The Farm Dairy takes main prize at Knaresborough Business Awards

The Farm Dairy was named business of the year in the first Knaresborough Business Awards on Saturday.

The event, organised by the new Knaresborough Business Collective, attracted 132 guests — 50 more than initially expected.

Sixteen awards, voted on by other local businesses, were handed out at Hopewell Farm, with the main one going to longstanding deli, cheesemonger and sandwich shop The Farm Dairy, based on Market Place.

Jenna Routh, who has owned the business for seven years, said:

“I feel really honoured and proud that our little shop was recognised as the best in Knaresborough.

“We couldn’t have done without the support of our brilliant team and loyal customers.”

Everyone involved with the awards, from the caterers and trophy providers to the entertainers, runs a business in Knaresborough.

Natalie Horner, of Sid Horner and Son, who organised the event with Annie Wilkinson-Gill, from The Crystal Buddha, said she was already planning a similar event next year:

“It all went so well and the feedback we’ve had has been amazing — people had a lovely time.

“We aimed to get 80 guests and then tickets kept selling so we expanded and ordered more tables.

“It was lovely for everyone to get together. After the last couple of years, people wanted a morale booster.”

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Knaresborough Business Collective was formed eight months ago, shortly after companies in the town voted against setting a business improvement district. Currently 62 firms pay £50 a year membership.

It provides a vehicle for businesses to work collaboratively to promote the town. Profit from events is used to fund future initiatives.

The collective is now working on a Halloween extravaganza in the town centre and a winter fair. Ms Horner said:

“Knaresborough is doing well, there are not many empty shops. We just want to keep that going.”

Knaresborough Business Awards winners

Favourite female led business – 4 Seasons Florist

Favourite male led business – Zigzag Cards & Gifts

Favourite family run business – Two Brothers Grill and Pizzeria

Favourite new business – The Clothing Store of Knaresborough

Favourite health & beauty business – Divine Hairdressing

Favourite place to stay – Custard Creams Cottage

Favourite retailer – Harriets

Favourite attraction – Mother Shipton’s Cave

Favourite coffee shop – Number Thirteen

Favourite place to eat & drink – two brothers grill & pizzeria

Favourite service provider – Clicking With Canines

Favourite class/group – Freedom Performing Arts

Favourite long standing business – Sid Horner and Son

Favourite party provider – Painting Pots Knaresborough

Favourite green business – Resurrected Bites

Knaresborough business of the year – The Farm Dairy

Photos from the awards

 

 

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough businesses to be recognised at awards event

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A new awards ceremony is set to take place in Knaresborough this weekend to recognise the town’s businesses.

About 130 guests will attend Knaresborough Business Awards at Hopewell Farm on Saturday.

Set up by the Knaresborough Business Collective, the ceremony is designed to celebrate the different businesses in the town.

Award categories include favourite place to eat and drink, favourite retailer, favourite female and male led businesses and favourite long standing business.

Natalie Horner, of the Knaresborough Business Collective, said:

“We are so excited about the event. It will be a welcome event to Knaresborough and a great way for business owners to socialise and get to know one another too.

“Hopefully we can run it every year.”

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Harrogate rental company concludes sale process

A Harrogate-based equipment rental company has concluded a formal sale process after finding no satisfactory buyers.

Vp, which has its headquarters at Central House on Beckwith Knowle, launched a formal sale of the company earlier this year.

The decision followed the company’s controlling shareholder, Akers P Investment Company, a company which is connected to Vp chairman Jeremy Pilkington, indicating its desire to explore opportunities and dispose of its 50.26% shareholding.

However, in an announcement yesterday, Vp said its board had voted to conclude the sales process after finding that none of the proposals “would satisfactorily meet the interests of all stakeholders”.

Ackers P Investment Company added that it no longer had any intention of selling its shares and “remain committed to Vp”.

Mr Pilkington said:

“In the original FSP announcement I commented that Vp’s controlling shareholder, a company connected to me, had decided that it wished to diversify its investments.

“Following a review conducted with our advisers, we, as a board unanimously concluded that it would be in the best interests of all the company’s stakeholders to launch the FSP. The process was focused on identifying the right owner for the business and whilst we were pleased with the level of interest shown, the FSP did not lead to the identification of a suitable new owner.

“I am pleased that Vp’s controlling shareholder Ackers P Investment Company Limited, a company connected to me, has confirmed its ongoing commitment to Vp following the conclusion of this process.”

Eco business park near Ripon set for expansion

Melmerby eco business park set to expand

A business park at Melmerby, near Ripon, has been granted planning permission to build a further three units at its 60-acre site.

The park, owned by Potter Space, is located close to the A1 (M) and has previously won awards for its carbon neutral unit.

The new units will add 70,000 square foot to the site and include solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and cycle stores.

Potter Space operates five business parks across England with a business model that prioritises sustainability, biodiversity and wellbeing.

Jason Rockett, managing director at Potter Space, said:

“We’re pleased to be able to bring our latest investment plans to fruition at our Ripon business park and create more high-quality warehousing and industrial space to meet demand.”

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Nominations open for Knaresborough Business Awards 

Nominations for the first Knaresborough Business Awards are now open.

The awards, which will be held in August, have been organised by Knaresborough Business Collective.

Members of the public can now nominate their favourite Knaresborough business in 15 categories, including business of the year, favourite family run business, favourite group or class and favourite place to stay.

To nominate, click here.

Farm animals and bunny hunts play a part in tomorrow’s first Knaresborough Spring Fayre

Knaresborough’s Market Place is set to host a new event tomorrow of family activities, food and drink and even farm animals.

The Knaresborough Spring Fayre, organised by Knaresborough Business Collective, is being held from 10am until 4pm tomorrow.

There’ll be fairground rides, a mobile petting farm, the chance to meet the Easter bunny and foam clay and flower crown making workshops.

There is also live entertainment throughout the day with the Meadowside School Choir and All Together Now choir, an easter parade at 12pm, a live dance performance from Studio 3 and music from Albert Stott.

Local businesses will also be holding stalls for visitors to buy from and there will be food and drink vendors too.

Organisers Natalie Horner and Annie Wilkinson-Gill said:

“We are super excited as it looks to be a very busy and amazing day, we have things happening all day long and so much love and effort has been put into it, right down to the smallest details.

“We have involved as many local businesses as possible as that’s what this is all about, bringing people to town not taking trade away from shops.”

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People can arrive throughout the day and entry is free. Activities like the fairground rides, easter bunny grotto and face painting are one token per child which can be bought for £3 each.

This is the first event organised by Knaresborough Business Collective. The not-for-profit venture launched in January to stage events and be a voice for businesses. About 30 businesses have signed up so far as subscribers.

Safety urged after Knaresborough wall collapses

Residents in Knaresborough have been urged to be careful after a section of a wall near to the town’s High Street collapsed.

The wall on Vicarage Lane next to Knaresborough House collapsed yesterday and has since been reported to the council.

The road is just off the town’s High Street and serves as a route to St John the Baptist Church.

In a post on its social media, Knaresborough Business Collective urged people to take another route.

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New Knaresborough business group to hold spring fayre

The two women behind the new Knaresborough Business Collective have revealed plans to hold a spring fayre and put on other projects to boost the town.

Annie Wilkinson-Gill, from The Crystal Buddha, and Natalie Horner, from Sid Horner and Son, launched the new not-for-profit venture in January to stage events and be a voice for businesses. About 30 other businesses have signed up so far as subscribers.

The two founders were previously members of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce but decided to set up a separate group following the fallout from the doomed attempt to set up a Business Improvement District in the town.

The main premise for the collective is to encourage more people into town to spend money in local shops. It plans to hold multiple events each year to make the town more appealing and also organise projects such as a street sweeper and hanging baskets.

Ms Horner said:

“We wanted everyone to come together and get involved. We’re just very proactive people, we don’t just want to talk about doing things we want to do it.

“There’s no point complaining then not doing anything, so we thought if no one else is why don’t we.”

The pair said they have spoken to Knaresborough Chamber of Trade to make sure no events will collide and say they want to work with it and other groups to improve the town.

Ms Horner added:

“I think there’s room for us all in Knaresborough, we all want the best for the town.”

The group will also raise business concerns with bodies such as the town council and Harrogate Borough Council.

The pair are adamant they don’t want the organisation to run as a board with a small group of people taking different titles, instead they say all members can have a say and get involved in different projects.

Ms Wilkinson-Gill said:

“One thing we’ve spotted is how many people want to get involved. As much as we set it up and have to look over the finances we are happy for any businesses to jump in if we start organising an event they’re interested in.

“It’s all very exciting for Knaresborough.”

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Knaresborough Spring Fayre has been held in past years and the collective is hoping to bring it back on Saturday, April 9.

Aimed at young families, it will include over 20 stalls from local businesses, live entertainment and a petting zoo.

The pair said April can be a quiet time for the town and they hope this will generate a “great buzz”.

Further ahead, the pair will get involved in the banking hub project and jubilee celebrations. It is also hoping to bring back Children’s Day and Pet Day, formally held in Knaresborough House.