A Harrogate taxi company is to be renamed after being acquired by a growing York-based firm.  

Elite Taxis, which is based on Claro Road, came under new management on Monday, when it was bought by York Cars Taxis, and will be rebranded as Dash within the month. 

York Cars is one of York’s biggest taxi companies, with 15 locations in the area, and Elite’s 30 drivers brings its fleet to around 200 cars. 

Manager Billy Iqbal told the Stray Ferret: 

“When we bought York Cars in 2014, we had 15 drivers, and that increased more than tenfold over the next nine years.

“We did it by providing a great service to the people of York, and now we’re looking to expand and provide a great service to people in Harrogate and the surrounding area. Ultimately, our aim is to expand across Yorkshire, into Leeds and West Yorkshire too.” 

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Dash will provide a 24-hour-a-day service, and customers will be able to book by phone or via the Dash Request A Ride app, which is free to download on Google Play or Apple Store. Payment can be made by card, Google, Apple Pay or cash. 

York Cars Taxis now intends to enlarge its fleet and is recruiting new drivers in Harrogate and York to meet demand. Drivers’ rent is charged at 15% and capped at £75 regardless of takings. 

Shortly before Christmas, Andy Clarke heard rumours all was not well at Ripon firm Farmison & Co.

Having spent a career in retail, including six years as chief executive of Asda, Mr Clarke was aware of the company’s mission to ‘eat better meat’ and innovative business model, which had attracted clients including Harrods and Fortnum & Mason.

He was approached about getting involved but was busy at the time. He adds:

“The phone went quiet for a while and then there was a bit more noise about the company being in a challenging position. When it went into administration, I decided to look in more detail.”

Farmison entered administration on April 6 — Maundy Thursday. The ensuing Easter drama ended, appropriately, with a resurrection when a consortium spearheaded by Mr Clarke acquired the business from the administrators just over two weeks later.

It prompted a collective sigh of relief in Ripon, where Farmison was one of the city’s largest and most feted employers, with almost 100 staff and numerous awards.

Farmison will stay at Bondgate Green

Some former staff, who lost their jobs when administration happened, are being rehired and new ones are being sought as Farmison prepares to recommence trading within weeks.

What possessed Mr Clarke to get involved as executive chairman? He says:

“I’ve lived in Yorkshire most of my life and I’ve always been keen to support Yorkshire businesses. I’ve a strong affection for local and Yorkshire. I was chair of Leeds Bradford Airport for nearly five years.

“When I saw what I believed to be a great brand at risk of disappearing I felt I had to have a look to see if I could help. At that point I didn’t know what help was. It soon became clear I had to find a partner and invest in it.”

From then, events moved rapidly.

“It became a race to see who was going to rescue the business. In the final throw of the dice, we were given approval by the administrators who felt our bid to take forward the business and protect jobs was the strongest.”

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The four-strong consortium also includes Gareth Whittle, the founder and former managing director of Chilli Marketing. But not Farmison co-founder John Pallagi, who was heavily involved in the race to save the company until the last minute. Mr Clarke says:

“We discussed with John what role he might play. We are still talking to John – there could be a role for him in future. He developed a great brand and his vision to ‘eat better meat’ is what attracted me.”

Mr Clarke says the immediate challenges are to refocus, manage the cost base and stabilise the business to bring it back to growth. No drastic changes to its business model are planned. He says:

“It’s fundamentally a good business that ran out of petrol because the cost base was too high.

“We are primarily a B to C supplier. That’s the primary purpose of the business and I would suggest that will be retained.”

Mr Clarke, who lives in East Yorkshire, says he’s had “brilliant support” from suppliers even though Farmison’s administration left some being owed money. He says:

“It’s sad that these businesses have lost out because of the previous company and the previous management team. We will develop a stronger business together.”

He reaffirmed Farmison’s commitment to its Bondgate Green site in Ripon by saying the consortium has assured the landlord it intends to stay. He says:

“It’s a great site. We are at the heart of the community.”

‘Eat better meat’ is Farmison’s strapline

Mr Clarke, who is also chair of Menzies Distribution and holds other senior roles, will divide his time at Farmison with his other business ventures.

Chief operating officer Michelle Kennedy is in charge of day-to-day operations, supported by commercial director Andy Cavanna and finance manager Liam Duggan.

“I add value through my experience but when it comes down to it it’s about the capability of the team to work together and get this business back to where it’s meant to be.”

Even with his long experience in retail, however, he says the Farmison acquisition has been “quite a journey”.

“I’ve driven the Ripon Road on more occasions than ever before. It’s been great. I’ve loved it. It’s a very exciting business to be involved in and we hope we can make it successful again for Ripon.”

Business Breakfast is sponsored by Harrogate law firm Truth Legal.

The Harrogate founder of a loungewear brand aimed at pregnant women and mums has won silver in a national awards scheme.

Sophie Baldwin, who set up The Mum Collective earlier this year, was runner-up for the title of young business woman of the year at the National Business Women’s Awards in London.

She set up her business to offer the luxury yet comfortable clothing she felt was missing from her wardrobe while she was pregnant and breastfeeding.

Sophie said:

“To be awarded silver at such a high level is incredible.

“Having met some amazing female owned and led businesses at the awards night, it’s safe to say the community of women who are taking the business world by storm is a powerful one.”

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New owner for holiday park near Harrogate

A holiday park near Harrogate has changed hands for an undisclosed sum.

Cardale Estate, on the edge of Beckwithshaw, has been bought by Cardale Escapes, owned by John Brooksbank.

The park has 50 static caravans, with a licence for a further 27, and a four-bedroom detached home within its 85 acres of woodland. It had been listed for sale at £3.75m.

Mr Brooksbank was advised by a team from law firm Gordons, led by commercial real estate partner Joanne Fearnley. She said:

“Cardale Escapes has exciting plans for the holiday park and being so close to Harrogate offers residents the best of both town and country.”

Mr Brooksbank added:

“Cardale Estate is a premium holiday park with huge potential in beautiful rural surroundings just three miles from the centre of Harrogate.

“Joanne and her team at Gordons were instrumental in enabling this complex deal to complete with practical and effective advice.”

A family firm formed in Harrogate 20 years ago, which now employs 45 staff, has been sold to a large international company.

Keith Swales founded civil engineering business S&B Utilities in 2002. Based at Kestia House in Lingerfield, near Scotton.

The firm has been acquired by Hargreaves Industrial Services, which is a subsidiary of international land, property and infrastructure development company Hargreaves Services.

The sum has not been disclosed.

Managing director Mr Swales, who is 77, and finance director Karen Cocker will exit the business. All other staff will be retained.

Kestia House

S&B Utilities, which constructs water projects and other civil engineering schemes, is a framework contractor with Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent Water. It also works on military bases.

Locally, its projects have included undertaking structural concrete work for the Esplanade tower block in Harrogate and for the Tower Street car park.

Mr Swales, a civil engineer who worked for Yorkshire Water before setting up the company, said negotiations had taken eight months to complete. He added:

“We’ve been a family orientated business from day one and we believe the move to Hargreaves will enhance that.”

He thanked past and present employees for their help over the last 20 years.

Darren Swales, Will Griffin and Lee Swales will continue as directors of S&B Utilities and will be joined on the board by Sean Hager and John Samuel, who are directors of Hargreaves Industrial Services.

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