www.harrogate.gov.uk/business     Growing b usiness in the Harrogate district
                                                                                                                                   Annual Update September 2 018
Growing business in the Harrogate district
 
Since launching our Economic Growth Strategy in  2017 we have provided tailored support to over 200 local businesses and directly helped secure over £500,000 of grant funding - enabling
business growth and creating high-value jobs.   
Summer 2018 sees the first anniversary of the Economic Growth Strategy, so it's a good time to share highlights of our achievements so far and give a taste of our plans for the year ahead.   
Techbuyers story: Keeping it local to grow an international business
75% of companies surveyed said the attractiveness of the Harrogate district was good for business, according to a new study. 
 
 
Successful IT company Techbuyer has grown from its Hornbeam Park base in Harrogate to operate worldwide, and have shared with us their experience of recruiting a skilled local workforce to grow an international business. Hear about their experience of the district here.   computer_sky.jpg

Targeted Business Support to create
high-value jobs
Local companies secured over £200,000 of grants, through our investment in the Digital Enterprise and
Ad:Venture business support programmes, enabling them to improve productivity through technology or develop as a potential high growth start-up.
 
Learn how specialist recruitment agency Network Scientific  in Harrogate has seen its business grow by 20% year on year, following council support in securing Digital Enterprise  investment in a new website and specialist CRM system. 
 
 
 
Business Growth: funding and support
Advice and support from the council's SME Growth Manager, Alistair Forbes, assisted Chameleon Technology's  expansion move to a new office on Hornbeam Park, Harrogate.  
SME Growth Manager, Alistair Forbes
 
Read more on how this UK market leader in the production of energy display units secured Business Growth Programme funding. 
  
Contact SME Growth Manager
Business Growth in Numbers
73% of local businesses identified the Harrogate district as a great place to work and invest, in the 2017 Leeds City Region Business Survey
Over 800 new jobs were attracted to the Harrogate district in the past year, supported by our inward investment activity, including the housing manufacturer Ilke Homes.
Our Growth Manager provided 107 tailored 1:1 engagements to support high-growth small and medium sized enterprises, across the district
We supported nearly 20 of the district's major businesses, with our bespoke Strategic Employer Engagement.
132 direct engagements provided bespoke support for start-up and new businesses, from our Enterprise Gateway service.
258 attendees joined our popular Harrogate Digital network and event programme, supporting collaboration by local digital and creative companies.
Find Out More
Business support advice - available on the business and investment pages on our website.   
Business Rate Relief - supporting company growth in the Harrogate District.    
Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership -   unlocking potential, accelerating growth. 
York/North Yorkshire/ East Riding Enterprise Partnership -  economic growth through our work with our partners.

Propertyfinder - our free to search online commercial sites and premises register.   
Facts and figures about the Harrogate district.   
Contact us

tel. 01423 500600
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Promoting Harrogate: the business location for Inward Investment
The attraction of Harrogate as a business location has continued to grow, and we responded to more than 30 inward investment enquiries, directly supporting the creation of over 800 new jobs in the district, including international housing manufacturer Ilke Homes.

Promoting the Harrogate district to an international audience is in on-going activity across the council.  In partnership with the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership this included attendance at the inward investment expo MPIM London in October 2017. 

 

We've plans to raise our international profile even further, building on the success of the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014. We were delighted to secure £650,000 regional funding to support hosting the UCI 2019 Road World Championships, including a new, dedicated inward investment officer role.
 
Transport: securing investment in new and improved services and facilities
Our work with partners has secured nearly £13m of funding, from the York/North Yorkshire/East Riding Enterprise Partnership and North Yorkshire County Council, to upgrade local rail infrastructure. We look forward to a doubling of frequency between Leeds and Harrogate during 2019 and further newer trains operating on the line.
 
Additional rail services are scheduled for Harrogate
  
Over £3m of government funding for highway, pedestrian and cycling improvements to the west of Harrogate town, has been secured for a Harrogate Borough Council project proposed to North Yorkshire County Council. This will reduce traffic congestion and make it easier to provide goods and services and access workplaces. 

Digital & Telecom: improving connectivity by collaboration
Delivering free to the user Wi-Fi services in all the  district's town centres by 2019 is a priority project for the council, benefiting businesses, residents and businesses. We're on track to deliver this, having completed detailed site surveys and developed a specification in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council.

As part of our investment in town centres we've secured funding and a private sector partner to roll-out a Smart Parking trial in Harrogate, from autumn 2018.
 
 
Quality Broadband services are central to business operations and we've continued to lobby for and support the roll out of Phase 3 Superfast Broadband across the district. 
Land & Buildings: enabling local companies to grow, attracting new business

We know that location and premises are important to operating a successful business, and the council offers a range of property related services:  

 

A new council business rates relief policy is supporting companies grow and move into new offices.  Supplying services for clients across Europe, the success of  Applied Insect Scienceresearch laboratory has seen it relocate to new premises in Wath, near Ripon. Read how expansion plans will see the company recruit for additional high-value scientific roles, with growth accelerated by rates relief from the council. 

 

Our free website www.harrogate.gov.uk/propertyfinder makes it easy to find business premises, from offices to warehouses and retail premises across the district.


Harrogate District Local PlanThrough joint working with developers we're bringing forward employment sites allocated within the Local Plan, including Flaxby Green Park, alongside developing new workspace at Beckwith Knowle, Marston Moor and Burley Bank.

Phoenix Business Centre
Phoenix Business Centre, Ripon 

By improving the council's own workspace
we're increasing the local offer and supporting business growth. From offices in Knaresborough to work units at
New York Mill, Summerbridge and Phoenix Business Centre in Ripon we provide a range of premises. 



We're investing in Harrogate town centre to meet business needs including:

a det Harrogate International Centreailed review and options appraisal of the Harrogate Convention Centre site, to provide a sustainable convention centre facility with commercial and residential development opportunities.

securing a public and private sector partnership to commission a detailed site masterplan of the Harrogate Station Gateway. This significant town centre site offers potential to be a regional flagship, with exemplar business, commercial and transport facilities.  
   
Skills: supporting investment in the skills that business needs
We've strengthened collaboration with the Enterprise Partnerships, regional universities and Harrogate College to match local skills needs with education and training provision.

 

Investment in local skills provision is core to meeting business needs and creating high-value jobs, so we've started work on producing the council's first Skills For Growth Action Plan.

 
Our plans for 2018-2019

We've made a encouraging start on implementing our new Economic Growth Strategy and are looking forward to building on this. So, what does the year ahead offer? We will be, amongst other things:

 

- Starting the 18month trial of Smart Parking in Harrogate Town Centre

 

- Appointing a partner and rolling out the installation of Wi-Fi services in the district's town centres

 

- Launching a dedicated Invest in Harrogate website

 

- Developing a digital and creative business incubator in Harrogate town, to support business growth and innovation

 

- Constructing a new workspace unit at our Phoenix Business Centre in Ripon

 

- Adopting a skills plan and championing further and higher education provision in the Harrogate district

 

Councillor Graham Swift, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, Economic Development and Enterprise, says, "Harrogate Borough Council's Economic Growth Strategy has got off to a very successful start.  We have focused resources and made strategic choices that have strengthened our community by growing jobs, increasing investment and improving the partnerships with organisations in the district. We will continue to prioritise our efforts to ensure the Harrogate district remains a great place in which to work, invest in and do business."   
 


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