaos in the travel industry.  The agency never closed -offering advice and support to clients locally and abroad.

In 2021 TravelGate partnered with a national testing laboratory and began offering Covid PCR travel tests. The company supplied to major cruise ships and offered pre departure and return tests.

Phil O’Boyle, Co-Founder of TravelGate, said:

“Being shortlisted as a finalist is a fantastic achievement for us. There are so many great independent retailers in Harrogate, and we are so proud that TravelGate has been recognised in this way.

“The last few years have been extremely hard for the travel industry. We have lots of amazing, loyal clients and we would like to thank them, and to all our new clients for supporting us”.

Cocoa Joe’s

Cocoa Joe’s is an independent business specialising in premium chocolate drinks.

The shop uses a variety of high quality, solid chocolate from around the world to make bespoke drinks.

The Pateley Bridge business has made multiple television appearances since launching in 2019, including Ainsley Harriott’s Good Mood Food and used as a filming location for Channel 5’s Cadbury at Christmas.

Cocoa Joe’s success meant it was able to open a York branch during the pandemic.

The company has also unveiled an online store, selling indulgent chocolate products.

Joe Andrew, Founder of Cocoa Joe’s, said:

“Everyone around the shop was thrilled to hear we had made the shortlist! Our team members have been doing an amazing job during the busy colder months and I couldn’t think of a better way to cap off the hot chocolate season.

“We’re crossing our fingers for winning the award, but we’re up against some fantastic businesses, so we’re just delighted to have made it this far.”

Whittams Hire

Whittams Hire offers luxury motorhome hire to the people of North Yorkshire and beyond.

Since launching in 2018, the company now boasts nine motorhomes and has bookings from international clients.

The business also opened a coffee shop just outside of Harrogate, The Outside Inn. The premises is divided into sections, one is the coffee shop and the other is an office space for motorhome customers to drop in.

Whittams Hire has won multiple awards since launching, including Best Motorhome Hire Company ‘Prestige Award’ 2022 and 2023.

Mark Trickett, Founder of Whittams Hire, said:

“Whittams is so chuffed to be shortlisted, never did we think we’d be a finalist. We entered just hoping to be listed with other proud local businesses in order to be seen and show support for our local community.

“To be judged and be amongst such fine company is truly humbling”.

The Stray Ferret Business Award event sponsor is Prosperis. To find more and to purchase tickets for the big night, click here.

Firefighters were called to investigate a foul smell on a Harrogate street last night.

Crews from Harrogate were called to Robert Street at 9.50pm last night following reports of a chemical smell in a property.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident log said:

“This was found to be possibly paint thinner that had been poured into the drains.

“The smell was affecting more than one property on the street.

“Crews gave advice and the Environment Agency was informed.”

Read more:

• Decision today on Harrogate Tesco and two major housing schemes
• Harrogate care home plans to increase to 60 bedrooms

A Harrogate care home has tabled plans to expand and increase the number of bedrooms on its site by 20.

Apley Grange, which is based on Oatlands Drive, has submitted the plans to Harrogate Borough Council.

The move would see the number of bedrooms increased from 40 to 60.

As part of the plan, alterations would be made to three of the buildings on the site. A garage would also be demolished as part of the extension.

The Society of the Holy Child Jesus, which runs the home, said in documents submitted to the council that the move would also create 20 full-time jobs and bring the total number of staff at the facility up to 80.

The society added that the proposals would help to “ensure the viability over the next generation” for the home.

It said:

“The stated catalysts present great opportunity to address the issues in a considered and coordinated fashion to deliver a more integrated and responsive care home to meet current expectations and to maximise the potential afforded by available space.”

Harrogate Borough Council will make a decision on the plan at a later date.

Read More:

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• Fees waived for Harrogate district street parties to mark coronation

Saint John Fisher Catholic Academy in Harrogate has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted in a report published today.

Government inspectors visited the secondary school in December last year as part of its first inspection since it was converted to an academy in 2021.

The 1,405-pupil school on Hookstone Drive is now part of Bishop Wheeler Catholic Academy Trust.

Ofsted graded the school as ‘good’ in all areas and praised the “rich set of extra-curricular opportunities”.

It found that pupils who attend St John Fisher left “well equipped for their next step in education, employment or training”.

Inspectors added that pupils behave “considerately and maturely” and “wear their uniforms with pride”.

The report said:

“Their achievements are celebrated in rewards assemblies. However, a minority of pupils think that leaders do not celebrate positive behaviour as much as they could.”

Inspectors said the school had put “careful thought” into its curriculum.

They added that recent staff training had also increased teachers understanding of special educational needs and/or disabilities.

The report said:

“There is an effective programme to deliver reading support to those pupils who need it. Pupils with reading difficulties are identified swiftly. Well-delivered reading sessions build pupils’ reading competence and confidence over time.”

Read more:

• Harrogate’s Rossett School still ‘requires improvement’, says Ofsted
• Disappointment as Ofsted says village school near Ripon ‘requires improvement’

However, while inspectors praised the school’s new leaders for bringing “stability” and “expectations” to pupils and staff, they said it needed to do more to involve the community.

Inspectors said:

“A small but significant minority of parents do not feel that communication between school and home is effective. Previous instability in leadership has not helped. Sometimes leaders are slow to respond to parents who raise concerns.

“Over time, some parents of pupils with SEND have not been involved sufficiently in their children’s education. Some parents recognise recent improvements in communication. However, more is needed to include the whole community fully in the school’s improvement journey.”

A new chocolate and coffee cafe is to open in Harrogate town centre next month.

The Chocolate Works, which already has cafes in Clitheroe and Skipton, will open on Station Parade.

It will be situated in the vacant unit that was intended to house the ill-fated vegan restaurant Vertigo, which went out of business a year ago before its Harrogate eatery opened.

Signs advertising the new venture on Station Parade have gone up.

Owner Guy Middleton, who opened the Clitheroe store in 2017 followed by Skipton three years later, said the Harrogate cafe will employ about 10 staff and open on March 25.

Mr Middleton, who entered the chocolate business about a decade ago after a career in marketing and communications that included a spell in California, promised the cafe would be “delicious, fresh and fun” in a “space to come and enjoy yourself”.

The Chocolate Works cafes serve predominantly Belgian chocolate dishes, including hot chocolate, as well as loose chocolate that can be taken away.

They also stock a wide range of coffees and speciality teas plus waffles, ice cream and milkshakes.

Read more:

• Harrogate’s new vegan restaurant venture collapses
• Graveleys fish and chip shop serves first customers after 1,000 days away

Harrogate Borough Council has refused plans to erect a 20-metre tall 5G mobile phone mast overlooking the Stray.

5G is the quickest mobile internet connection available and offers up to 20 times faster speeds than 4G. However, the town is currently poorly served by 5G signal, particularly on its southern side.

Reading-based telecoms firm Cignal Infrastructure Ltd hoped to erect a mast at Granby Park, which is adjacent to the section of the Stray by Skipton Road. It said there is an acute need for coverage in the area.

The company reviewed other nearby locations including County Square, Devonshire Place, Sanders Walk and Westmoreland Street but discounted them due to their pavements being too narrow to accommodate the equipment.

It decided the Granby Park location was the best compromise to extend 5G in the area’s “coverage hole”.

But Harrogate Borough Council case officer Emma Howson wrote in her refusal that she had concerns about its visual impact on Harrogate’s much-cherished parkland.

Read more:

• New 5G masts proposed for Harlow Hill water tower
• Plans for two masts to meet ‘acute need’ for 5G in Harrogate

Ms Howson said the mast would be “highly visible” from the Stray, as well as on Skipton Road and Claro Road.

The plans received 20 objections, including one from from Harrogate Civic Society. There were no letters of support

Henry Pankhurst, from the civic society, wrote that the plans should be refused due to “a negative visual effect on the conservation area and on the Stray.”

Ms Howson agreed and concluded:

“The public benefits of 5G coverage and capacity have been noted however the harm arising from the impact on the conservation area would substantially outweigh this.”

Meanwhile, plans from Cignal to erect a 15-metre mast outside the Co-op on Otley Road have been approved.

The rollout of 5G has led to fears the frequencies emitted from the masts could be dangerous to humans. But during tests in 2020, regulator Ofcom found “no identifiable risks”.

Rudding Park in Harrogate has commissioned 12 new electric vehicle charging points as part of a £50,000 investment.

The charging points will be available to the public and will be powered from the Rudding Park Energy Centre.

The hotel and spa teamed up with Yorkshire-based Utley-EV in order to design and install the facilities.

Managers at the hotel and spa said they intend to increase the number of charging points at the site in order to accommodate drivers of electric vehicles.

Matthew Mackaness, Rudding Park director said: 

“As a responsible business it is vital we do our bit and ensure the environment is at the heart of all business decisions.

“The way to give people confidence to switch to electric is to increase the provision of chargers across the district.

“We are therefore delighted to welcome Harrogate residents and visitors to use our EV chargers.”

Mr Mackaness added that the charging points can be activated on a “tap and go” basis, rather than drivers requiring a mobile app to use the facilities.

Meanwhile, Adam Utley, director Utley-EV said:

“As an independent local business like Rudding Park, we are pleased to support them with their EV charge point design and installation roll out and look forward to working with them in the future.”

Read more:

• Harewood bird garden to close in just nine days’ time
• Yorkshire School of Garden Design set to launch at Harewood House
• Full fibre broadband rolled out in new parts of Harrogate

Harrogate Borough Council has revealed it spent £45,000 on outside help when it put together its failed bid for government Levelling Up money.

Last year the council bid for £20 million that would have gone towards a proposed £49 million redevelopment of Harrogate Convention Centre.

But the bid was refused by the government last month, throwing into doubt the future of the venue it has owned and run since opening in 1982.

Following a freedom of information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the authority said it spent £45,000 on “legal, design and financial input and guidance” related to the bid proposal.

A council spokesperson said this was to “ensure the best possible chance” of it being successful.

Despite Harrogate being in the lowest priority area for Levelling Up funding, convention centre director Paula Lorimer told councillors at a meeting last week it would likely bid again when a third round of funding worth £1 billion opens.

Ms Lorimer warned Harrogate would “wither on the vine” if the facility closed because of its importance to the town’s business and leisure sectors.

The ownership of the venue will be handed over to the new North Yorkshire Council on April 1.

Read more:

• Government rejects £20m levelling up bid for Harrogate Convention Centre
• Harrogate council pays out almost £20,000 in compensation to tenants due to damp

Andrew Williams, North Yorkshire independent councillor for Ripon Minster and Moorside on North Yorkshire County Council, said he didn’t begrudge Harrogate Borough Council bidding for Levelling Up money but the refusal should show the council “that the government doesn’t think the redevelopment is worthwhile.”

Cllr Williams said:

“The conference centre is going to be a millstone around anybody’s neck.

“There needs to be serious thought put into what commercial uses it can become so that it will not be a drain on the public purse. I don’t support spending £50 million on a business that’s still losing money. Enough is enough when resources is tight.”

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson said:

“The costs associated with our bid for the government’s Levelling Up Fund included significant legal, design and financial input and guidance.

“This was required to ensure the best possible chance of the Harrogate Convention Centre’s £20m submission being considered.

“We were disappointed not to be award a grant in this round of funding. But we remain hopeful and have everything we need to submit a bid for any future rounds or other opportunities for government funding.

“We have not yet received any feedback from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as to why we were unsuccessful.”

The Stray Ferret Business Awards, sponsored by Prosperis, will be held on March 9 at the Pavilions of Harrogate. The event will celebrate success and business excellence across the Harrogate district. It’s a night not to be missed! There’ll be a fabulous prize draw for all attending and Richard Flinton, the incoming Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Council, is guest speaker. You can purchase tickets here.

Harrogate-based environmental services firm Adler and Allan has acquired a West Yorkshire consultancy company.

Aqua Consultants, based in Bradford, provides consultative asset management, engineering, and commercial services to its clients.

The firm has been acquired by Adler and Allan, which has offices on Station Parade in Harrogate.

The company said the acquisition would allow it to become a “turnkey strategic partner” to the utilities and environment sectors.

Henrik Pedersen, chief executive officer at Adler and Allan, said:

“This is our third acquisition in the utilities sector, and fifth in the last 18 months.

“It is a further step in the Group’s ambitious growth plans to support customers with more of their environmental challenges.

“With this latest acquisition, we are cementing our position as a strategic partner to expertly support water companies to maintain their assets through the full lifecycle.”

Ben Shearer, managing director at Aqua Consultants, said:

“We are excited to be joining the Adler and Allan Group.

“The services Adler and Allan offers, and their established position in the utilities and environmental markets, allows us to offer our expert strategic services into more companies, providing a full turnkey package of asset maintenance consultancy and solutions.”

The acquisition follows the previous announcement that drainage solutions specialists Jet Aire Services joined the Adler and Allan Group in November 2021.

Harrogate law firm hires experienced commercial lawyer

A Harrogate law firm has hired an experienced commercial lawyer to its practice.

LCF Law has appointed Anthea Nelson in an effort to strengthen its corporate department.

Anthea Nelson, commercial lawyer at LCF Law.

Ms Nelson has more than 20 years’ experience and most recently worked as an in-house legal director. 

LCF Law partner, Susan Clark, who heads the firm’s corporate and commercial department, said:

“Anthea is an astute lawyer with widespread commercial experience, having worked for several Leeds based law firms and as in-house legal director in industry.

“With a solid understanding of all business matters, she’s an excellent advisor who can take any business through a range of complex contract and commercial negotiations. She is a welcome addition to our team.”

Anthea will predominantly work from LCF Law’s Harrogate office providing legal advice to clients across the whole of the UK.

Read more:

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• Business Breakfast: New café opens on Harrogate’s Cardale Park
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The Inclusivity Award is sponsored by Kempston-Parkes.

Kempston-Parkes Chartered Surveyors is highly experienced in valuing and inspecting residential properties.

Kempston-Parkes has an unrivalled knowledge of the local property market.

This award is designed to give recognition to a company that has made employees and customers feel welcome, safe and free to be themselves, regardless of nationality, gender, race or sexual orientation.

Finalists

Artizan Café and Creative Space

Artizan Café and Creative Space is a Harrogate café and workshop staffed entirely by differently-able people.

The café provides creative training, work experience and employment opportunities to adults with learning disabilities.

The staff are trained in food preparation, customer service, handling money, food hygiene and much more.

A parent of one staff member said “no one has believed in them like this before. The café has given them an opportunity to succeed, rather than just activities to keep them busy”.

Liz Cluderay, the UK director of Artizan Café and Creative Space, said:

“Everyone at Artizan International is on a journey. For all our differently-able participants, it’s a journey from invisible to visible, from isolation to community, from the margins to the centre.

“For the local community visiting and supporting the café, it’s a journey towards a more inclusive society, where everyone is welcomed, respected and valued.”

Horticap

Horticap is a Harrogate charity providing adults with learning disabilities with training in various outdoor skills.

Established nearly 40 years ago, Horticap students receive practical training in garden maintenance, social skills, craft work and hospitality.

Horticap aims to immerse its students into society and provide them with skills that can be replicated at home and towards new career paths.

Phil Airey, assistant manager of Horticap, said:

“We are really excited to have been nominated for the inclusivity awards. Horticap was created to be an inclusive environment for all our students, staff and volunteers. We’re looking forward to the awards evening.”

The Stray Ferret Business Awards event sponsor is Prosperis. To find more and to purchase tickets for the big night, click here.