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.

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. 

The St George Hotel in Harrogate is recruiting staff — just three weeks after it closed with the loss of 76 jobs.

The hotel is due to re-open in about 13 weeks as a pub with rooms rather than a traditional hotel. That is the preferred model of The Inn Collection Group, a Newcastle-based company that bought the historic venue in February last year.

The company is now advertising for a general manager on a salary from £45,000 and a head chef on a salary from £42,000.

A spokesman said the venue was still due to re-open in mid-summer. Scaffolding has gone up outside the building.

Asked about the decision to recruit so soon after making redundancies, the spokesman said:

“There were unfortunately delays to our refurbishment programmes as a result of problems within the construction industry and associated supply chain having a knock-on effect.

“This unfortunately meant in some cases we have had to make some redundancies in order to secure the long-term future for the sites.”

The Inn Collection Group also owns the Ripon Spa Hotel, Dower House in Knaresborough and Dean Court in York, among others.

The St George Hotel, which is opposite the Royal Hall on Ripon Road, 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:

• St George Hotel in Harrogate to close at end of month
• Stray Views: Memories of Harrogate’s St George Hotel