The Stray Ferret Business Awards recognises and celebrates your business achievements culminating in an awards dinner on Thursday 13 March 2025.

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2025 sponsored by Prosperis

Ferret

The Stray Ferret Business Awards 2025 are for businesses across all sectors within the Harrogate district including Ripon, Masham, Boroughbridge, Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough.

This is an opportunity to put your business, team or an employee in the spotlight. There's no better accolade than a coveted Stray Ferret Business Award.

Businesses are encouraged to enter more than one category.

Entries will be judged by leading business professionals from the region.

The Award Categories 

You can enter as many categories as you wish and there is no charge to enter.

Each category has it's own judging criteria and you must address each of the points in your submission.

  • Dynamic Leader 

    These people are key for any successful business. They drive progress, activity and change in their organisation.

    Enter here

  • Business Growth

    A business that has seen significant growth in the last three years either financially, by employee numbers or market share increase.

    Enter Here

  • Sustainable Business

    This award recognises those businesses that have put sustainability at the top of their agenda. These businesses are helping drive change and leading the way by reducing their impact on the environment.

    Enter Here

  • Best Employer 

    Best Employers embrace a culture of high performance, stress company values and have systems in place to inspire their workforce to do their best.

    Enter Here

  • Rising Star Under 30

    This award highlights the up and coming talent at a business. These people are sure to make waves and build a successful career in the years to come.

    Enter Here

  • Employee Appreciation

    This person is the glue of the team. They are not only integral to the day to day, but they also bring a personal touch that makes the business that bit brighter.

    Enter Here

  • Business of the Year 

    A business which is leading the way in strategy, growth, community involvement and people development.

    Enter Here

  • Best Use of Digital

    A business which has embraced the digital world to drive success.

    Enter Here

  • Best Independent Retailer 

    This business has survived the pandemic and now tackling a cost-of-living crisis. They are truly beating the odds to support customers and make the high street work for them.

    Enter Here

  • Inclusivity Award 

    Vital recognition for a company that have demonstrated working practices with a proactive approach to inclusivity, giving people a chance to thrive.

    Enter Here

The winners of the Stray Ferret 2024 Business Awards sponsored by Prosperis

Winners Lounge

This is the moment the entrants for the Stray Ferret Business Awards have all been dreaming about.

The Winners Lounge, sponsored by LCF Law, where we interview finalists and take lots of pictures so we can celebrate your success.

Judging

The Stray Ferret Business Awards is judged by an independent panel of experts. They are chosen for their expertise, experience and positions in the industry across various sectors.

Judges give their free time to participate in the judging process. Judges with conflicts of interest in categories will not participate in the judging of those categories. Following the deadline, judges are given every entry, provided in the same format and without any material that goes against the terms and conditions.

Judges score each entry according to the criteria of each category. Judges will then meet to discuss their scores and make a final decision during a single day of judging, based on the contents of the written entry.

The judging process is confidential and all decisions are final.

Our judges will be revealed soon.

Judging

  • Sarah Barry

    Chief Executive Officer at Harrogate Town AFC 

    Sarah began her career in advertising at the Yorkshire Post and Harrogate Advertiser series before joining Harrogate’s first local radio station, Stray FM – which was the start of a varied management career in commercial radio before finally becoming the Managing Director of multi-award winning Stray FM – one of the UK’s most successful commercial radio stations of its size. In September 2021, Sarah joined Harrogate Town AFC as CEO and in June 2023, Sarah was recognised at the Football Business Awards as the SkyBet League Two CEO of the year, as voted for by fellow SkyBet League Two CEO’s.

  • James Rycroft

    Managing Director of VIDA Healthcare 

    James Rycroft formed Vida Healthcare in 2010 in order to offer exceptional care for people living with Dementia. Over the years he has designed, developed and now operates 300 beds and employs over 500 staff. All Vida’s homes have been rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission which a direct result of James’ passion for quality care and quality environments.

  • Niall Gunn

    CEO of Prosperis 

    Niall is an executive in retail financial services, wealth management and employee benefits with over 40 years’ experience in various executive roles with more recent focus on management. Niall operates at board level with UK regulatory approved designations, possessing excellent broad-based problem solving, communication and stakeholder management skills to ensure delivery and high effectiveness. Experienced in developing strategies, functions and frameworks, transformational change and developing/managing existing teams. He is the former Chairman of the Yorkshire Life & Pensions Society for an unprecedented three terms.

  • Heather Parry

    Director of Expect Events Ltd. 

    Heather is an events professional who has spent the last 30 years building successful businesses on the Great Yorkshire Showground, including Pavilions of Harrogate, Yorkshire Event Centre, Fodder and the Harrogate Caravan Park. Committed to good people management, communication, pushing boundaries for success and having a happy culture.

  • Judging Information

    • The Stray Ferret Business Awards is judged by an independent panel of experts.
    • They are chosen for their expertise, experience and positions in the industry and its various sectors.
    • Judges give their free time to participate in the judging process.
    • Judges with conflicts of interest in categories will not participate in the judging of those categories.
    • Following the deadline, judges are given every entry, provided in the same format and without any material that goes against the terms and conditions.
    • Judges score each entry according to the criteria of each category.
    • Judges will then meet to discuss their scores and make a final decision during a single day of judging, based on the contents of the written entry.
    • The judging process is confidential and all decisions are final.

What does it mean to win the Stray Ferret Business Awards?

Harvey George were thrilled to win an award in the category best use of digital. It was wonderful to have the teams hard work, knowledge and dedication recognised by other people outside of the company.

Sophie Griffiths, Harvey George

Winning Large Business of the Year was an honour and a privilege. We are grateful to all the judges for recognising Vida Healthcare, which gave our workforce a real boost. The Stray Ferret brings the community together with these awards.

James Rycroft, Vida Healthcare

We were thrilled to win the Business Growth Award at this year’s Stray Ferret Business Awards. Particularly as a small independent business, to be recognised in a category with some local giants in the shortlist was amazing. I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the team at Starling who have responded so positively to the significant growth we have achieved over the past couple of years.

Simon Midgley, Starling Independent

I was overjoyed for The Cheeseboard to be singled out as the Best Independent Retailer, especially amongst such fierce competition. It really was an honour and testament to our hard work and dedication to supplying the public with local, artisan produce, supporting dairy industries locally and further afield. In a world when the economical climate is uncertain, and high street shops are closing, it is such a pleasure that a small, independent shop like The Cheeseboard has survived and is still surviving in these uncertain times. After 42 years in business, we are so pleased to have this award bestowed on us!

Gemma Akroyd, The Cheeseboard Harrogate