Tag Archives: Harrogate

News

Health on the shelf as Kirsty’s commitment to Net Zero helps it retain major retail deal

A Harrogate manufacturer of award-winning gluten and dairy free chilled ready meals, frozen pizzas and deserts has retained a major UK retail contract thanks to support from the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP).

Kirsty’s, which was started by entrepreneur Kirsty Henshaw after her son Jacob was discovered to be allergic to nuts and intolerant to gluten and dairy, is working towards being Net Zero by 2050 which is a key requirement of one of its largest retail customers.

Having a plan to reach net zero has helped safeguard the jobs of Kirsty’s 49 staff, including 18 new recruits brought on to help support its expansion.

The company reached out to MGP to part-fund an environmental audit and bring in a specialist consultant that was experienced in complex food manufacturing and could support its carbon reporting and help it put in place its Net Zero plan.

“Our retail customer announced in January this year that it wanted all suppliers to have a plan in place by the end of the year to get to Net Zero by 2050,” explained Natalie Parker, Marketing Director for Kirsty’s.

“We’ve only been manufacturing our own products in Harrogate for two years, so as a small SME this was a massive challenge, and we needed some external assistance.”

She continued: “This is where the Manufacturing Growth Programme came into play and we found the adviser very easy to work with, very understanding of the challenges of our business and very keen to put us in touch with experts and funding that made a real difference.”

The Manufacturing Growth Programme is currently the UK’s largest and leading business support programme for SME manufacturers.

The initiative, which is designed and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has secured nearly £15million in grants for 4300 companies over the last three years, creating and safeguarding over 10,000 jobs in the process.

With ERDF funds being phased out, MGP is due to end in early 2023 unless the ‘essential lifeline for small to medium-sized manufacturers’ can be incorporated into the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Shaughan Farrow, Manufacturing Growth Manager for MGP, added her support: “The Covid-19 pandemic impacted many businesses across the UK, but Kirsty’s was still able to grow its turnover by more than 11%.

“Bearing in mind she set up her business with the remnants from her student loan, when Kirsty Henshaw says she has set her sights on reaching a turnover of £25m within the next three years, we can genuinely see that happening.

“This business is a success story for other budding entrepreneurs, recognising a need in the market based on a personal situation, having an idea, and having the guts to go for it!

“It also shows that fast-growing companies need expert support at certain parts of the journey and, by accessing MGP funding and advice, it has secured a major retail contract that has given it the platform to grow and create 18 new jobs.”

Kirsty Henshaw initially launched her business selling ice-cream in health food shops across the UK.

However, trying to juggle work, parenthood and making ice-cream, she took a leap of faith and entered the Dragons Den in 2010, becoming the youngest entrepreneur to receive funding from ‘Dragons’ Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones with her range of free-from and ice cream alternatives.

Today, the meals business is worth more than £10m and supplies ready meals from its manufacturing facility on Springfield Business Park in Harrogate and frozen pizzas and frozen desserts through co-manufacturing agreements.

Awards, Franchises, News

Yorkshire businesswoman secures finalist place in national franchising awards

Fiona Ibbetson of Get Ahead Leeds, York & Harrogate is celebrating being shortlisted in the Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF) Awards 2022.

Fiona fought off fierce competition to be one of just four finalists in the Woman Franchisee of the Year category. The Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF) awards celebrate the achievements of women across the franchising industry. The Woman Franchisee of the Year award recognises the most successful woman franchisee in 2021.

According to organisers, this year saw a record number of entries, and the standard was the highest in the twelve years of the EWIF Awards. Winners of each of the ten categories will be announced at the in-person EWiF Awards Ceremony on Thursday 30th June 2022, at RBS Building, 280 Bishopsgate, London.

Commenting on her shortlisting, Fiona said: “2021 was a massive year for my business. In June 2021, I took a giant leap towards achieving my vision by completing the purchase of the additional franchise of York and Harrogate. This allowed me to unlock significant growth by taking on new clients and new virtual assistants. I also became an award-winning business, winning the first-ever Great British Franchisee Awards 2021.

As a result, I smashed my financial targets, and I expect to deliver even higher numbers this year. With passion, drive and commitment, I overcame the challenges of COVID19 in 2020 and delivered exceptional results in 2021, creating a bigger, stronger, award-winning business. I am immensely proud of everything I have achieved.”

Rebecca Newenham, founder of Get Ahead said: “I am blown away by what Fiona has accomplished since starting her business just four years ago. To be shortlisted in this category, fighting off competition from other, well-established franchisees that have been in operation for many years, is fantastic. It has been a pleasure to support her on her journey so far. I know she will continue to go from strength to strength as she grows her specialist outsourcing team further and enables even more businesses to get ahead.”

Get Ahead provides virtual marketing and business support services enabling businesses of all sizes and from all sectors to get ahead. Their growing network of regional directors in Berkshire & North Hants, East Midlands, Leeds, Oxford, Suffolk & Essex, Surrey, and Wirral & Cheshire West, York and Harrogate and Australia is expanding both nationally and internationally.

Franchises, News, North of England

Get Ahead franchisee for Leeds, York & Harrogate wins at first-ever Great British Franchisee Awards

Get Ahead is delighted that Fiona Ibbetson has been crowned a winner in the first-ever Great British Franchisee Awards 2021.

Organised by whichfranchise.com, the Great British Franchisee Awards focus on the people who have made UK franchising a success. They recognise the outstanding performance of franchisees, regardless of the size of their business or the sector they work in.

Judged by a prestigious panel of industry experts, all the winners, ranging from Business Doctors in Fife down to Merry Maids in Kingston Upon Thames, demonstrated what it takes to be Great British Franchisees. Alongside Fiona Ibbetson of Get Ahead Leeds, York & Harrogate, other notable winners in the north west included Sharon Allen, Grimsby – GoCruise, Jonathan Hargreaves-Townson – North West, Rainbow International and Talk Direct Leeds – West, South & North Yorkshire, North East of England, O2.

The judging panel consisted of Suki Dehal – Lloyds Bank, Head of Franchising, Aman Nirwal – BDO, Senior Key Account Manager Franchising, Euan Fraser – AMO Consulting, and Derrick Simpson, Companion of the British Franchise Association. Aman Nirwal commented:

“I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing all the applications and it has been so refreshing to see how all sizes of businesses from various sectors have coped and adapted their business in response to not only Covid-19 but looking at sustainable growth and business resilience for many years to come. It was great to see so many applications and from a cross section of franchisees,”

Talking about her win, Fiona Ibbetson said, “I am thrilled to have won this award which recognises excellence in franchisees. I started on my franchise journey in 2017, after leaving a senior corporate role. I looked at different options and met Get Ahead at an exhibition I attended as part of my research. I loved the energy and passion that founder Rebecca Newenham has for the business. I have never looked back after starting Get Ahead Leeds in January 2018 and launching Get Ahead York & Harrogate in 2021.”

Rebecca Newenham added: “I am very proud of everything Fiona has achieved over the past 3 years and delighted that her hard work has been recognised in these prestigious awards. It has been a pleasure to support her on her journey so far. I am excited to see her specialist outsourcing team grow and enable even more businesses to access the virtual support they need to get ahead.”