Businesses stage sleepout to campaign against homelessness 

Eight local businesses completed a sleepout with CEO Sleepout UK to raise awareness of hidden homelessness in the district. 

The group of business leaders spent the night sleeping outdoors at Harrogate Rugby Club, and have raised almost £15,000 for CEO Sleepout UK, Ripon YMCA, Harrogate District Foodbank and Harrogate RUFC. 

The North Yorkshire based companies that took part were Nicholls Tyreman Estate Agents, Hudgell Solicitors, Ripon YMCA, Pavilions of Harrogate, Jorvik Design Group, Stratstone BMW, Carson Homes and Harrogate Borough Council.   

The participants included CEO of Hudgell Solicitors Rachel Di Clemente, Nicholls Tyreman director James Tyreman, and director of Jorvik Design Group Ady Rhodes.

The business leaders at Harrogate’s sleepout

Chief executive of CEO Sleepout Bianca Robinson said:  

“I was thrilled to see some of North Yorkshire’s biggest-hearted business people turn out for this event. Just because Harrogate is not a place where you might see many rough sleepers, it doesn’t mean homelessness doesn’t exist.  

“Hidden homelessness is increasing across North Yorkshire – families who can no longer afford private rental, young people, and single mothers living in insecure temporary accommodation.” 

She added:  

“It was a tough night and surprisingly cold, but by bringing those with lived experience to share their stories, and hearing about the vital work of charities on the frontline, we unlock understanding, compassion and inspire our business leaders to use their power to create greater social value.” 

CEO Sleepout stages fundraising events across the UK, and has raised £3 million for more than 100 charities.  

Student from Knaresborough achieves unprecedented full marks in hairdressing exam 

A hairdressing student from Knaresborough has achieved full marks in her practical exam.  

Penny Ledgeway, who is 20, completed her level two exam at Intuitions hairdressing college in Harrogate, with a perfect score of 700 marks.   

During the exam, she was asked to do a number of hairdressing treatments, including half a head of highlights, a restyle and cut, and a curly blow dry. 

When asked why she chose to pursue hairdressing, Ms Ledgeway said:  

“I’ve always wanted to do it really, I like to do a bit of everything but I am quite social anyway.

“I wouldn’t be able to just sit at a computer all day.”

Michelle Oliver, director of Intuitions college, said it was “unusual” for someone to get full marks in the exam, adding:

“Both me and her educator are really proud, she’s worked really hard.

“It’s good for us at Intuitions, but also for the employer to have someone with that skillset from the apprenticeship programme”.

After completing her level two exams, Ms Ledgeway is now a fully qualified hairdresser, and currently works at Kelly Teggin Hair & Beauty in Knaresborough.

She is now hoping to move on to a further stage of qualifications, which she said are more advanced and creative.  

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Success for Harrogate cafe and home care company
Hustle & Co

Staff from Hustle & Co collect their award.

A Harrogate start-up company’s efforts to overcome the challenges of covid have been recognised.

Hustle & Co was one of three finalists from 24 nominated organisations in the new business starter of the year category at Yorkshire Choice Awards.

The awards ceremony, attended by 700 people in Leeds, recognised independent businesses in Yorkshire.

Hustle & Co, which is co-owned by Nici Routledge and Jo Bradshaw, opened in December 2020 on Prince Albert Row.

Ms Routledge said making the top three was recognition of the tenacity of everyone at Hustle & Co during a difficult period for start-ups due to covid and Brexit.

Bishop Thornton home care company recognised as one of UK’s best

Carefound Home Care

Carla Hainsworth (left) and Lorna Miles from Carefound.

Carefound Home Care has won an award for being one of the top 20 home care groups in the UK.

Nearly a million disabled and older people receive care at home so they can stay living independently. This includes help with getting dressed, washed, preparing meals and drinks and administering medication.

Carefound was named as one of the top 20 home care providers in the UK based on reviews given at care reviews site www.homecare.co.uk.

Oliver Stirk, managing director of Carefound, said:

“This award is especially welcomed because it is based on actual reviews from our clients and their friends and family, who clearly recognise the outstanding care our home care team provides across Yorkshire.”

Amanda Hopkins, reviews manager of homecare.co.uk, said:

“Carefound has proved that it provides a high standard of care and we’d like to congratulate it on being a top home care group.”

Carefound operates in North Yorkshire, Cheshire and Nottinghamshire.

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Harrogate firm Yorkshire Resin Coatings goes into liquidation

Harrogate firm Yorkshire Resin Coatings Ltd has ceased trading and gone into liquidation.

A resolution for winding-up the company was posted on the public record website The Gazette today.

The company specialised in resin-bound driveways and patios. Its trading address was Hartwill House, Hookstone Avenue.

Founded in 2005, its customers included Grantley Hall, a luxury hotel near Ripon. Former Harrogate Grammar School student Mark Kennedy was its managing director.

The company’s last accounts posted on Companies House, for the financial year ending July 27, 2020, said it had 12 employees.

The Gazette listing says Manchester insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor has been appointed liquidator.

The Stray Ferret contacted YRC’s public email address for a statement but we did not receive one at the time of publication.

Enquiries about the liquidation can be made to Jo Hudson at jo.hudson@btguk.com

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Harrogate businesses welcome furlough extension

Business owners in the Harrogate district have welcomed an extension to the furlough scheme which they say will help to save jobs.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the scheme, which covers 80% of employee salaries, will be extended until September this year.

Mr Sunak also confirmed that a business rates holiday will be extended until June, as well as a 5% VAT reduction for the hospitality and tourism sectors for six months.

An extra £5 billion worth of grants for high street shops and hospitality have also been announced. It will see pubs and hotels able to bid for £18,000 worth of funding.

Peter Banks, managing director of Rudding Park Hotel and Spa, said he was pleased with the extension to the furlough scheme.

He said:

“I’m delighted with that because it will be flexible furlough and it will mean that we do not have to carry that wage bill if we do not have customers.

“It means that my team will still be able to pay their mortgages. We are lucky that we as a business have more fat on our back, but there are lots who live hand to mouth.”

Elsewhere in his budget, Mr Sunak announced a further £400 million financial support for the arts.

The money will be added to the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, which has already awarded £800 million in grants to theatres, museums and music venues.

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Ripon Cathedral, Harrogate Theatre, the Deer Shed Festival, Ripon Museum Trust and Ripon Amateur Operatic Society are among the local beneficiaries of the fund so far.

David Bown, chief executive of the Harrogate Theatre, said he was pleased with the announcements on furlough and arts funding.

However, he added that more detail was required on the schemes.

He said:

“The furlough scheme will allow us to bring staff back in a measured way when we have got the details on when we can reopen.

“The funding for the arts is great news, but again we will have to find out the detail on the criteria and how we can access that.”

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festival, agreed the “devil would be in the detail”.

She said:

“The items that would affect us are the fourth and fifth grants. It is great that people in the arts are being recognised, especially those who may have missed out previously because of the way their business is set up.

“The devil will be in the detail, particularly for our industry, given all the unknowns on the reopening.”

Harrogate BID launches online shopping directory with the Stray Ferret

Harrogate BID and the Stray Ferret have joined forces to launch a new online shopping directory to support local businesses in the run-up to Christmas.

The Shop Harrogate Online site will provide customers with a one-stop-shop to buy from local retailers forced to move online by the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

People will be able to find and buy from fashion, homeware, food and drink, and beauty retailers, as well as finding services such as accountants, lawyers and other local professionals.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID acting chair, said:

“We are delighted that Harrogate BID is partnering with The Stray Ferret to power this special page to encourage people to ‘Shop Harrogate Online’.

There are so many businesses that are continuing to trade during this second lockdown, and the directory will help them promote their services. For those looking to make purchases locally, it is a single point of reference.

Remember, when you Shop Harrogate Online, you are helping support the Harrogate economy and safeguard local livelihoods and jobs.

And don’t forget you can also purchase the Harrogate Gift Card, which is accepted by more than 100 local shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Every £1 loaded on to a card means £1 kept within the local economy.”

Businesses across the Harrogate district can list their website for free at thestrayferret.co.uk/shoplocal

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COLUMN: Businesses still face months of change and challenge

This column is written for The Stray Ferret by Jacqui Hall, non-executive director for CNG, a commercial based gas supplier in Harrogate, and regional chair of the CBI Yorkshire and Humber district:

Coronavirus and its impact has crept into every part of our lives. The world of business looks a very different place to what it did just a few months ago, and as it starts to reopen and begin its road to recovery, it will not look how we knew it.

The economy was hit hard by the necessary shutdown at the end of March, and recent data suggests the full impact of that difficult decision is still yet to come. Temporary closures and reduced operations have led to financial concerns with many business having faced or facing reduced income.

As businesses start to reopen, the Government has released some guidance on how to do so. The CBI has worked closely with the TUC and the Government to deliver a plan that works for employers and employees. All this builds on the good proactive plans many firms have developed during lockdown. Excellent employee engagement, fast workplace innovation and transparency have helped many companies support livelihoods. The financial support has been a lifeline for businesses and as the economy restarts and situations continue to change this is ever adapting to become more individual sector specific.

But even with all this support – the battle is not necessarily over yet. Businesses still face months of change and challenge as they navigate through the recovery phase, operational costs are higher, overheads are increasing and most businesses are having to operate at a reduced capacity in order to adhere to government guidelines.

Most businesses look extremely different to what they did prior to lockdown, with many of their operating models changing completely. We’ve seen B2B businesses move to B2C, restaurants become takeaways and innovators stimulating new technology adaption or bringing technologies already in place to the forefront of their businesses. As we move toward the ‘new normal’ these business are now faced with a new challenge – do they revert back to old ways or continue with the new model they’ve adopted? Customer habits and needs are changing and it is hard to predict where the next six months will go.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, it is an opportunity for businesses to adapt and change – there is an appetite for them to learn from others, adopt new strategies and build back better.

At CBI we are committed to this effort to ensure Yorkshire and every region across the UK is positioned to bounce back from this crisis as quickly as possible whilst making investments in skills, infrastructure and technology needed to sustain inclusive growth.

It’s not going to be easy, but it is just as important now than ever that we pull together – this is a long road, but one we aren’t on alone.

 

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