OUR HISTORY

History of Harrogate Chamber 2000-2022 – by Brian and Beryl Dunsby

During the 1990’s, the Chamber held its monthly meetings at the Green Park Hotel, under the presidency of leading local business people including Denis Kaye, Charles Jesper, Joy Allan, Barbara Coultas and David Durrant. The Secretary was Peter Armitage for most of this period but he resigned due to pressure of business in 2001. A part-time Secretary was employed for a short period but in 2002 under Mark Lancaster’s Presidency, Perlex Associates run by Brian and Beryl Dunsby were appointed to cover an expanded secretariat function for a modest monthly retainer plus expenses. Their overall objective was to uphold and where possible enhance the standing of the Chamber as the powerful voice of the Harrogate business community, in order to promote the economic viability of the town, whilst upholding its traditions and environment.

In 2002 the Chamber established a Focus Group on Transport Management and Public Transport which was concerned about the deterioration of public transport services and the increase of traffic congestion in the town centre and on the main arterial roads into Harrogate. We campaigned for action to reduce main road congestion and improve rail services with some additional rail halts.

In 2003, the Chamber drafted a vision for an integrated Business Incubation Centre which would support the development and growth of many more new business within the town. We also proposed a new Chamber Web Site covering who we are and what we do to promote Harrogate business, covering membership benefits, promotion opportunities and publications. The first Business Networking “Safari” began in which members moved around tables and eventually met everyone else at the meeting for “hunting for business”.

In 2004 we began moving our meetings to other venues, giving them Chamber membership in return for the meetings refreshments. With a programme of topical meeting subjects, the attendance grew slowly from 30 in 2002 to 41 in 2005, reaching an average of 62 in 2009 and 85 in 2014. A new Business Watch security alert system for Harrogate businesses was launched in conjunction with North Yorkshire Police and NY Trading Standards. This e-mail alert drew attention to recent criminal activities so that local businesses could take the necessary precautions to protect their business assets and premises. This included a Business Watch sign.

In 2004, we joined the Harrogate Line Officers Rail Group organised by NYCC to support our campaign for improved services on the lines to Leeds, York and London Kings Cross..

In 2005 we launched the first Harrogate Business Market at Pavilions of Harrogate with free entrance for business visitors which was opened by Jean MacQuarrie, Editor of the Harrogate Advertiser. There were about 70 local businesses promoting their products and services in two halls. Ultimately it was successfully expanded into the Yorkshire Business Market by 2008 occupying all four halls in the Pavilions.

In 2007 the meeting venues were reviewed and it was agreed to use the leading hotels plus the Pavilions. The Chamber then set up a Promoting Harrogate Group involving all the established tourism related businesses with an overall aim of making sure that the town is very successful from a business and leisure tourism perspective. Peter Banks Managing Director of Rudding Park was elected Chairman in 2010. In 2012 the Group had 45 active members and continued operating very successfully until 2015 when it was taken over by Visit Harrogate.

In 2008 there was Royal recognition of two Chamber Officers. The Chief Executive Brian L Dunsby was awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion for prolonged help in assisting others to start-up and grow their businesses. The then President Robert Whiteley, General Manager of the Yorkshire Event Centre met Her Majesty the Queen during her visit to the Great Yorkshire Show.

In 2009 the Chamber worked with Destination Harrogate to create a new double-sided map of Harrogate District and the Town Centre with all the major attractions, hotels and transport connections listed. This was issued at a nominal cost to the members of both organisations.

In 2011 in response to our lobbying, East Coast began operating a new evening direct service between London Kings Cross and Harrogate – the first new rail service to Harrogate for over 25 years. This was in response to our 25-page bid document entitled “Why Harrogate Trains”, which highlighted all the reasons in detail. In the same year we began to arrange an Annual Dinner at the Cedar Court Hotel, hosted by President Simon Cotton.

In 2012 we were looking for ways to raise funds for the Christmas Lights when a commercial operator planned to organise a Christmas Market on the St Mary’s Walk area of the Stray. But they withdrew in July and we took on the challenge of organising what they had proposed. We planned a four-day Harrogate Christmas Market to compete with established Christmas Markets in other towns such as Bath, Lincoln, Nottingham and York. Use of Stray Land in St Mary’s Walk for four days meant free access for visitors, with volunteer stewards helping on site to make everyone welcome. It was a great success and we carried on organising it annually until 2019.

In 2013 the Harrogate Line Supporters Group joined Railfuture Yorkshire Branch to continue campaigning for improved services on the Harrogate Line. In 2014 we supported a bid to electrify the Harrogate Line which was chosen to be near the top of the list selected by a DFT Task Force led by our MP Andrew Jones. But nothing electric has happened since then. Fortunately, improved diesel rolling stock Class 170 was introduced in 2020.

In 2015 the Harrogate Christmas Market won the Tourism Award in the Harrogate Advertiser Business Awards and in 2017 it won the Harrogate Hospitality & Tourism Award for the best achievement of the year. In the intervening years it usually was a runner-up.

In 2015 the Chamber proposed the creation of a Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway Station on the existing Harrogate railway line just south of the Bramhope Tunnel. This proposal gained support from many quarters and it is now in the pipeline for Leeds Council implementation.

In 2016 Perlex Associates announced their intention to retire from administering the Chamber after 14 years in the role, whilst continuing to administer the Yorkshire Business Market, the Harrogate Christmas Market and the Harrogate Line Supporters Group. Former President Sandra Doherty was elected to take on the role as Chief Executive. She proposed changing the Chamber’s name to Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce.

In November 2016 and September 2017, the Chamber held Traffic and Transport Update Meetings with leading speakers from Leeds Bradford Airport, Transdev Blazefield, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains East Coast.

In February 2018 Brian was honoured by HM The Queen with an OBE which recognised his services to business and the community of Harrogate. In April 2018 the last Yorkshire Business Market was held with 80 business exhibitors, 7 seminars and 6 partners – namely Hornbeam Park, CNG, FSB, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, Stray FM and Ad:Venture. YBM was then taken over by The Yorkshire Society who ran the event for just one year in 2019.

In November 2019 the 8th Harrogate Christmas Market was a total sell-out with all 200 stalls being booked by Yorkshire-based Traders offering a wide range of British-made gifts, clothes, jewellery, food and drink. Harrogate Christmas Market was organised every year from 2012 to 2020 when it was stopped due to the Pandemic.

In December 2019 the first AZUMA Trains were operated by LNER between Harrogate and London Kings Cross every two hours six times a day each way, ideal for both business and leisure travellers along the East Coast.

In 2020 and 2021 regular meetings were suspended due to the Covid Pandemic. In 2022 Sandra Doherty resigned as Chief Executive following her sale of Alexa House and relocation. David Simister the former PR Officer was elected as her successor together with Sue Kramer, Co-owner of Crown Jewellers, as President.