Pateley Bridge artist finalist in Fine Art Awards

Claire Baxter, who has a gallery in Pateley Bridge, has made the top five finalists in the Fine Art Trade Guild artist awards 2022.

Ms Baxter submitted her work Last of the Summer Wine, which is up against five other artists in the ‘Most Published Artist 2022’ category.

Ms Baxter’s work tries to capture Yorkshire through its locations and characters.

She started out hanging her work on the railings in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens hoping for some sales. Now she employs a gallery manager and a gallery assistant at her gallery in the Nidderdale town.

She said:

“I am absolutely thrilled and very excited to be a finalist. Even if I don’t win, to me, I’ve already won by coming this far. I paint because I love what I do and the joy of being able to put my thoughts and visions into the reality of a scene for others to enjoy is very rewarding.

“I never thought that a national award would be in my reach when I was starting out as it hasn’t been an easy journey.”

Harrogate communications firm wins London contract

A Harrogate communications agency has won a contract to support a London commercial cleaning company.

The Big Bamboo Agency will support Julius Rutherfoord & Co with bid and proposal work as well as email marketing communications campaigns.

Julius Rutherfoord & Co, which was founded in 1994, provides commercial cleaning services to organisations including Cushman & Wakefield, MADE.com and City, University of London.

Nicola Stamford, founding and director, Big Bamboo, said:

“With a strong background in the facilities management industry, our team is well positioned to support JR & Co in achieving its future vision. We are delighted to be supporting them on their journey and we look forward to our relationship developing over time.”

Medieval pop-up museum window display to arrive in Harrogate

Bethany Allen (left), Harrogate BID business and marketing executive and Sarah Checkland, The Jorvik Group of Attractions exhibitions manager, hold two uroscopy flasks which will feature in the pop-up museum.

Harrogate Business Improvement District has partnered with The Jorvik Group to install a medieval window display in the Victoria Shopping Centre over the Easter holidays.

The group, which is behind the tourist hotspot Jorvik Viking Centre in York, will show artefacts between April 1 and May 2.

Visitors can explore a wealth of information online and consider the display’s themes in more detail. Reconstructions, videos and an exclusive short film, written by Terry Deary – author of the Horrible Histories series – entitled A Touch of Plague, can all be accessed via QR codes.

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“We are really excited to be bringing Window on the Past to Harrogate this April, which will give families another great reason to come into town during the Easter holidays.”

Former CNG building goes on the market

The Harrogate headquarters of energy firm CNG, which ceased trading lat year, has gone on the market.

Montpellier Property Consultants is advertising the four-storey property on Victoria Avenue.

The air-conditioned building was built in the 1990s and refurbished in 2015. The advertisement says:

“It offers modern high specification office accommodation and benefits from the latest systems and technology.

“The quality of its specification and the very extensive office accommodation it provides makes it unique in the business district.”

Slingsby Gin signs sponsorship deal with Ascot Racecourse

Harrogate firm Slingsby Gin has become the official gin supplier to Ascot Racecourse.

Royal Ascot, which is held in June, is one of the premier events on the British horseracing calendar.

The partnership will generate considerable exposure for the local firm through exclusive branding and activations, branded bars for the season and inclusion in event coverage that is broadcast worldwide.

Slingsby Gin said in a statement:

“We are delighted to add this to our existing long-standing sponsorship with one of the golf world’s most exciting events, the BMW PGA Championship, and we hope that the new Ascot partnership will further strengthen our strong sporting connections.”

JB Gill to appear at Great Yorkshire Show

JB Gill

Pop star turned farmer JB Gill has agreed to appear on the new GYS stage at the Great Yorkshire Show.

He will appear twice on stage on Wednesday, July 13, as part of a chat show style section before meeting fans afterwards.

Former ITV Calendar presenter Christine Talbot will host the GYS Stage.

The Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate will take place from July 12 to 15.

JB rose to fame as a member of boy band JLS, who had five number one singles, before setting up a farm in the Kent countryside,

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New marketing agency launches in Harrogate

A new marketing agency called Next Chapter has launched in Harrogate.

Charlie Hartley, founder of creative agency Impression, set-up the company. Working alongside marketer Daniel Swepson, the agency will offer market and consumer research, strategy, digital advertising, search engine optimisation, content strategy and social media.

Mr Hartley said:

“We shall be delivering more advanced services within strategy, digital marketing and SEO and Daniel’s experience aligns perfectly with this vision.”

Mr Swepson said:

“We’re both clear in our vision and intend to do things differently from other agencies. From the start we shall enable brands to challenge and disrupt. Our strategies are bespoke and aim to break the mould, pushing our clients to lead the way in their sector.”

Chartered surveyors help Harrogate charity expand

Max Vause, of Carter Towler (left) and Tony Graham of Yorkshire Cancer Research.

Chartered surveyor Carter Towler is to help a Harrogate charity expand its network of shops.

Yorkshire Cancer Research currently has shops in Ripon, Knaresborough, Tadcaster and Northallerton. Carter Towler has been tasked to find five suitable retail units per year for the next three years.

Tony Graham, head of retail at Yorkshire Cancer Research, added:

“By having Carter Towler working with us we will be able us to scale-up our retail operations quickly and efficiently. By 2025 we are aiming to have 20 outlets.”

Leeds-based Carter Towler is one of the largest independent property consultants in the north, with 55 staff.

Linley & Simpson staff fundraise for charity partners

Linley & Simpson’s Aydin Arslan, Kerry Ferguson and Greg Smallwood.

Staff at Harrogate estate agency Linley & Simpson are embarking on the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds for a young people’s hospice.

A dozen employees, including property manager Aydin Arslan, branch manager Kerry Ferguson and land and development consultant Greg Smallwood will bid to scale the summits of the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales – all within 24 hours in June.

The challenge forms the centrepiece of the company’s pledge to raise £25,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice, at Boston Spa, as part of its 25th anniversary year.

Linley & Simpson, which has more than 20 branches across Yorkshire and The Humber, has raised more than £100,000 for the hospice since their partnership began six years ago.