An event management graduate, who for the last two years has worked for West Yorkshire Police advising businesses on security measures, has joined the Harrogate BID team.

Bethany Allen, a former Harrogate Grammar School pupil, has been appointed by the business organisation as Business and Marketing Executive, working out of its new Victoria Shopping Centre office.

Reporting to BID Manager Matthew Chapman, Harrogate-born-and-bred Bethany will work closely with Levy payers, BID partners and board members, as well as helping organise, run and promote its wide-ranging activities.

Matthew said: “I’m delighted to welcome Bethany to the Harrogate BID team. She brings with her a degree in event management and has two years’ experience liaising with and advising businesses and large organisations.

“Having grown up in Harrogate, and also working in the Turkish Baths during her university studies, she knows the town centre incredibly well, which is a real plus for this role.”

Bethany said: “Harrogate is my hometown, and I count myself incredibly lucky being born here, schooled here, and now working here as part of the Harrogate BID team.

“Harrogate is the jewel in Yorkshire’s crown. It’s a town that is famed for its shops, restaurants, bars and conference facilities.

“I’m looking forward to playing my part in the evolving Harrogate BID story, working alongside Matthew, Board members and partners, and getting to know our Levy payers and those businesses within the BID Levy area.”

We have created a new Harrogate BID guide to help explain what we are, who we are, what we do, and to fully put you in the picture about our aims and objectives.

Our Harrogate Hosts will be dropping them off at businesses across the town centre over the coming weeks.

Market Place Europe, the UK’s leading and award-winning Christmas market operator, will be bringing festive cheer to Harrogate town centre from Friday 3 December until Sunday 12 December.

And representatives of the company and Visit Harrogate, will be our guest speakers at the October BID Club, being held at 5.30pm on Thursday, October 7, at the West Park Hotel.

It will be an opportunity for them to deliver the full overview and to be asked questions from businesses on deliveries, timings, the plan, and additional animations, including what we will be adding to the Yuletide mix.

Please let us know if you will be attending by emailing us at admin@harrogateBID.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you then.

Harrogate BID Board has started the process for electing the Directors for the fourth year of the BID.

We want to give every levy payer the opportunity to participate in the process, but to be able to put your name forward or to vote, you need to be a Member of the Harrogate BID company. A Membership Application form, together with the Rules, will be sent to all Levy Payers, with an attached form, which needs to be completed and retuend to info@harrogatebid.co.uk before noon on November 1,  2021.

The applications will be processed and presented to the BID Board on November 4. The next communication from us will be to Harrogate BID Ltd members only,  inviting them to express an interest in being a Director of the Harrogate BID, and enclosing a Candidate’s form to be completed. Should we receive more names than vacancies to represent a business sector, then there will be a secret ballot.

The eleventh Brand Yorkshire Business Conference takes place on Thursday, October 7, at The Pavilions of Harrogate.

Brand Yorkshire moved to this venue in 2010 From its previous home in Leeds. BID levy payers Mona and Richard Norman – who own Fogal & Barnes jewellers on Oxford Street chose the venue for its central location, they recognise their visitors come equally from North and West Yorkshire and for the excellent facilities at the Pavilions.

Sadly the 2020 Conference had to be cancelled, due to pandemic and restrictions on large events, but this year the event is back and receiving unprecedented support from exhibitors (stands have already sold out) Delegates, bookings are 25 per cent up on the same period in 2019 and from the incredible line up of speakers who have created some fascinating content to share.

The Brand Yorkshire Conference is undoubtedly the premier free business event in Yorkshire, not only do delegates get to chat with over 70 stand holders who are happy to advise on every aspect of business but there is space for networking and a full programme of informative and enjoyable seminars.

Of the 70 Stand holders 25 per cent are from Harrogate, others from Leeds, York and as far afield as Nottingham and Newcastle. Delegates are travelling from across the North of England. Making Harrogate a great business hub.

All the following, free and under one roof – Delegates are welcome to attend as many sessions as they choose, each lasts for just 20 minutes, leaving plenty of time for networking.