Starbucks has advertised for staff for a planned drive-through on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

The multi-national coffee shop, which already has an outlet on Cambridge Street in the town, looks set to open a new site at the former Leon drive-thru.

North Yorkshire Council approved plans to change the signage around the Wetherby Road site to Starbucks branding in August.

Since then, the company has advertised for a supervisor, assistant manager and barista on hospitality recruitment site caterer.com for a new store in the HG2 area.

The Stray Ferret asked Starbucks if it had an opening date planned for the site and how many staff it would employ.

A spokesperson for the company said:

“We are always looking for new locations and opportunities to bring the Starbucks experience to customers in the UK, but at this time we have no updates to share about plans in Harrogate.”

Read more:

• Former Harrogate Leon site to become Starbucks
• Leon confirms Harrogate closure amid speculation over site’s future

The move comes as Leon, which opened at the site last June, closed its doors on April 2 with the loss of around 20 jobs.

It was operated by Blackburn-based EG Group, which also runs Starbucks franchises as well as brands including KFC and Greggs.

Currently, the building has been empty for eight months and has been stripped of its Leon branding and signage.

This story is sponsored by Allertons.

A hairdressing brand due to open new beauty rooms in Harrogate this month is looking to recruit more staff across all its branches. 

Allertons’ flagship salon is the highest rated in Leeds, and it also has concessions in John Lewis stores in Leeds and Nottingham, with a third due to open in Southampton in November. The Harrogate salon is due to open its brand-new beauty rooms by the end of October. 

The company currently has 19 vacancies for hairdressers and beauticians, as well as six client concierge roles. 

Nick Nicola, who founded the company in 2014, said there was a constant requirement for hairdressers and beauticians, but that they needed to be attuned to the company’s ethos: 

“We’re looking for people who want to look after their clients. It’s not so much about the service you provide – that’s going to be excellent anyway – it’s more about how you make people feel. We want people who will calm and pamper our clients.” 

Allertons gives 30% of the profit generated for the company to the person who generated it, so a good hairdresser can earn up to £40,000 a year. 

In addition, employees receive health insurance, funded training on new techniques and equipment, free hairdressing and treatments, and a ‘friends and family’ discount. Those working in one of the concessions also get discount at John Lewis. 

Nick said it was important that candidates were able to ditch their ego and maintain an “old school” approach to customer service: 

“Some salons promote certain personalities above others. That’s not us – we want to take a sledgehammer to all of that. We’re not about ego and flashiness, which is why we get on so well with John Lewis. 

“We want to debunk that image of the hairdresser who judges clients and thinks they know best what their client should have. People come to us because we listen when they tell us what they want. We’re not fashion and trend-led – we’re 100% customer-led.” 

More information about the vacancies available can be found on Allertons’ website.

If you’d like to apply for a vacancy at any of Allertons’ salons, email nn@allertonsonline.com, or call 0113 359 3420.

This story is sponsored by LCF Law.

Here at LCF Law, we are lawyers you’ll like to work with. With offices located in Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate and Ilkley, we are an established member of the Yorkshire legal community.

We support all our colleagues in their career development to maximise their potential. Whether it’s members of legal teams or support staff, we aim to meet colleagues’ aspirations for personal and career development and place great emphasis on training.

We have developed a series of pathways – guides to behaviours and conduct that direct colleagues to what is expected of them to reach the next level of their career progression with LCF Law. We recognise that supporting development gives strength to the firm while helping colleagues to meet their ambitions and aspirations.

At LCF Law we look after the wellbeing of all our colleagues whether physical or mental. We have 12 trained and accredited Mental Health First Aiders throughout the firm as part of that support network. We recognise the vital role that the team plays in the development of the practice and its importance in supporting colleagues careers.

Staff benefits and a prestigious award

To further support staff wellbeing, we provide a number of benefits including the Westfield Health cash plan, Westfield rewards, a 24-hour advice and health line, seven hours of paid wellbeing hours, Perkbox membership, a wellbeing hub and a full day off for your birthday. Happy lawyers are better lawyers. Colleagues who feel respected and appreciated better support their colleagues and our customers.

LCF Law celebrating being listed as a Sunday Times Best Places to Work.

In May 2023, LCF Law was recognised as one of the top employers in the UK after being named in the new Sunday Times Best Places to Work Awards. The prestigious award ranking index anonymously surveyed the opinions of employees from hundreds of businesses operating in every industry sector across the UK.

The Sunday Times 26-question survey was completed by 87% of LCF Law’s team. It measured employee experience using six key drivers – reward and recognition, information sharing, empowerment, instilling pride, job satisfaction and wellbeing. An excellent rating of between 84% and 89% was received in all six drivers

This is what makes us lawyers you’ll like to work with. Our colleagues are the core of LCF.

We are currently recruiting dynamic, high performing professionals at every level across our four Yorkshire offices. For further information, please visit www.lcf.co.uk/about-lcf/careers or contact HR Manager, Rebecca Gosling at rgosling@lcf.co.uk.

This story is sponsored by Jules B.

One of Harrogate’s most prominent fashion retailers is on the search for two new members of staff.

Jules B, the multi-award winning designer wear brand, is recruiting for the positions of assistant manager and a sales advisor to work in its impressive store on Cambridge Crescent, opposite Bettys tearooms.

Julian Blades, who founded the company together with his wife Rhona in 1985, said:

“We are looking for people who have a friendly personality and the ability to communicate and make our customers feel comfortable while they indulge in a bit of retail therapy.

“It really is a most rewarding job when you can empower people and make them feel good about themselves. It’s very social and the clients we attract are extremely nice, interesting people.

“You will be working in a lovely store , selling beautiful clothes to very nice people…. What’s not to like?”

In addition to a competitive salary, the successful candidates (once they have passed their probation) will be eligible for a clothing allowance and substantial staff discounts. He added:

“It’s very important to have happy staff. That is what we are known for. So we do everything we can to make working for us fun and enjoyable.”

Jules B is renowned for its incredible offer of some of the most desirable labels in the market such as Holland Cooper, Rixo, Haley Menzies, Self Portrait, Oska, and Lurdes Bergada.

We have two different demographics of customer explains Julian, one is a younger fashion forward woman who enjoys more directional collections which are all situated on our ground floor while on the second floor we attract a more contemporary type of customer who appreciates less structured designs.

The company has five retail stores located in Jesmond, Kendal and now Harrogate as well as a highly successful website.

Jules B is the only independent to have won the “Best Independent Fashion Retailer in Britain” award three times and in 2020 Julian and Rhona were awarded the “Drapers Lifetime Achievement Award” at a gala ceremony in London. Julian added:

“Shopping has to be an experience and the atmosphere in all our stores is created by happy and passionate staff.

“So if you want a job that gives you a huge amount of satisfaction and enjoyment we would love to meet you!”

Find out more: 

If you’re interested in either of these roles, or if you just love stylish fashion, visit the Jules B website. You can also apply for the roles here:

• Apply for the assistant store manager role by clicking or tapping here.
• Apply for the sales advisor role by clicking or tapping here.

North Yorkshire Council managers have said a £176,000 robotics contract will not lead to job losses.

The authority has commissioned Reading-based company T-Impact Limited to come up with automative robotic processes to free up work for staff. 

The company has been contracted to carry out the work at a cost of £176,116.

This would include tasks such as changing an address, which would be done through automation rather than manually.

Council officials say the contract, which will run to May 2026, would be “better value for money”.

Madeline Hoskin, assistant director technology at North Yorkshire Council, said the move would also help the new council with its financial challenges.

She said:

“It is anticipated the use of this technology will bring about efficiencies to help counter the financial challenges we are facing, and it will be used for some of repetitive work to free up staff to do other more rewarding aspects of their job.

“The system also enables us to deliver services more efficiently, achieving better value for money.

“There are no projected job losses as a result of this project.”

Read more:

• Weekly food waste collections in Harrogate district to be delayed over costs
• ‘Few teething issues’ with North Yorkshire Council launch, say political leaders

This story is sponsored by the Bettys and Taylors Group.

A number of highly sought-after career opportunities have become available at Harrogate’s most famous employer. 

Bettys is looking to fill a number of vacancies in the kitchen at Bettys Harrogate as well as having both front of house and back of house roles available within the four other branches located in York, Ilkley, Harlow Carr and Northallerton

New recruits can expect a competitive salary, pension, a fantastic working environment and excellent training. 

One person who has already taken advantage of that offer is Cameron Latimer, who is a catering assistant at Bettys’ flagship branch in Harrogate. The 21-year-old left King James’s School in Knaresborough to join another company in the industry, before moving to Bettys in 2021. He said: 

“The training is very thorough. Over the last 18 months I’ve really progressed, both in my job and as a person. I’m more outgoing and feel I can take control in the kitchen and lead others. I’ve been trained on every section and now specialise in preparing the hot food. In September I was promoted to shift leader, and later I aim to become a team leader.” 

Colleague Roisin Roddam, 24, has already progressed even further. She started at Bettys straight from school and has worked her way up to become deputy catering manager at the RHS Harlow Carr branch. She said: 

“Bettys really look after their staff and there’s loads of opportunities for career progression. There are loads of benefits, and the training is really good too. It’s very practical and hands-on, and you even get one-to-one training, so you’ve always got someone there helping you.” 

Roisin Roddam, deputy catering manager at Bettys’ RHS Harlow Carr branch.

Cameron said: 

“I’d definitely recommend working at Bettys. The conditions are second to none and the managers are very supportive. The staff are all friendly too – we’re all one team, front and back of house – and if something needs doing, we’ll all pitch in and sort it out.” 

Asked what advice she would give to prospective applicants, Roisin said: 

“Just apply. It’s an amazing company to work for, and there are lots of opportunities to move upwards or sideways, for example into the bakery or the Taylors factory.

“Everyone gets on really well. I really like all my team, and we do a lot of socialising outside work, so we get to know everyone very well. It’s absolutely brilliant.”

New apprenticeship opportunity in Bettys Café Tearooms

An iconic Harrogate brand

Bettys was founded in 1919 by Swiss confectioner Frederick Belmont and is now the most famous name in Yorkshire’s hospitality industry. More than a century later, it is still an independent family firm and continues to win numerous awards, including Food & Travel Magazine’s Specialist Retailer of the Year earlier this year. 

Along with Taylors of Harrogate, the company behind the iconic Yorkshire Tea brand, it is part of Bettys & Taylors Group, which employs more than 1,500 people, most of them in Harrogate. This month, Bettys & Taylors won one of the first ever King’s Awards for Enterprise for International Trade.

Find out more: 

If you’re interested in applying for a job at any of Bettys’ branches, check the vacancies page on the company website. 

Struggling Ripon premium meat online retailer Farmison & Co is in negotiations with a potential buyer.

The firm, which employs 92 staff, is in advanced discussions with another online butcher, Tom Hixson of Smithfield.

A company called Tom Hixson Farmison was registered with Companies House this week. Thomas Hixson is listed as the sole director.

It is hoped the deal will be finalised next week and save jobs at one of Ripon’s biggest employers.

Farmison is based on Bondgate Green in Ripon

Last year Farmison founder John Pallagi sold the firm, whose customers include Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, to Scottish private investors Inverleith LLP.

Mr Pallagi remained as chief executive and a new three-year business plan was agreed.

But Mr Pallagi told the Stray Ferret today the plan had “faltered” and he hoped the situation would be resolved soon.

He has approached Ripon and Skipton Conservative MP Julian Smith and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for help after the company encountered “choppy waters” caused by issues such as war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and Brexit.

Mr Pallagi added:

“The most important thing now is protecting jobs and protecting the supply chain. I’m hoping a sale will support that.

“I’ve got people who have worked with me here for 11 years and we have gone from nothing to staying open during the pandemic and delivering seven days of the week.

“It’s unfortunate that we have got into this situation.”

Mr Pallagi said he was “not overly chuffed” at seeing the company he had built up face difficulties.

But he added he believed the Farmison model was the right one and the firm could have a strong future.

Read more:

• Award-winning Farmison & Co opens Britain’s first boutique butcher
• NHS places to be lost as Ripon dental practice closure announced

Mr Pallagi co-founded Farmison to work with local farmers and encourage people to ‘eat better meat’.

Despite sales doubling to £12m in 2021, the company then made a loss of £2.6m and faces an uncertain future if a deal is not reached.

The Stray Ferret has approached Tom Hixson of Smithfield for comment.

The staff of a landmark Harrogate hotel have been left awaiting confirmation of redundancy, as its new owners closed the business and shuttered its doors today. 

The Hotel St George is to be remodelled and reopened as a pub with rooms following a 16-week programme of works, but none of the hotel’s 76 current employees has been invited to remain in post. 

General manager Paul Donkin said the day marked the end of an era: 

“It’s very sad – there’s a lot of upset here today. I came into this job just as lockdown ended, and I had seven weeks to put together a team and get the hotel back up and running. We’ve spent two years building the business back up again, so to see it close is hard to take. It’s very emotional for those of us who have put such a lot into it.” 

The St George Hotel, opposite the Royal Hall on Ripon Road, was bought in February last year by The Inn Collection Group, a Newcastle-based company that also owns the Ripon Spa Hotel, Dean Court in York, and the Black Swan in Helmsley, among others.  

The Inn Collection Group is the hotel’s third owner in as many years. Its previous owner, Bespoke Hotels, acquired it from Specialist Leisure Group, which went into administration in May 2020. 

Mr Donkin said: 

“Why they want to make everyone redundant, only to have to find new staff when they reopen, I don’t know – it makes no sense to me. 

“But to give them their due, Inn Collection Group have followed all the proper procedures and have been very decent about it.” 

Mr Donkin said the blow of redundancy had been further softened for most of the hotel’s employees because he had managed to find them alternative employment. 

He said: 

“The day after I heard the hotel was to close, I emailed the general managers of all Harrogate’s hotels, and they’ve all been fantastic, sending me their vacancy lists and moving heaven and earth to find people jobs. Probably 95% of staff now have new jobs to go to. 

“I always said hospitality was the best job in the world, but in Harrogate it’s even better.” 

The St George Hotel grew out of the Chequers Inn and was renamed after George III’s gift of the Stray to the people of Harrogate in 1778. 

It was enlarged several times during the 19th century and renamed the St George shortly before the First World War. 

It was badly damaged by fire in 1927 and requisitioned by the Post Office and Air Ministry during the Second World War before re-opening as a hotel in 1952. It acquired a spa facility in 1985. 

Read more:

• 76 jobs at risk at Harrogate’s St George Hotel
• St George Hotel in Harrogate to close at end of month
• Ripon’s Spa Hotel aims to reopen next spring

Economic growth in the Harrogate district has been slower than regional and national averages since the district took a £438 million hit during covid.

Gross Value Added (GVA) data published by Harrogate Borough Council shows the local economy contracted by 10% – or £438 million – during 2020 and that growth has lagged behind Yorkshire and the Humber and the UK.

GVA measures the value of goods and services produced in an area, and Harrogate’s figure was set to reach £4.3 billion before the pandemic struck.

It now stands at £3.87 billion – down from £4.26 billion in 2017/18.

A council report said economic performance has been “positive” given the impacts of covid and Brexit, but added there are “continuing challenges that need to be addressed” as experts forecast a gloomy outlook with a UK recession on the horizon.

The report said:

“Overall the performance has been positive but key factors that must be taken into account are that of the UK’s exit from the European Union and the covid-19 pandemic.

“Covid-19 in particular has had a significant impact on GVA with the district seeing a 10% reduction in the economy.

“Looking forward post pandemic, forecasts show that job numbers will not return to pre-covid levels and therefore increasing productivity becomes more of a priority than ever.”

Other figures show the total number of businesses registered in Harrogate increased by 4% between 2016 and 2021 – below both the regional and national averages of 8% and 13%.

Read more:

• Knaresborough shop owner’s appeal brings support after tough summer weeks
• No Harrogate and Knaresborough trains on Thursday amid more strikes

In more positive figures, unemployment is low at 3.1% and the council has been keen to highlight its support for businesses during covid when it handed out more than £96 million to firms which were severely impacted by lockdown restrictions.

The report to a cabinet meeting on Wednesday has recommended “closing down” the council’s covid recovery plan, whilst also providing a review of its economic growth strategy which was adopted in 2017.

At the time it was adopted, the strategy identified a low wage economy and high house prices leading to a “brain drain” of people moving out of Harrogate as key problems facing the district.

These issues are still very much prevalent with average salaries of £25,000 below the UK figure of £30,000 and Harrogate house prices averaging £338,786 this year.

The report added:

“Whilst positive progress has been made since the adoption of the economic growth strategy in 2017, there are continuing challenges that need to be addressed.

“In line with national and local strategies, the council will therefore continue to prioritise and support ‘good growth’ in the district, with an aim of embedding a more sustainable and resilient economy.”