Welcome to the Harrogate BID newsletter, keeping you informed about all matters BID.
We are delighted to introduce you to our new look Board. Established in January 2020, it is a great mixture of the town centre businesses we represent. The last few months has seen the Board working behind the scenes to develop strategic goals alongside the business plan, whilst developing an exciting and challenging programme of work for the coming months – all designed to drive footfall to our town centre.
The Harrogate BID is here for all businesses within the town centre, so please do get involved. It would be great to see you at one of our BID Club meetings (details below) or failing that, please do contact us. We are here to make sure the BID works for us all.
All the best,
The Harrogate BID team
Giftcard Success
The Harrogate Giftcard continues to be a real success story. Since its launch in November, we have sold more than 330 cards with a combined value of over £17k being pre-loaded on to them, meaning this money stays right here, within the local economy.
If you have not yet signed up, and would like to be part of this fantastic scheme, please do get in touch.
Lower running costs? Yes, please!
We are partnering with Meercat Associates Ltd – an organisation that will reduce your utility bills by bulk buying – and who are currently working successfully with many other BIDs around the country. They are going to be in Harrogate regularly over the coming weeks, beginning with this Tuesday and Wednesday, March 10th and 11th, when they will be popping into businesses to say hi! We also know they have been actively calling businesses offering their services, which are free to BID members! If you want to get in touch with Meercat before then, please give them a call on 01444 416 529.
Meet the new board!
Taking on the role of Chairman is retailer Robert Kennedy – the owner of G23 and Porters – whilst restaurateur Sara Ferguson, co-owner of Sasso and Caffe Marconi, has been appointed as his deputy, both pictured above.
The Board Members Are: Andrea Thornborrow, Primark; Mark Robson, Marks and Spencer; Martin Gerrard, Barclays Bank; Rob Spencer, Town House Design; Robert Ogden, Ogden of Harrogate; Chris Bentley, Hornbeam Park; Richard Wheeldon, Berwins Solicitors; Mark Young, The Ivy; Sandra Doherty, Alexa House; Bob Knnedy, Porters/G23; Sara Ferguson, Caffe Marconi/Sasso; David Bowe, North Yorkshire County Council; Coun Richard Cooper, Harrogate Borough Council; Sgt Alex Sellars, North Yorkshire Police; and Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals.
Save the date!
The drinks are on us – well the first one is! The next meeting of the BID Club is being held between 5.30pm and 7pm on Wednesday, 11th March, at the West Park Hotel. It’s open to all town centre businesses, and as well as a great networking opportunity, it’s a chance to meet some of the new board members. and if you can’t make this one, we look forward to seeing you at a future date – Wednesday, 22nd April, 5.30pm-7pm and Wednesday, 13th May, 5.30pm-7pm. These are again being held at the West Park Hotel. Please do spread the word.
