Steve spent over 30 years in senior management in both public and private sectors before retraining as a mediator. He set up CSS Mediation to help resolve disputes, whether commercial, work-based or between private individuals. Steve is an accredited mediator and a member of the Civil Mediation Council, as well as being a professionally qualified accountant (FCMA, CGMA). He is Chair of Trustees of Horticap and a Director of the Harrogate Christmas Market.

I joined Barclays in  1973 and have done  many Roles,including Operations and Lending and foreign and Securities and Specialist Roles.I was the first Student Business Officer  for Barclays in 1978.Moved workwise and  living to Yorkshire in 1982 having secured a position as Head of Securities in Skipton.

Chairman of Round table  twice ,having joined in 1979 and have served numerous Charities,including the role of Trustee .

I first came to Harrogate in 1986 to work at Barclays  James Street and then various Roles before starting Barclays Premier  in Harrogate  in 1996. 

I am a Traditional Banker utilising modern processes and passionate about improving the Community that I live and work in,namely Harrogate.I work across all Sectors to achieve the Goals of both my Clients and the Bank .In 2018 I was voted The Harrogate Business  Personality  of the Year.

Sam is GOBO’s Creative Director looking after all things design, from print to web to professional photography. Having spent some time working abroad as a travel photographer and tour guide Sam came back to Harrogate to live, and set up business.

Stephen lives in Harrogate and has three daughters and one step-daughter all brought up and educated  in the District.  Stephen is a director of Harrogate Solicitors, Berwins, and is a specialist Family Lawyer.  In the little spare time his family and business commitments allow he is a keen ornithologist and outdoors enthusiast.  Stephen is married to Judith, who also works at Berwins.

Sue Kramer has lived and worked in Harrogate most of her life. In July 2000 she established Crown Jewellers of Harrogate, which focuses on providing quality jewellery, exceptional customer service and value. Previously, Sue enjoyed a lengthy career in the recruitment industry, ultimately managing a large local branch.

Sue is passionate about Harrogate and supporting the independent retail sector that makes it such a special visitor destination

I have been a Chamber member since 2011, President last year and on the management group since 2013 and a Vice President in 2015 & 2016. I lead for Chamber on the development of Harrogate Business Improvement District (BID).

A bit of my background - I opened my first opticians practice in Leeds in 1988 and have had 7 practices in North and West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Manchester. In 1997 I opened in Harrogate at the top of James Street. In 1999 I bought out a competitor trading from where Betty’s now have their shop and in 2007 relocated further down Parliament Street. In 2016 I sold my Harrogate practice to Bayfields Opticians and my other practices have now also been sold. I continue to own some commercial property in Harrogate including some holiday apartments.

John joined DSC Chartered Accountants in 2003 after graduating with an Honours degree in Economics at Durham a year earlier, and then travelling around the world. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2006 and following promotion to associate in 2010 became a director of DSC in April 2011. With a diverse range of clients, from medium size manufacturers to small service companies, and a wide range of expertise - John is able to offer the appropriate tax and planning advice on a corporate level and on a personal level too.

A DIY enthusiast, John has recently finished renovating his second property, which his wife has promised is their last! John also loves the mountains and is proud to have conquered Mont Blanc. Now a Father to young Annabelle and George, we’ve been informed that mountaineering is severely off limits… well until his children are big enough to hold an ice axe at least!

If you are interested in finding out more about how John can help you and/or your business please email directly to j.garbutt@dscca.com or phone DSC Chartered Accountants in Harrogate on 01423 560547.

Philip is the Head of Commercial Litigation services at McCormicks. He has received personal recommendations in the independent Legal 500 Guide for both Sports Law and Dispute Resolution and the Chambers UK Guide for Litigation.

Philip has significant experience with matters involving: breach of contract, sports disputes (arbitrations, tribunals and regulatory matters), insolvency (individual and corporate), partnership disputes, professional negligence (claimant and defendant), landlord and tenant, dilapidations claims, HM Land Registry and matters with multi jurisdictional elements.

Philip’s approach will always be tailored to client priorities. It is always proportionate to the matter in hand and involves a cost benefit analysis at the earliest possible stage.  He always advocates all appropriate forms of alternative dispute resolution to seek to resolve disputes as quickly and cost effectively as possible.

Philip acts for a broad range of clients, including: insurers, national and international corporates, entrepreneurs, large family estates, insolvency practitioners (and those facing claims by them), charities, the Premier League and Leeds United FC.

Feel free to contact Philip on 01423 530630

Sandra has been the owner of Alexa House Guesthouse on Ripon Road since 2006, has worked as a business manager for over 30 years in several small businesses in both South and West Yorkshire. 

Her BA in English Language Studies first took Sue into education, where she spent 20 years teaching. She then pursued her love of creative writing and embarked on a career in copywriting and marketing. Since setting up Adrenaline Content Marketing in 2016, Sue has built a strong client portfolio of SMEs across a wide range of sectors. The marketing content she provides includes targetted social media and email campaigns, technical articles, press releases, and optimised web copy. She enjoys creating both textual and visual media elements for campaigns. Sue is an enthusiastic member of HDCC, widely promoting membership to local businesses.

Debra Forsythe-Conroy has been the Principal of Harrogate College and worked extensively across the sector with over 35 years’ experience including 10 years in senior management positions in large mixed economy colleges.

Debra has recently started an educational consultancy business contracted for a three year period to work with White Rose comprising  8 private training colleges across Yorkshire including Harrogate
The business is now the largest training provider of its type in England. 

Born in St Albans a while ago, and moved "up North" 40 years ago ! I have worked in the life assurance, pensions and tax saving world since I left school 46 years ago, and have been an IFA for over 30 years. Family man, live in Harrogate, love music and cars. No intention to retire, having too much fun !

I have over 20 years experience in the accounting and business advisory profession specialising in advising SME and mid market clients across a wide variety of sectors in the UK, on strategic/business planning, financial forecasting and how to generate stakeholder value.

Joining Wild & Co has helped me achieve a lifelong ambition to grow and develop our family owned accounting, tax and business advisory firm, based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

Martin is happy to support businesses on everything from one-off projects to long-term IT management. He particularly specialises in building relationships with businesses, allowing him to understand their needs and priorities and work proactively to suggest and introduce improvements. His friendly, supportive advice has earned him many loyal customers who have relied on his help for many years.

Michael Newby is born and bred a Harrogatonian and was Mayor of the District from 2013 to 2014. On standing down from the Council he was appointed as Director of Visit Harrogate, the Destination Management Organisation for the Harrogate District. He is now retired and enjoying his many and varied interests.

Former Army officer, Paul Rawlinson, is the owner of Baltzersen’s - a Scandinavian inspired cafe.   He also operates Norse, a co-located Nordic    influenced casual fine-dining restaurant.  He is a strong believer in collaboration between independent businesses to create a unique retail and hospitality offer for Harrogate.

Selling and Customer Service is what Sally knows best!

Born in Leeds, she studied at Oxford where she began a career in media. This was in the days when newspapers were page set on a press and ISDN lines were the new big thing. A move to London saw her become Sales Training Manager for United Advertising. It was here, in the 1980s, where Sally learned to be different, use fun, music, and whatever else it took to engage and delight delegates.

A move to Harrogate and a successful sales career Sally and her colleagues were asked to attend a sales training course. It was dull, classroom,  long, boring and it simply did not work. 

This inspired Sally to establish Fun Training For Results, specialising in sales, customer service wow and communication training. Sally ’s training is unique, engaging, fun and different. No clock watching, no copious note taking or PowerPoint overload. With Sally, you do things, you have fun, you remember and you use what you have learned. It’s the results that matter! 

When not delivering Fun Training, Sally can be found in her garden, with a coffee in one hand, trowel in the other.

Moving from a career in banking, Tara joined local independent wine merchants, Ake & Humphris, soon after they opened in Harrogate and Collingham in 2010. With an accountancy background and a love of wine, she has found her perfect job! As company director, she arranged their 2015 merger with Yorkshire wine wholesaler Spen Valley Wines, and now oversees the business finances. She has been a member of the Harrogate Chamber of Commerce since 2012, providing a wine quiz by way of entertainment for the 2014 Annual Dinner.

I have been at Saint Michaels Hospice for over 4 years  as a  Sales  Fundraiser, developing relationships with local businesses  and raising the awareness of the Comprehensive Services that Saint Michaels provides in the community.