Photo of all the winners at the Stray Ferret Business Awards 2024.

Celebrating the businesses and people that make the Harrogate district thrive

Entries are now open.

ENTRIES CLOSE MONDAY 28 JANUARY AT NOON.

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The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2027 sponsored by Prosperis

Ferret

You work hard. Your team goes the extra mile. Your customers notice, and now it’s time the whole district did too.

The Stray Ferret Business Awards celebrate the best of business across Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Boroughbridge, Masham, Pateley Bridge and the surrounding villages. It all builds to a black-tie awards dinner on Thursday 18 March at the Crown Hotel.

Who can enter?

Businesses of every size and sector based in the Harrogate district can enter. This includes sole traders, independents, family firms, social enterprises, and large employers. You can enter your own business, or nominate a colleague, team or business you admire.

Check out our tips for submitting an award-winning entry here.

How to enter

Choose your category, or categories.

Complete the entry form by clicking on the link below and tell us your story, your achievements and the difference you’ve made.

Follow the judges criteria and add evidence if you can, such as results, customer feedback, photos or figures.

Top tip: the judges love specifics. Tell them what you did, why it mattered and the impact it had.

Key dates

Entries open: 1 November 2026

Entries close: 28 January 2027

Shortlist announced: w/c 1 Feburary 2027

Awards dinner: 18 March at the Crown Hotel, Harrogate

The 2026 categories

  • Dynamic Leader 

    These people are key for any successful business. They drive progress, activity and change in their organisation.

    Enter here!

  • Family Business 

    A business with a strong sense of shared values and long-term vision that successfully balances family involvement with professional management. 

    Enter here!

  • Sustainable Business

    This award recognises those businesses that have put sustainability at the top of their agenda. These businesses are helping drive change and leading the way by reducing their impact on the environment.

    Enter here!

  • Best Employer 

    Best Employers embrace a culture of high performance, stress company values and have systems in place to inspire their workforce to do their best.

    Enter here!

  • Rising Star Under 30

    This award highlights the up and coming talent at a business. These people are sure to make waves and build a successful career in the years to come.

    Enter here!

  • Employee Appreciation

    This person is the glue of the team. They are not only integral to the day to day, but they also bring a personal touch that makes the business that bit brighter.

    Enter here!

  • Business of the Year 

    A business which is leading the way in strategy, growth, community involvement and people development.

    Enter here!

  • Best Independent

    This business has navigated the changes to high street shopping and as a result is seeing growth in challenging retail times.

    Enter here!

  • Inclusivity Award 

    Vital recognition for a company that has demonstrated working practices with a proactive approach to inclusivity, giving people a chance to thrive.

    Enter here!

  • Best Use of Digital

    A business that has embraced the digital world to drive success.

    Enter here!

Meet the Judges

Thank you to the 2026 Judges. This year we welcome back two previous judges to the panel and James Rycroft of Vida Healthcare.

  • Photo of Niall Gunn, CEO of Stray Ferret Business Awards sponsor Prosperis.

    Niall Gunn

    Niall is the CEO of Prosperis. With over 35 years of experience in the financial services sector, Niall has been instrumental in shaping the Prosperis service proposition and unique market position since setting up the business in 2001. 

    His expertise is working with key individuals in SME businesses, advising on their corporate benefit structure, retirement and investment strategies.  

  • Photo of Clare Morrow, Bettys & Taylors non-executive director and 2026 Stray Ferret Business Awards judge.

    Clare Morrow

    Clare Morrow joined Bettys & Taylors Group as a Non-Executive Director in 2014 and became Chair in 2020. 

    A former journalist and ITV Yorkshire executive, she has held various board roles and is currently a University of Huddersfield Council member. She also chaired Welcome to Yorkshire and supported major public organisations.

  • James Rycroft

    Since 2010, under James directorship, Vida Healthcare has offered exceptional care for people living with Dementia.

    Over the years James has designed, developed and now operates 300 beds and employs over 500 staff. 

    All Vida’s homes have been rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission which a direct result of James’ passion for quality care and quality environments.

The winners of the Stray Ferret 2025 Business Awards sponsored by Prosperis

Winners Lounge 

This is the moment the entrants for the Stray Ferret Business Awards have all been dreaming about. 

The Winners Lounge, sponsored by LCF Law, where we interview finalists and take lots of pictures so we can celebrate your success.

What does it mean to win the Stray Ferret Business Awards?

Harvey George were thrilled to win an award in the category best use of digital. It was wonderful to have the teams hard work, knowledge and dedication recognised by other people outside of the company.

Sophie Griffiths, Harvey George

Winning Large Business of the Year was an honour and a privilege. We are grateful to all the judges for recognising Vida Healthcare, which gave our workforce a real boost. The Stray Ferret brings the community together with these awards

James Rycroft, Vida Healthcare

We were thrilled to win the Business Growth Award at this year’s Stray Ferret Business Awards. Particularly as a small independent business, to be recognised in a category with some local giants in the shortlist was amazing. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the team at Starling who have responded so positively to the significant growth we have achieved over the past couple of years.

Simon Midgley, Starling Independent

I was overjoyed for The Cheeseboard to be singled out as the Best Independent Retailer, especially amongst such fierce competition. It really was an honour and testament to our hard work and dedication to supplying the public with local, artisan produce, supporting dairy industries locally and further afield. In a world when the economical climate is uncertain, and high street shops are closing, it is such a pleasure that a small, independent shop like The Cheeseboard has survived and is still surviving in these uncertain times. After 42 years in business, we are so pleased to have this award bestowed on us!

Gemma Akroyd, The Cheeseboard Harrogate

Winning the Stray Ferret 2025 Business of the Year and Business Growth of the Year is truly overwhelming. We are incredibly proud to receive both awards after what has been a challenging yet hugely rewarding year for Live For Today. After coming close last year but falling just short, we were more determined than ever to make this one count. Since then, we’ve acquired a new business, launched a brand-new centre at Swinton Park Hotel, and doubled our income. With that growth came challenges—merging teams, developing new processes, and building a fresh digital presence—but our team rose to the occasion. They have been nothing short of incredible, pushing themselves beyond limits to make it all happen. This was a year of stepping outside the ordinary to achieve something extraordinary, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Here’s to an even bigger 2025!

Marc Wise, Live for Today

What an evening at the Stray Ferret Awards. Winning the Sustainability awards was a big surprise and our students were over the moon. We have invested heavily in renewable energy to save money and the environment. It's great to be acknowledged for the work we have done. Every business should be into recycling and renewable energy. It will save you money in the long term. 

Phil Airey, Horticap

I was honoured to be nominated and to win the category of rising star, especially with the others I was up against being such strong candidates. I look forward to continuing to grow in my work and take on new challenges.  

Thomas Lupton, Econ Engineering