This article is sponsored by Wizu Workspace.

Wizu Workspace, the North’s most exciting flexible workspace provider, has opened its doors at the iconic Royal House, one of Harrogate’s most prestigious addresses.

The spacious period building is the ideal place for any local business looking to grow. The stunning workspace offers private offices, co-working membership, meeting rooms and event space – all available on a flexible basis.

Wizu have created a comfortable, friendly environment that combines modern and traditional elements – perfect for growing small and large businesses alike.

Meet the Wizu team

When you walk through the doors at Royal House, the first people you’ll meet are Kitty Lewis and Grace Franklin, full-time hosts at the Harrogate site.

A beautiful communal space.

They’ll make you feel instantly at home: Kitty’s approach is to focus on customer service and creating a warm welcome. She said:

“I’ve always worked in hospitality, and that’s how I see Wizu. We look after our members and give them the best workday we can – every day.

“Most of our staff come from a hospitality background, which shows in our customer loyalty and retention.”

Among those is Jamie Lea, who brings ten years’ experience in five-star hotels (including The Dorchester in London) to his role as community manager. He said:

“I wanted something where I could use my hospitality experience. So I’ve swapped bedroom guests for office members! I’m still running events and the reception desk, but we deliver service differently to a hotel – it’s much more informal and relaxed.”

A culture of service 

Tom Almas, managing director and co-founder, believes that workspace – when done well – can inspire people to enhance their productivity and creativity:

“Many business owners are stuck in soul-destroying, uninspiring workspace, which leads to dull, repetitive workdays for them and their teams.

“At Wizu, we do things differently. We don’t tie people into long leases. We create bright, beautifully-designed workspaces, so our members can stay productive, creative and energised – and go further as individuals and businesses as a result.”

A relaxed and friendly atmosphere

The team work hard to make their members feel at home.

One of the meeting rooms you could take advantage of.

Music quietly plays in the kitchen and co-working space, which Kitty says has “a relaxed coffee shop vibe.” For those who want a quiet space to concentrate, there are private working pods to escape to and get work done.

This approach – to give its members more than an office – is core to Wizu’s design philosophy.

They’ve also created a community where members collaborate and often work together. Kitty said:

“What’s interesting is that our members have set the tone themselves. It’s great to see them chatting and helping each other out.”

Demand for space has been huge

Wizu offer several membership packages, such as ’50 hours for £60′ in the co-working space. Private offices are priced at £300 + VAT per desk/month.  Virtual office packages start from £40 plus VAT/month.

Part of the co-working space.

The fees are all-inclusive: there is no need to arrange broadband or cover heating bills. Even the furniture is included.

This flexible, inclusive package is clearly needed in Harrogate: since it opened its doors in the spring, demand has exceeded all expectations.

Over 65% of all offices have been sold, with interest in the co-working space and meeting rooms far higher than anyone predicted.

John Guggenheim, co-founder, said:

“The rising trend of businesses looking to work flexibly, coupled with our knowledge of the North, made Harrogate a perfect fit for us.

“We’re delighted with how we’ve been welcomed, and we look forward to playing our part in growing Harrogate’s dynamic economy.”

This beautiful building, with its quality interiors, professional team and flexible terms, is a fantastic addition to the Harrogate business scene.

To find out more about Wizu Workspace or to book a free two-day trial in the co-working space, call Royal House on 01423 574110.

A Harrogate training centre for people in the hair and beauty industry has received praise from Ofsted in its latest inspection.

Rating Intuitions Ltd ‘good’, inspectors said the “high-quality training” was delivered by staff who have “care and passion”.

The business has recently moved to a new model of delivering training, with most of its lessons delivered one-to-one or in small groups in the salons where apprentices are training.

Ofsted inspectors said:

“Apprentices studying the level two hair professional standard, who are new to the profession, quickly develop their understanding of the high standards of professional behaviours expected in the salons in which they work.

“They behave professionally, and are mature, polite, courteous and respectful to other staff, educators and clients.

“Educators encourage learners and apprentices to take pride in their work, and this is evident in learners’ well-presented portfolios. They are effective role models and have a wide range of industry experience, which inspires learners and apprentices.

“Educators ensure that their appearance reflects professional industry standards, and this reinforces the expectation of apprentices to adhere to the expected standards of dress code in their salons.”

Inspectors said trainees were quick to improve their skills and were pleased with what they achieved even at an early stage of their training.

Read more:

• Ofsted finds ‘good’ village school near Knaresborough is ‘like a second home’
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However, they recommended staff could do more to develop their other skills, such as by correcting spelling in all written work and giving more comprehensive careers guidance.

The report added:

“Targets set by educators following frequent and comprehensive reviews of work are focused, and apprentices are clear about the progress that they are making.

“Educators clearly identify strengths and areas for improvement, and apprentices know what they need to do next. They share the information with employers in comprehensive reports.

“Apprentices are supported well by their employers, which contributes to the good progress that they make.”

Now based in Wizu Workspace at Royal House on Station Parade, Intuitions was founded almost 30 years ago. It has been run by Michelle Oliver since 2000 and has grown significantly during that time.

Intuitions Ltd has a new home on Station Parade, but delivers most of its training in salons.

Following the challenges of covid, Ms Oliver told the Stray Ferret the new model of delivering training has been well-received.

“We’re enjoying delivering the new model. It’s nice to be able to go into a business and see the learners using their skills in a real setting.

“That’s what we’re here for – to create the hairdresser for the salons. That’s the beauty of apprenticeships: they’re in the workplace, earning money – not much, but it could be £200 a week, which is a lot when you’ve just left school.

“They’re seeing professional people working alongside them and learning from them all the time.”

Ms Oliver said her own experience of working in a salon while training showed her the value of learning how to behave in a workplace and how to engage with clients.

She said she hoped the supportive comments from Ofsted and the professional standards on show from the learners might encourage more people, as well as local high schools, to do more to promote apprenticeships as a potential career path for their students.

A Pateley Bridge man has been given a 12-month community order for masturbating in a public car park in Harrogate.

Thomas Christopher Watson, 29, of Millfield Street, appeared at Harrogate Magistrates Court this afternoon having already pleaded guilty to one count of outraging public decency.

The court heard a member of the public had called police on September 3, after she had seen Watson masturbating in his car in the car park on Station Parade.

When officers arrived, Watson was compliant and admitted the offence when questioned at the police station.

Defending, Brian Nuttney of McCormicks Solicitors said it was important not to conflate Watson’s actions with indecent exposure, where the act is targeted towards someone else. He said:

“In short, he describes this as a terrible decision. It was not something that was planned and it was not something that was thought through.

“It was not something that was going on in response to anything or anybody around him… Intent isn’t something that can be shown in any way here.”

Mr Nuttney said Watson was “shocked” by his own behaviour and had done some work to address whether he needed help.

The court heard Watson, an office worker who was based mainly at home, had received a police caution for a similar offence in 2010.

Magistrates imposed the community order along with a requirement to complete 30 days’ rehabilitation activity, designed to help him address his problems.

They ordered him to complete 120 hours’ unpaid work and to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and costs of £85.

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• Crown court trial for man charged with Harrogate town centre attacks
• Suspected Ripon rogue trader receives court ban

Photographers Stacey Evans and Sarah Warne, who raised £7,500 taking portraits of people on their doorsteps during covid, are to set up a studio in the centre of Harrogate.

The pair, who raised the money for Harrogate District Hospital, became firm friends in the process.  Both have three young children — Stacey has three girls, Sarah has three boys.

Their new company is called The Studio with Stacey and Sarah and will be based on Station Parade:

Stacey told the Stray Ferret:

“We saw a property become available on Station Parade, the one that had the fire opposite the bus station.

We went to see it and it is perfect. It is very accessible and a great space. It’s been refurbished and feels like new so it’s great. We are getting ready for launch in the next three weeks.”

Stacey has been working out of a studio in the garage at her home and said demand has been so high for her photography she had been turning down work.

She told the Stray Ferret that they had thought hard about whether this was the right time to start a business with the economic climate looking bleak and because they are young mums, but the landlord made it possible.

“The offer from the landlord was fantastic.  He completely understood where we were coming from and we got a great agreement from him.

“The fact is I’ve been turning away so much work. It feels like people are cherishing the moment now more than ever after covid.

“We want to focus on mums — so often it is the mums who are left out of the photos as they’re taking them.. We try to keep it so that mums feel comfortable and encourage them to have photos with their children. I would have loved to have more photos of my mum. I think giving mums the opportunity to have a lovely photo and talk to us as mums is important.

“We want to give bonding moments and special memories.”

An example of Sarah and Stacey’s work. 

A Pateley Bridge man has pleaded guilty to performing a lewd act in a car park on Harrogate’s Station Parade.

Thomas Watson, 29, of Millfield Street, appeared before magistrates in Harrogate on Thursday last week.

He was charged with outraging public decency by masturbating in a public car park on September 3 this year.

Watson was remanded on unconditional bail until October 13.

Pre-sentence reports will be prepared before he next appears in court.

Read more:

• Harrogate district planning rules could be ‘radically streamlined’
• Pateley Bridge mum’s fear over £660 sixth form bus cost

The councillor in charge of transport in North Yorkshire has claimed inflation will not lead to cheaper materials being used in the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway scheme.

Cllr Keane Duncan, executive member for highways and transportation at North Yorkshire County Council, told Harrogate district businesses last night the scheme would not be “compromised”.

David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, told the organisation’s monthly meeting that Harrogate was a “premier town” and “the last thing we want is for the town centre to be cheapened”.

Mr Simister said he would prefer to see any town centre investment spent on improving Cambridge Street and Oxford Street rather than on the gateway project, which would pedestrianise part of James Street and reduce traffic on a stretch of Station Parade to single lane to encourage walking and cycling.

Cambridge Street – in need of investment?

He asked Cllr Duncan if he could guarantee the gateway would be a high quality project. Cllr Duncan replied:

“At the moment there hasn’t been any discussion around compromising the scheme.

“If there are inflationary pressures we will have to look at what we can do around those costings. Does the council look at contributing to any shortfall? That’s not anything we have discussed at this time.”

Read more:

• Harrogate traffic to be counted for £11.2m Station Gateway
• On demand Yorbus sees over 13,000 trips in first year

Cllr Duncan added all local authorities faced inflationary measures that required “tough decisions” but added:

“The last thing I want to see happen is compromise on the public realm because that is an important part of the scheme.”

Cllr Duncan told the meeting the third round of gateway consultation had now ended and if, as expected, councillors decide to proceed, work is likely to start next year.

Encouraging active travel

He also told the chamber meeting, which focused on carbon reduction,  that “how people shop and get around” was a key part of the council’s plan to be carbon net zero by 2034 and carbon negative by 2040.

Cllr Duncan, who lives in Malton, said there were four strands to achieving this. They were: fleet and logistics; shifting to low carbon vehicles; decarbonising public transport and increasing active travel by encouraging more people to walk distances of up to 2km and cycle distances of up to 8km rather than drive.

Encouraging cycling is a council priority. Photo: Hedgehog Cycling

Responding to a question by a chamber member that the council’s aim to double the use of public transport seemed completely at odds with what is happening, Cllr Duncan agreed the number of bus routes had decreased over the last 20 years, adding:

“We are now at a critical time. Passenger numbers are now at 80% pre-pandemic levels.

“A number of routes that were previously commercially viable are now essentially at a cliff edge situation.”

He said the council was therefore “trying to do things differently”, for instance by introducing the on-demand minibus service for rural areas YorBus, which covers Ripon, Masham and Bedale.

Last night’s chamber meeting at the Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate also heard carbon reduction-themed talks from Paul White, a procurement specialist at Auditel, Sarah Jones, the founder of Full Circle Funerals and from Danny Wild and Mike Kay from Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition.

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal. 

A care provider from Northallerton has expanded into the Harrogate district.

Blossom Home Care provides care to the elderly and other adults with home care requirements. Established in 2015 in Northallerton, Blossom has moved into the north-east, North Yorkshire and other areas of the UK.

Carrianne Walters and Darren Kacis, franchise owners of Blossom Home Care Harrogate, have over 30 years experience in social care.

Their office opened this week on Hartwith Way in Harrogate.

They can be contacted on 01423 649885 or by email at managerharrogate@blossomhomecare.co.uk.

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• Business Breakfast: Ripon company director shortlisted for two industry awards
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Harrogate town centre flats nears completion

Apartments being developed in central Harrogate are due to be ready to move into this autumn.

Lambert House is being built by Harrogate-based Tate Estates and consists of 12 two-bedroom apartments, just off Station Parade.

All the apartments have private under-croft parking and several of the properties include two-storey duplex layouts and balconies.

Shane Tate, from Tate Estates, said:

“We’re excited to release the homes for sale, and especially because we’ve already had high levels of enquiries from a wide range of potential buyers during the construction phase.”

Harrogate firefighters were called out last night to deal with a fire in a planter.

A planter on Station Parade, outside Victoria Shopping Centre, caught fire at about 10.45pm.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log said the fire was smouldering when Harrogate firefighters arrived.

It added:

“Crews used buckets of water and gave advice to on site security staff.”

Harrogate firefighters also dealt with a fire in the open on Jenny Field Drive yesterday morning at 10.22am.

The incident log said:

“This was a fire to a downed tree. Crews extinguished this using a bucket of water and small hand tools.”

The Harrogate district, like much of the country, is currently rated ‘very high risk’ in the Met Office’s fire severity index.

Read more:

• Firefighters tackle field fire in Aldborough
• Girls aged 13 and 14 admit setting fire to bins in Harrogate

The amount of traffic in Harrogate is to be monitored as part of the £11.2 million Station Gateway scheme.

Speaking at a consultation event today on the latest designs for the scheme, Richard Binks, head of major traffic and infrastructure at North Yorkshire County Council, said it had asked consultants to count the volume of traffic.

Mr Binks said current forecasts were based on pre-covid surveys and it was likely traffic had reduced since then.

North Yorkshire County Council said last month the scheme would extend the average journey time around town by 73 seconds at peak times.

Mr Binks said this had now been amended to 50 seconds because plans to reduce two approaches to the Odeon cinema to single lanes had been abandoned.

He said he suspected the traffic count would further negate the argument that the scheme will slow down traffic, even though it will reduce part of Station Parade to one lane.

Mr Binks said it was a common misconception that reducing the number of lanes around town caused congestion. He added that having more efficient junctions, with upgraded smart traffic lights on Station Parade, would improve traffic flow.

He said:

“We are working towards submitting a full business case in the new year so we have about six months to finalise designs.”

Today’s consultation event was the first of three in which people can see the latest designs.

A document displaying the latest designs at today’s consultation event.

In another development today, Mr Binks said the taxi rank on Station Parade would now remain the same length, after the county council indicated last month it would be shortened.

Mr Binks was one of four officials at today’s consultation event answering questions on the latest designs, which were on display.

Further events will be held tomorrow and Saturday from 11am to 4pm at Victoria Shopping Centre.

Read more:

• £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway will ‘boost business and house prices’
• New Harrogate Station Gateway details revealed today

Mr Binks acknowledged there were concerns but he said the overwhelming sentiment today was positive and he detected a “softening” of attitudes towards the scheme, which would reduce part of Station Parade to single lane and part pedestrianise James Street.

Station Parade

Business groups have expressed concern about the impact on trade but Mr Binks said the regeneration of the town centre would make it more attractive and encourage shoppers, as well as making it better for cyclists and pedestrians.

He added the loss of a small number of parking spaces would not have a significant impact because there was “an abundance of car parking in Harrogate”.

Mr Binks also said the scheme remained affordable despite the increase in cost of raw materials over the last year.

You can take part in the consultation online here.

What is the Station Gateway?

The project is one of three in North Yorkshire, and 39 nationally, being funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund to promote active travel.

North Yorkshire County Council, Harrogate Borough Council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority all support the gateway.

Work is due to start in late spring next year.

A wheelchair user has praised the owner of Harrogate restaurant Oliveta who personally went out and bought a ramp so she could dine inside.

Now, Nichola Emmerson is calling for other businesses in the town to follow suit in a bid to make eating out more accessible.

Ms Emmerson, who is a campaigner and advocate for disabled access, said she believed any public service should be available to everyone.

She said:

“I’m finding in Harrogate that as much as I love the town, there are an awful lot of businesses that aren’t accessible. I think there are a lot that could be.

“I feel a bit let down by society. I want it to change. The legislation in this country is not good enough for access and there are ways and means of getting around it. So companies get away with not providing access.”

Ms Emmerson, who lives in Harrogate, said she enjoyed going to restaurants, but often ended up being limited to chains, which usually provided access.

A few weeks ago, she spotted Oliveta, on Station Parade, which she saw had steps but decided to call the restaurant to see if there was another entrance.

She said:

“The owner was extremely polite and whilst informing me that he didn’t have wheelchair access, it was something he was working on.

“In the meantime, he suggested that he would put a table and some chairs outside. A great idea I thought, so the following evening, the sun was shining and I met my friend at Oliveta’s. We had a wonderful evening and the food was sublime.”

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• New Harrogate Pret criticised for lack of disability access
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Since that evening, Ms Emmerson spent time working with the owner, Kole Lleshi, in an effort to get a ramp, doorbell and signage installed to make it wheelchair accessible.

She said:

“To my absolute delight, Kole has now got a ramp, which he funded himself, following an attempt to get help from the local council and failing.

“I am now able to access the restaurant, which has the most wonderful interior and the icing on the cake is knowing there is also a fully accessible disabled toilet. These adjustments make such a different the lives of disabled people.”

Kole Lleshi, who opened the Mediterranean restaurant with his wife Bukurie, in December 2021, said he had tried to seek support from Harrogate Borough Council, but did not get a response.

He said:

“Nichola will be my customer now forever, so I checked the legislation and it said we could use a safety ramp.

“I found a ramp in Doncaster on a website. So I went with my wife, we bought it. I called Nichola and told her to come back and we tried and it’s working. She came in and that night she was supposed to stay only one hour and stayed for three.”

Ms Emmerson explained that there was a huge potential spending power from the country’s disabled people, known as “the purple pound”. This is thought to contribute around £249 billion annually to the economy.

She said:

“Our money is as valuable as anyone else’s. If we can’t get into services to use it, then it’s not good for the economy.”

“The fact that this has happened is very close to my heart. When I went into the restaurant I just felt free. It has also got a disabled toilet. Quite a lot are full of changing tables and they are an after thought, but this is a nice environment.

“I now want other disabled people to come here to enjoy the food and use the facilities and I want other businesses to follow suit.

“Of course Harrogate is hilly and full of old buildings, but I’m finding that retailers are either not bothered about trying to make what in most cases could be a simple change to their premises. Or they are unaware of the the purple pound and the pieces of equipment that are available.”

The disabled toilet at Oliveta.

Harrogate charity Disability Action Yorkshire offers accessibility audits to help businesses do all they can to be fully accessible.

A spokesman for the charity said for some businesses it was impossible to adapt the premises and make them fully accessible. However, he said there were ways of making them more welcoming for disabled people.

He said:

“For someone to buy their own ramp, that’s absolutely fantastic. Now wheelchair users can go and have a meal there.

“If anybody wants advice on this issue, please contact Disability Action Yorkshire. We can work with businesses to help them operate in a disability-friendly way.”

A spokesman for Harrogate Borough Council commented:

“Under the Equality Act 2010, businesses should ensure they do not discriminate against individuals with a disability. Further guidance, including all statutory requirements for businesses, can be found on the government’s website.

“Any eligible individuals who may need financial support to help adapt their home in order to meet the needs of any disabled children or adults living there can apply for a disabled facilities grant (DFG). Further information is available via our website.”