Business Breakfast: Harrogate business meeting to focus on cybersecurity

The Stray Ferret Business Club’s next meeting is a breakfast event on Thursday, 27 July at Banyan in Harrogate between 8-10am. 

The Business Club provides monthly opportunities to network, make new connections and hear local success stories. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate business meeting is set to focus on cybersecurity.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce will host the event on Monday (July 10) from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Majestic DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel.

PC Daniel Fawkes from the cyber crime division of North Yorkshire Police will be the guest speaker for the evening.

PC Fawkes will speak about business protection, social engineering threats and personal security considerations.

Meanwhile, Andy Morrison of Andisa IT Consultants will give a speech on how to implement security strategies.

Meanwhile, the evening will commence with a presentation from Harrogate Skills 4 Living at 6:15 pm, before the keynote presentation from the guest speaker.

For more information on the meeting and to book a place, visit the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce website.

Harrogate district plant nursery launches horticultural training scheme

A Harrogate district plant nursery has launched a 12-week horticultural training course.

Johnsons of Whixley has set up the programme in partnership with Askham Bryan College in York.

The course, ‘An Introduction to Horticulture’, will offer employees from Johnsons the chance to broaden their knowledge in various aspects of horticulture, from plant identification to planting locations and the impacts of plant choices, with a mixture of practical and theoretical tests.

Johnsons of Whixley employees with Askham Bryan college tutors.

Johnsons of Whixley employees with Askham Bryan College tutors.

The weekly sessions will be held from July to September at the college.

Steve Bassford, Askham Bryan curriculum area manager, said:

“The college is looking forward to having the opportunity to deliver the bespoke course and building on already formed relationships.

“Having a positive impact on a local business such as Johnsons of Whixley enables a commercial education partnership which will be mutually beneficial to all.”

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Business Breakfast: Harrogate business meeting to focus on marketing

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is lunch at Manahatta, on June 29th at 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Harrogate business meeting is set to focus on marketing next week.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce will be holding the event on Monday (June 12) at the Crown Hotel.

Speakers at the meeting will include include representatives from Artus Digital Marketing, Berwins Solicitors and Cicada Communications.

As part of the monthly meeting’s regular charity slot, George McNaught, local events co-ordinator from The Guide Dogs Charity will also be speaking.

Martin Mann, acting chief executive at the chamber of commerce, said: 

“Marketing is such an important focus for businesses, which can sometimes be overlooked or dismissed during tough financial times, so we are dedicating our June meeting to this important subject.”

Sue Kramer, president of the chamber, added:

“As part of our monthly meeting format, we now regularly hear from a local charity, and we look forward to hearing from The Guide Dogs Charity, which has been in existence sine 1931, providing assistance dogs to blind or partially sighted people.”

Doors to the event open at 5.30pm with the meeting proper commencing at 6.15pm.

First time visitors and members are asked to register their attendance on the chamber website here.

Harrogate rental firm reports ‘solid’ trade results

A Harrogate rental firm has reported “solid trading” results as part of its full year report.

Vp, which is based at Central House on Beckwith Knowle, recorded a 6% increase in revenue to £371.5m from £350.9m on the previous year.

The results cover the year ended March 31, 2023.

Meanwhile, the firm reported an adjusted profit before tax, amortisation, impairment of intangible assets and exceptional items of £40.5m.

This was up from £38.9m on 2021/22.

Responding to the results, Jeremy Pilkington, chairman of Vp plc, said: 

“We are pleased to report another solid year of trading with good progress made across all key metrics, with the Group successfully navigating a highly volatile macroeconomic backdrop.

“The group’s return on average capital employed of 14.4% continues to demonstrate our excellent quality of earnings and resilience in times of supply chain disruption and slowing growth in some markets.  In line with our dividend policy and underpinning our confidence in the business, we are pleased to propose a final dividend of 26.5 pence per share, making a total for the year of 37.5 pence.

“We remain confident that the group will continue to provide shareholders with an attractive level of returns. Vp has an excellent track record and we believe the current market challenges will bring into view profitable growth opportunities.”

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Harrogate business survey reveals opposition to Station Gateway

Three times more businesses oppose the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway than support it, according to a survey.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce revealed the results of a members’ questionnaire at its monthly meeting last night.

Asked whether they were in favour of the scheme, seven respondents said ‘yes’ while 21 said ‘no’.

Members were also asked if they felt the scheme, which would see James Street partly pedestrianised and a section of Station Parade reduced to single lane to make way for a cycle route, would make business in the town better or worse.

Eighteen said it would make it worse, four said better and six either felt it would be the same or expressed no opinion.

Nineteen opposed the pedestrianisation of James Street, while nine supported it.

Asked whether the scheme would “encourage you or your team to participate in more active travel”, five replied ‘yes’ while 23 said ‘no’.

Martin Mann, acting chief executive of the chamber, said:

“No-one’s in any doubt the town centre needs some work, but the answer is not this design.”

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Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat leader in Harrogate and Knaresborough, told the chamber meeting North Yorkshire councillors should visit the affected area before deciding whether to proceed with the gateway on May 30.

Cllr Marsh, who was one of three councillors to oppose the scheme when it was voted through by North Yorkshire Council’s area constituency committee this month, said:

“If this was a planning decision we would be having a site visit and we would walk the route before making a decision. The same should happen.”

“I’m so against this scheme, I can’t tell you.”

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough energy company appoints finance officer

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. Our next networking event is after-work drinks at Manahatta, on May 25th at 5:30.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A Knaresborough green energy company has appointed a new chief financial officer.

Harmony Energy, which is based at Conyngham Hall Business Centre, has hired Rob Scott to the position.

Mr Scott, who lives in Boroughbridge, previously worked at Key Group, as well as AA and Saga.

He will be tasked with overseeing finance, IT and human resources at Harmony Energy.

Peter Kavanagh, Harmony Energy’s chief executive and co-founder, said: 

“I am delighted to welcome Rob to the business. 

“He brings with him a wealth of experience and will provide the strategic guidance, insight and leadership we need as we continue to grow, not only in the UK, but overseas as well.”

Mr Scott said:

“Harmony Energy presents an exciting challenge for me, as it’s a business that I believe has the ambition and drive for growth.

“It has a fantastic team led by an exceptional management team who collectively are committed to delivering excellence in the global renewable energy sector.

“The company has achieved great success to date, and I look forward to adding to that as we build on what has already been accomplished.”

Harrogate business group meeting to focus on tourism

A Harrogate business group’s next monthly meeting will focus on tourism in the town.

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce is holding the event, which will include its annual general meeting, on Monday, May 15.

The meeting will include a presentation from Helen Suckling, destination events manager at Destination Harrogate, about the organisation’s strategy for 2022 to 2025.

The event, which is being held at Windsor House on Cornwall Road, will include a networking session and refreshments for guests.

For more information and to register attendance, visit the EventBrite page here.

Guests can arrive at 5.30pm and the meeting will start at 6.15pm.

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Business Breakfast: Knaresborough housebuilder partners with housing association

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The fourth in our series of networking events, with Banyan Bar & Kitchen, is a breakfast event on April 27 from 8am.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Knaresborough housebuilder partners with housing association

A Knaresborough house builder has partnered with a national housing association to build 449 homes.

Ilke Homes has announced the partnership with The Riverside Group, which currently oversees more than 75,000 homes across England and Scotland.

The company is working with the housing association to finalise plans for the homes at a 21-acre site in Kent.

The homes will be a mix of houses and apartments and will be manufactured at Ilke Homes’ factory in Knaresborough.

Subject to planning approval from Thanet District Council, the company hopes to start work at the site in 2024.

Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, said:

“ilke Homes continues to partner with some of the country’s most well-known housing associations, largely in part to our ability to deliver high quality, energy-efficient homes quickly. The Riverside Group, as part of its adopted ESG strategies, has acknowledged the increasing importance of sustainability and our partnership will help future-proof their investment from rapidly changing building regulations and government guidelines.

“We look forward to working with both local planning officials and other stakeholders to progress the proposals through planning to deliver a truly sustainable and well-designed community that will be providing much-needed, high-quality housing for the area.”

Harrogate business group appoints acting chief executive

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce has appointed an acting chief executive.

Martin Mann, who was vice president of the organisation, has been confirmed to take on the role.

The move comes as current chief executive, David Simister, is seriously ill in hospital..

Mr Mann confirmed on LinkedIn that his new role would not affect is IT support business

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D-Day looms for £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway

A special meeting has been convened to discuss whether to proceed with the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway.

The new North Yorkshire Council has organised a meeting of its Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee on May 5.

The sole item on the agenda is the gateway, which would see James Street partly pedestrianised and some of Station Parade reduced to single lane traffic to encourage cycling.

The 15-strong committee comprises of nine Liberal Democrats, five Conservatives and one Green.

Area constituency committees are advisory bodies to North Yorkshire Council, whose Conservative-controlled executive retains the final say.

But Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative member for highways and transportation at the council, has pledged to abide by the area constituency committee’s decision.

Cllr Duncan said this would fulfil the council leadership’s pledge of “double devolution” whereby more decisions would be taken locally.

But some Liberal Democrats think the Conservatives have given them a hospital pass by passing on responsibility for such a hot political potato that has divided local opinion.

station gateway james street

How James Street would look

To date the Liberal Democrats have been quiet on whether they will back the gateway.

The Stray Ferret asked area constituency committee chair, Cllr Pat Marsh, the Liberal Democrat for Stray, Woodlands and Hookstone, whether her party would support the gateway.

On March 9, she said:

“Until we have a group meeting to discuss it I am not prepared to comment.”

We asked Cllr Marsh again on Friday whether the Lib Dems had formulated a position. She replied:

“We will let everyone know our opinions on May 5.”

Speaking at a Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting on March 14, Cllr Duncan said:

“I will implement whatever decision is taken. It’s right that Harrogate and Knaresborough councillors have their say.”

He told the meeting the scheme would see the removal of 40 parking spaces — 20 on James Street and 20 on Station Parade.

He added the Station Square water feature had been removed from the scheme “due to practical and cost constraints”. It would have cost £500,000.

Keane Duncan at Harrogate chamber

Cllr Keane Duncan (centre) at the chamber event

Cllr Duncan committed to four pledges if the scheme goes ahead:

1 To conduct a full review of car parking in Harrogate town centre.

2  To manage disruption, adding: “It cannot be denied there will be disruption. We will draw up a construction management plan.”

3 No compromise on quality of construction materials.

4 Traffic flows will be revisited and reassessed.

The meeting at the Civic Centre in Harrogate on May 5 will take place at 10am and is open to the public.

Harrogate chamber chief executive David Simister seriously ill in hospital

David Simister, chief executive of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, is seriously ill in hospital.

The business organisation said on its website yesterday Mr Simister had suffered a “serious medical episode”.

It added:

“I am sure all our members, and friends in the wider business community of Harrogate will join us in wishing him and his family our thoughts and prayers for a positive outcome and want him to know that we will all be with him on his road to recovery.

“We are deeply saddened by the news and greatly miss David’s infectious enthusiasm and dedication.”

The message added the chamber’s management team led by president Sue Kramer and vice-presidents, Martin Mann, Sam Oakes and Jackie Snape would continue to support and represent chamber members.

Former journalist Mr Simister is well known in Harrogate. He co-founded the Harrogate communications firm Different PR and is a former councillor.

The Stray Ferret sends our best wishes to Mr Simister and hope for his speedy recovery.

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Council transport boss criticises ‘hardline cycle lobby’ in Harrogate

The councillor in charge of transport at North Yorkshire County Council has criticised a “hardline cycle lobby” in Harrogate as he reflected on the decision to scrap two high-profile active travel schemes.

Cllr Keane Duncan gave a wide-ranging presentation to members of the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce at the Harrogate Convention Centre on Monday night.

In January, it was confirmed the second phase of the Otley Road cycle path in Harrogate will be shelved due to negative feedback received in a public consultation.

It would have followed the first phase from Harlow Moor Road to Arthur’s Avenue that was completed last year but received widespread criticism due to a design that asks cyclists to weave on-and-off the pavement.

This has led to some cyclists choosing to ignore the route and use the road instead with critics in the consultation likening it to a crazy golf course.

Keane Duncan at Harrogate chamber

Cllr Keane Duncan addressed the Station Gateway and active travel schemes at the event.

Cllr Duncan said the proposals for phase 2 received negative feedback from not only motorists but from pedestrians and cyclists too. 

He said:

“For me that was strong and compelling evidence why we should not proceed.”

The executive member for highways said when moving forward with new active travel proposals in the town he will be “listening to everybody and not just those who shout the loudest”. 

He added:

“It has become clear there is a hardline cycle lobby who, in my view, do not speak for everyday cyclists in Harrogate.”

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The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked a spokesperson for campaign group Harrogate District Cycle Action if it would like to respond to Cllr Duncan’s comments but they declined.

Cllr Duncan also spoke about why the council decided to end the Beech Grove Low Traffic Neighbourhood trial in August 2022 after 18 months.

He said the scheme “became a symbol of anti-active travel sentiment” so the planters were removed to allow the council to take stock and consider what to do next in the area. 

He added:

“Everybody said no matter what the feedback was we’d continue no matter what. I came into post and the modal filters were removed giving us a chance to look again.”

What’s next for active travel in Harrogate?

Despite the council not moving forward with plans at Beech Grove and Otley Road, it announced in February it will be submitting another bid through the government’s Active Travel Fund.

It will seek £1.08m of initial funding to create segregated cycleways on Victoria Avenue in Harrogate.

The council will also be asking for a further £1.65m to add segregated cycle lanes on the existing cycle route between Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Transport chief faces Harrogate businesses on Station Gateway

The councillor in charge of transport in North Yorkshire was in Harrogate tonight to give business leaders an update on various schemes, including the £11.2 million Station Gateway..

Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transportation at North Yorkshire County Council attended Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly meeting.

He gave an update on the £11.2 million Harrogate Station Gateway after traffic orders were published last week, one of which was for the closure of part of James Street. Here’s how the evening went:

7.51pm: Cllr Duncan reaffirms his commitment to listen

In response to some more negative comments, Cllr Duncan says again he will listen to the area constituency committee. And with that he returns to his seat as the meeting draws to a close.

7.46pm: ‘I am prepared to change course’

Responding to claims that information supporting the scheme is flawed and the council has not listened to businesses, Cllr Duncan says:

“I think there is more support for this scheme than those who shout the loudest would have us believe.

“I am prepared to look at the evidence, make decisions and change course.”

7.40pm: ‘You’re riding roughshod over us’

A member of the audience gets a round of applause for saying the council is “riding roughshod” over local opinion and has “not taken on board any of our points”.

Cllr Duncan says he has inherited the scheme and will abide by what the Lib Dem-controlled committee agrees. His role, he says, is to bring matters to a conclusion, although he thinks overall the scheme is positive.

The questioner responds by calling the scheme a “joke”.

7.35: Harrogate congestion zone ruled out

It’s question time, and things could get lively. The first question asks whether Cllr Duncan has considered a congestion zone for Harrogate and he flatly rules it out.

7.31pm: Lib Dems will decide on fate of scheme

Cllr Duncan is a Conservative but he says he will abide by the decision of the Lib Dem-controlled Harrogate area constituency committee, which will meet to discuss the subject in May. He says:

“I will implement whatever decision is taken. It’s right that Harrogate and Knaresborough councillors have their say.”

Some Lib Dems feel they’ve been delivered a hospital pass because the area constituency committee is an advisory body and the Conservatives want to avoid making an unpopular decision.

Cllr Duncan has said previously that “with power comes responsibility” and the Lib Dems are being empowered as part of the new council’s commitment to “double devolution” whereby local decisions will be taken locally.

If the gateway goes ahead, Cllr Duncan says the council will “look to start construction in winter this year and finish in winter 2024”.

7.28pm: 40 parking spaces would be lost

Cllr Duncan says surveys show 500 to 600 parking spaces could be removed from Harrogate town centre without any significant impact but this scheme would only remove 40 spaces — 20 on James Street and 20 on Station Parade.

He makes four pledges:

1 To conduct a full review of car parking in Harrogate town centre.

2  To manage disruption, adding: “It cannot be denied there will be disruption. We will draw up a construction management plan.”

3 No compromise on quality of construction materials.

4 Traffic flows will be revisited and reassessed.

7.22pm: Gateway consultations ‘not a referendum’

The latest consultation responses revealed 46% were negative towards the project compared with 45% in favour and nine per cent were neutral.

Some businesses and residents have said this proves the scheme should be dropped but Cllr Duncan says “this was a consultation not a referendum” and opinion is “finely balanced”.

7.16pm: Station Gateway – water feature scrapped

He says the scheme will “encourage a shift from motorised vehicles to low carbon and sustainable transport” but adds the aim of the scheme is also regeneration, improvements to the public realm and to support businesses in Harrogate. He says:

“This is not just a transport scheme it is about redeveloping a key corridor of Harrogate town centre.”

He says the Station Square water feature has been removed from the scheme “due to practical and cost constraints”. It would have cost £500,00 he says.

But he adds there will be “no compromising” on high quality materials despite soaring building costs.

As for delays caused by road closures and reducing Station Parade to single lane, he says the “worst case scenario” is that an average 15-minute journey around Harrogate will take an extra 53 seconds if the gateway goes ahead.

7.12pm: ‘Hardline’ cyclists criticised

Cllr Duncan is now talking about active travel on Otley Road and Beech Grove. Regarding phase two of the Otley Road cycleway, which has been scrapped, he said:

“The feedback we were getting was negative even from the beneficiaries of the scheme. For me, that was strong, compelling evidence of why we should not proceed.”

He then takes a swipe at some cyclists.

“There is a hardline cycle lobby which in my view do not speak for everyday people in Harrogate.

“I see my role to listen to everybody and not just those who shout the loudest.”

7.10pm: Car is ‘key but not king’

Cllr Duncan says the “car is key but not king”.

Regarding electric vehicles, he says 3,000 new charging points are needed in North Yorkshire by 2030.

Regarding safety, he says the council has some particular concerns about children in Pannal Ash and Oatlands where 9,000 children travel to school.

As for the 20’s Plenty For Us, he says “I’m struggling to see that a one-size fits all intervention is best way forward” and targeted interventions are better but a review is pending.

7.08pm: Bus network ‘fragile’

Cllr Duncan is now talking about buses. He says at least a third of routes in the county are at risk of timetable changes or being removed all together.

He says recent £1.7m government support and £1.6m from the county council have provided services with a lifeline.

He says the £2 fare cap has increased passenger numbers but doesn’t give figures and says it remains a difficult time.

7.05pm: Council ‘not anti-car’

Cllr Duncan says the new North Yorkshire Council is not anti-car, adding:

“However it’s right that people are able to walk and cycle are able to do so safely and efficiently.”

6.52pm: ‘Renewed vision and focus on Harrogate’

Keane Duncan at Harrogate chamber

Cllr Duncan (centre) at tonight’s meeting

Cllr Duncan starts by giving a speech before facing questions. He says the new North Yorkshire Council will provide a “renewed vision and focus on Harrogate”.

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Business Breakfast: two Harrogate small businesses win regional awards

It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The third in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is a lunch event on March 30 from 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

Two Harrogate based companies have won awards at the regional Small Business Federation’s Yorkshire and Humber Awards 2023.

Robotas Technologies Ltd won the Business & Product Innovation Award – and The Harrogate Brewing Company won the Family Business of the Year Award.

Robotas Technologies, which is about to move to carbon zero premises in Pannal, is a family-owned business which has been a leader in the field of optimising the PCB assembly process for customers all over the world.

Managing Director of Robotas Technologies, Nick Walters said:

“I couldn’t be prouder of our incredible team of talented engineers for their non-stop innovation which has led us to winning this award.

“This recognition is well deserved for the excellent work that you carry out every single day. Thank you Guys, this is your award, and it is very much well deserved!!

“Now, on to the National Awards in May!!”

Joe Joyce, who co-owns the Harrogate Brewing Company with his wife Julie, said:

“We’re equally delighted and surprised at this award. As a family business it is a validation that we are doing more things right than wrong.

Thank you all in our team.”

Joe and Julie Joyce (centre) receiving their award 

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The next Harrogate Chamber of Commerce meeting will focus on connectivity and superfast broadband.

The meeting  entitled, “The Highway – super and public”,  will hear from NYnet, CityFibre and North Yorkshire County Council’s member for highways and connectivity, Cllr Keane Duncan.

The event is at the Harrogate Convention Centre and starts at 5.30pm.

To attend click here.