March 2024 Newsletter
Hello everyone and welcome to the latest edition of the Harrogate BID newsletter!
We’ve had a busy month in March putting plans in place for some of our upcoming events, from the Harrogate Dog Show and the Spring Flower Show to the Harrogate Celebration of Fashion.
We’re excited to announce that the star judge for this year’s Harrogate Dog Show is the well-known Yorkshire Shepherdess, Amanda Owen. We can’t wait to work alongside Amanda – known for starring in TV shows such as ‘Our Yorkshire Farm’ – who will offer her expertise in the judging.
The Mothering Funday returned in March, with hundreds of you braving the cold weather to join in the ‘Dash N Grab’ fun and compete for some top prizes – so thank you!
I’m also delighted to announce I will now be working alongside the new joint Vice Chairs, Sara Ferguson and Lyndsay Snodgrass, as we continue to build on the success the BID has made as we move forward in our second term. Along with the new additions to the Board of Directors, we’re confident that we can work successfully towards achieving our objectives.
Finally, we have been committing a lot of time to recruitment this month so keep your eyes peeled for some exciting new starters over the coming weeks…
Yours Sincerely
Andrea Thornborrow
BID Chair
New BID Chair and joint Vice Chairs
Changes to the BID Board have seen former Vice Chair Andrea Thornborrow, of Primark, step up into the Chair role. This left the Vice Chair role open for new applicants. So, Sara Ferguson of Café Marconi and Lyndsay Snodgrass of Verity Frearson stepped up to fill the position in a joint capacity.
The BID team are excited to work alongside Andrea, Sara, Lyndsay and all of the new directors to continue to work towards the new objectives for their second term
Harrogate Dog Show 2024
Following a successful event last year, the Harrogate Dog Show will return to the Piazza outside the Victoria Shopping Centre on Saturday, April 13th from 10am. Dog owners and their furry friends can enter different classes throughout the day, from dog that the judge would most like to take home to best cross breed, with a range of top themed prizes on offer.
We’re also delighted to announce that the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen will join this year’s event as the star judge!
Sponsorship of BID events
During our second term, we have made the decision to open up sponsorship for some of our events, giving your company the chance to spread the word about the great work you do to keep the local economy thriving. Each event has a different sponsor package available, from sponsoring categories to the overall occasion.
For further information on sponsoring a BID event, please click here.
Mothering Funday 2024
Hundreds of children and their families braved the cold weather to visit Harrogate BID’s Mothering Funday over the weekend. The Dash ‘N’ Grab challenge, held on the Piazza outside the Victoria Shopping Centre, gave children the chance to win a top prize for their mum or guardian. The cold weather didn’t deter the crowds as more than 300 people came along to join in with the fun.
To find out more, visit the BID website.
Latest BID blog
The latest edition of the BID Blog looked into AI and how it may impact the business market in Harrogate in the future. The team worked alongside guest writer, Chelsea Talbot of the Positive Influence Agency, who offered her expertise on AI and tips and tricks to enhance your business by using it.
To read the latest blog, visit the BID website here.
Free advertising space in town centre
The free advertising space in the Victoria Shopping Centre remains open! The unit can be found outside Poundland on the ground floor. Leaflets and brochures from BID Members and community groups are on display, with some space left for others to be placed.
You can also contact the Harrogate BID team on info@harrogatebid.co.uk to sign up for the advertising initiative.
HUQ update in March
The total footfall for the month was 1,076,391, with the highest number of people passing through on Tuesday, March 19th at 63,864. Meanwhile, The catchment data from March 2024 shows people travelled form areas including Bradford, York, Leeds, Newton Aycliffe, Redruth, Pontefract, Ulverston and Hull.
For a full update from HUQ in March, please click here.
BID Recruitment
We’re delighted to announce that the new Town Centre Support Officer is set to start later this month, so keep an eye out for an extra presence on the town centre’s streets over the next few weeks! We’re also still looking to recruit a new Street Ranger, with the interview process now well underway.
BEAM Light Festival
We were delighted to act as a main sponsor for the first ever BEAM Light Festival, organised by Harrogate International Festivals. The successful event attracted thousands of people into our town centre.
The animations illuminated Harrogate’s iconic landmarks, with designs from internationally renowned artist, James Bawn.
NYnet offer for BID Members
Harrogate BID has negotiated an exclusive offer for members with Harrogate-based business broadband provider NYnet. The firm has built its full fibre network across North Yorkshire over almost two decades to provide the NHS, blue light services, schools and businesses with fast and reliable digital connectivity.
NYnet is offering BID members 3 months free broadband when they switch. If your contract isn’t up for renewal yet, they will look at free dual running costs so that you can benefit from better speeds and reliability without waiting.
Contact sales@nynet.co.uk before the end of June to take advantage of this member offer.
Celebration of Fashion 2024
Harrogate BID is pleased to announce the return of the Celebration of Fashion for 2024 – highlighting the town’s fashion and retail offer.
Following the success of the inaugural event in 2023, the fashion celebration will return to the Piazza outside the Victoria Shopping Centre on Saturday, May 18th from 10am. From prom dresses to race day outfits, the 2024 catwalk will feature new categories alongside favourites from last year.
Spring Flower Show
We will be attending the Spring Flower Show in Harrogate again this year, with the aim of promoting our town’s floral heritage and this year’s Floral Summer of Celebration event!
Keep an eye out for our display during the show and come along and have a chat with our team.