Administrators have revealed the state of failed Harrogate firm Amvoc’s finances.

The telemarketing company, which was based at Cardale Park, collapsed and was placed into administration in March this year.

Staff were left shocked on March 17 when they received a late night email from chief executive Damian Brockway saying “all our offices are closed with effect from tonight”. It went on to blame “covid debts”.

A statement of affairs published by administrators Lewis Business Recovery and Insolvency showed the company owes £546,534.71 to preferential creditors against assets of £302,802.63.

This includes wage arrears, holiday pay and pension contribution arrears.

The company also owes £1.2 million to HMRC, which is classed as a “second preferential creditor”.

It also has £868,267 worth of unsecured creditors.

Hemel Hempstead-based data marketing firm, Aura Media Group, is owed £154,467.38 and is among the highest creditors on the list.

Founded in 2010

Mr Brockway set up Amvoc, the trading name of A Marketing Vocation Ltd, from a small office in Dacre in 2010. It sold telemarketing services, initially in the legal sector, and grew rapidly, moving first to Pateley Bridge and then to large offices at New York Mills near Summerbridge.

It opened a new head office on Cardale Park in Harrogate in 2015, a facility in Leeds in 2018 and an office in Manchester in 2022.  It also had plans to expand to London.

Amvoc’s clients included BP, Barclays, Virgin Media, Leeds Beckett University, and both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties.

When the Stray Ferret tried to contact Mr Brockway following the collapse of the company, an immediate email response said:

“I regret to inform you that Amvoc has been forced to cease trading with immediate effect due to financial difficulties.

“We understand that this news may come as a shock to many of you, and we want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to manage the situation.

“We are in the process of contacting all our staff, clients and partners to inform them of the situation and provide any necessary information. We apologise for any inconvenience or disruption this may cause, and we are committed to minimising the impact on our stakeholders as much as possible.”

Read more:

• Law firm to represent about 100 staff at failed Harrogate firm
• Hundreds of job losses as Harrogate company goes under
• Collapsed Harrogate firm Amvoc set to enter administration

Its website said it employed 450 staff but the Stray Ferret believes the figure at the time the company collapsed was under 300.

Twenty-three former employees found work with Brighton-based One-Family, which was a former customer of Amvoc.

Meanwhile, Law firm Atticus said in the days after Amvoc’s collapse it had been contacted by 145 former employees.

The law firm said it was investigating the circumstances of the company’s collapse and concerns around how the redundancy process was managed, as well as whether ex-staff are eligible to claim for compensation. 

A cyclist has been seriously injured after a collision with a car in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Police has appealed for witnesses to the incident, which involved a silver Vauxhall Insignia and a woman cyclist.

It happened on Wetherby Road, at the junction of St Nicholas Road, at around 6pm on Monday (May 15).

The cyclist, a woman in her 60s, was taken to hospital by ambulance for serious injuries, including a fractured arm. She has since been discharged.

A police statement said:

“We are appealing for witnesses to the collision or anyone who recalls seeing the car or the cyclist prior to the collision, to get in touch as soon as possible to assist the investigation.

“In particular, we are appealing for any dash-cam footage of the collision.

“If you can help, please email gary.dukes@northyorkshire.police.uk , or contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2, and ask for Tc 1266 Dukes.

“Please quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12230088421.”

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Harrogate Pride in Diversity has been cancelled again, with the organisers once more citing a lack of volunteers.

The event, which started with a parade through town followed by live music and entertainment in Valley Gardens, drew crowds of up to 26,000.

But it has not been held since 2019, and the latest cancellation after covid has led to an attempt to set-up a new event over the August bank holiday.

Harrogate Pride in Diversity posted on its Facebook page:

“We are so proud of all we have done together in the last few years, but recently life has gotten in the way. Our committee has become smaller, and our lives have become busier.

“We are taking a break from Pride in Diversity. Not forever, but for a little while.

“There will be no Pride in Diversity event this year, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be back.”

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• Harrogate Pride in Diversity cancelled as volunteers sought for 2023
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The news prompted Craig Joynson and his wife Rea to start planning a free August event with a view to growing the LGBTQIA+ scene in Harrogate. They have set up their own Harrogate Pride Events Facebook page.

The event in 2019 in Valley Gardens

Mr Joynson said the local LGBTQIA+ community was currently under-served, adding:

“I am looking to provide some form of not-for-profit Pride event over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Not a full on Pride parade — hopefully that’ll be next year — but a social event of some kind.”

Mr Joynson, a former DJ, added he had a venue and DJs lined up and he hoped it could lead to regular monthly events for LGBTQIA+ people and perhaps the return of a Pride march next year.

Harrogate’s Army Foundation College has a “much improved climate” after allegations of abuse and sexual assault, a government minister has said.

Baroness Goldie, a Ministry of Defence minister, told the House of Lords the college had taken steps to improve and that this was reflected by an Ofsted report in 2021.

It comes after the college on Penny Pot Lane, which trains junior soldiers aged 16 and 17, was hit by allegations of abuse and bullying in 2021.

In February, former instructor Simon Bartram was found guilty of disgraceful conduct and sexual assault over a nine-month period between 2020 and 2021.

Meanwhile, Corporal Kimberley Hey was demoted in rank in November 2021 after being convicted of punching teenage soldiers at the college.

This past week, Lord Browne of Ladyton, a former minister in the MOD under the last Labour government, asked Baroness Goldie what steps the government had taken to improve the inspection of welfare and safeguarding at the college.

Lord Browne pointed out the college itself had recorded 72 complaints of violence by staff between 2014 and 2023, of which 13 cases had been proven.

He said:

“How can the Ministry of Defence be comfortable with this? 

“What steps, if any, is it taking to improve the inspection of welfare and safeguarding at the AFC?”

Baroness Goldie described the incidents as “profoundly regrettable and utterly unacceptable”.

Read more:

• Parents call for Harrogate army college to be closed after abuse claims
• Harrogate Army Foundation College instructor demoted for punching teenage soldiers
• Former Harrogate Army Foundation College instructor sentenced for sex assault

However, she added the college had learned from the incidents and “introduced important changes” which were reflected in an Ofsted report in 2021.

Baroness Goldie said the MOD had also introduced new policies to deal with sexual offences, which had helped to improve the situation at the college.

She said:

“The MoD has introduced new policies and changes to deal with sexual offences and unacceptable sexual behaviour below the criminal threshold. 

“It has taken steps to improve the complaints system, has created the Defence Serious Crime Unit and has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual offences and sexual relationships between instructors and trainees. 

“All of that now reflects a much-improved climate at the college.”

Referring to Bartram, she confirmed the former instructor had been dismissed from the armed forces and added the government had taken “significant steps” to prevent similar incidents happening again.

She said:

“Sadly, we cannot ever eliminate the prospect of something unacceptable happening, but significant steps have been taken to try to reduce that possibility.”

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate law firm has announced it has extended a partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society for another year.

LCF Law, which is based on Station Parade, will work with the charity to help create wills for people who wish to donate to the society in their will.

The firm has worked with the Alzheimer’s Society for several years and works with dozens of people every year to draw up their will for free, in exchange for a donation to the charity.

Neil Shaw, head of personal law at LCF Law, said: 

“After promoting this partnership to many organisations and community groups throughout Wharfedale, we have had plenty of interest from local people keen to donate or leave a bigger legacy in their will to the charity.

“We also have a similar partnership with Cancer Research and it’s a great way of supporting two charities that make a real difference to so many people.”

Harrogate Town awarded family excellence status

Harrogate Town has been awarded English Football League Family Excellence status for the first time.

The scheme recognises the continuous improvement and best practice that emerges across the league and rewards clubs for their efforts in attracting and retaining young supporters.

It will see the club receive two visit assessments each season, in order to determine the quality of the family matchday experiences they provide.

On the award, Hamilton Mattock, fan engagement manager, said:

“We are really pleased to receive the Family Excellence status; this is a testament to all the hard work everyone within the club has put into making Harrogate Town a family friendly experience on a matchday.

“This is only the beginning of the journey as we strive to continue to improve our supporters match day experience while continuing to improve on our facilities and touchpoints.”

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Thirty-two solar panels will be installed on Harrogate’s Coppice Valley Primary School after the council gave the go-ahead to the proposal.

Red Kite Learning Trust, which runs the school, tabled the plan with North Yorkshire Council last month.

It will see the panels installed on the school’s roof to generate 13.6 kwp of renewable energy. 

The council has since approved the proposal.

In documents submitted to the council, the trust said it felt the panels would help to enhance the character of the building.

It said:

“It is considered that the proposed solar panels would be complementary to the character of the building.

“The visual appearance of the solar panels on the roofed area is considered appropriate for the school building, thereby enhancing the visionary appearance of the site as an up-to-date centre for learning, creating responsible citizens for tomorrow’s world with an appreciation for their surroundings and a duty of care for the environment.

“It is considered that the panels could have a positive impact on the character of the building and no overall detrimental impact on the surrounding area.”

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An inquest has opened after a Harrogate woman died in a car crash in Scotland.

Alison Pearson-Segal, 64, of Rudding Lane, Follifoot, died as a result of a crash with a coach on the A82 northbound between Luss and Inverbeg on April 17 this year.

Opening the hearing this morning, Catherine Cundy, coroner for North Yorkshire, ordered that a full inquest into the matter be carried out.

The hearing heard that the provisional cause of death was chest and abdominal injuries as a result of a road traffic collision.

An investigation into the crash, which happened at around 1.50pm, is being carried out by Police Scotland.

Ms Pearson-Segal was chair of the Harrogate suicide prevention charity the Ostrich Foundation.

Ms Cundy adjourned the inquest until a later date.

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• Man jailed for 140mph Harrogate police pursuit after being banned from driving
• Ex-teacher jailed for raping girl at Harrogate district school

Harrogate Cricket Club has revealed plans to open an indoor cricket school.

The school would be built on the concrete terraced area at the club’s St George’s Road ground and cost up to £3.5 million.

Architects have drawn up plans for the project, which is likely to take five to seven years to come to fruition.

The school, which would include four lanes of nets as well as other factilities, is in addition to the club’s plans to raise £75,000 on new outdoor nets.

Co-chair Steve Clark said there was a shortage of sports hall space in Harrogate, especially in winter.

He added the cricket school would ensure junior and senior players had a large enough facility for high quality training sessions all year round.

A sub-committee will be set-up to oversee the cricket school project, which will require extensive fundraising, including applications to trusts and foundations for grants.

Mr Clark added:

“The facility will provides a practice facility which can be used when the weather is damp as well as when the sun is shining.

“The nets will be made to a professional standard ensuring the correct bounce and carry for the ball; replicating playing on real grass.”

Outdoor nets

The Stray Ferret revealed in March the club had launched a £75,000 crowdfunding campaign to replace the ageing outdoor nets with new ones.

Fundraising has gone well and the club hopes the outdoor nets will be installed at the end of the cricket season, ready for use by next spring.

Local schools will be able to make arrangements to use them.

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Once the outdoor nets are finished, attention will turn fully on the cricket school project.

Harrogate Cricket Club hosted 98 first class matches between 1882 and 2000 and the two current major projects highlight the club’s ambitions to upgrade the club.

The ground hosted first class cricket for over 100 years.

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate marketing agency has been appointed to run a leading rail recruitment firm’s social media and PR.

Clemtech has hired The Big Bamboo Agency, which is based at Windsor House, to oversee its marketing activity, including social media management, strategic communications and PR.

The Hampshire-based recruitment company was founded 25 years ago and provides labour and professionals to the rail sector.

Rob Rose, general manager at Clemtech, which is responsible for the company’s business development and marketing functions, said: 

“Big Bamboo was recommended to us by one of our long-standing customers. They presented to us and we were impressed by what we heard and saw.”

Nicola Stamford, founding director at Big Bamboo, said: 

“We work in many sectors, rail being one of them, so we understand the industry well. It is fantastic to be appointed to work with a business that has so much history and heritage, and therefore a great story to tell.”

Harrogate bar to celebrate reopening of courtyard

A Harrogate bar is set to is set to reopen its courtyard this weekend.

Jesper’s Bar and Kitchen, which is based on Prince Albert Row, will celebrate the reopening of its yard with a beer festival.

The event will take place on Friday (May 19) and Saturday (May 20) between 12pm and 10pm. It will include seven real cask ales and draft beer by Harrogate Brewing Co.

The bar and kitchen will also have an all-day burger menu to choose from over the weekend.

Jesper’s said in a Facebook post:

“Our little gem out the back has been closed since October but with the weather warming up, it is time to enjoy our little slice of heaven once more.”

For more information on the event and to book a ticket, visit the Jesper’s Bar and Kitchen website here.

Read more:

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• Business Breakfast: Harrogate businesses recognised as ‘best places to work’