About us
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Meet the Team
We’re passionate about helping businesses of all sizes thrive in our dynamic region. Our team of experienced professionals can provide you with the support and resources you need to succeed. We work closely with our colleagues at City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council to bring you the best local business support has to offer.
Contact us today to learn more about how York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub can help your business. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
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Harriet Stainton
Interim Growth Hub Delivery Manager
I manage the delivery of the Growth Hub’s support. Talk to me about what you can offer our business community.
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Nicholas White
Business Relationship Manager
I specialise in Agriculture and Farming. Talk to me if your business is based in Richmondshire.
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Karen Booth
Business Relationship Manager
I provide support tailored to start up businesses. Talk to me if you are in the early stages of running your business based in the Harrogate area.
Simon Middleton
Growth Hub Delivery Manager
I manage the delivery of the Growth Hub’s support. Talk to me about what you can offer our business community.
Emma Rollason-Taylor
Business Relationship Manager
I specialise in digital, creative and innovation. Talk to me about digital transformation.
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Joseph Midgley
Contracts and Relationships Officer
I run the delivery of programmes for the Growth Hub. Talk to me if you want to join our supplier register.
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Mike Pennington
Business Relationship Manager
I manage the Made Smarter Programme. Talk to me for Tech support, digital road mapping and possible grant support to digitise your manufacturing business.
Jack Colding
Business Relationship Manager
I am the specialist for environment and sustainability. Talk to me to save money on your waste and energy bills.
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Faye Greer-Pickup
Growth Hub Delivery Officer
I manage the help desk and support pre-start businesses. Talk to me to get your business started.
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Adrian O’Neill
Business Relationship Manager
I am the skills specialist for the Growth Hub. Talk to me about building your workforce.
By its very geography, York and North Yorkshire is home to a diverse range of businesses.
Regardless of size or sector, the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub is here to provide free and impartial business support. We are government-funded but locally based, which means that we provide tailored support based around the needs of our unique region.
How we’ve helped other businesses like yours
Click on the videos below to see how we have helped other businesses in the region or read more of our case studies here.
What is a Growth Hub?
York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub
We’re one of 38 Growth Hubs set up by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Helping you access support and funding
Accessing funding and finance for your business can be confusing and overwhelming at times. You can contact our helpdesk and our team will be able to assess your business needs and introduce you to the providers of the appropriate support. You can contact them by emailing support@ynygrowthhub.com.
Remaining local
We know your time is limited and you need to access information quickly. Our website provides information on local support schemes in relation to skills, finance, sustainability, import and export, and more. In addition, we have details of events across the region and you can find out how we’ve supported other local businesses to expand their set up.
Good for you, great for York and North Yorkshire
Ensuring your business has everything it needs to succeed is not only great for you but also for our regional economy, so getting you the support you need and at the right time is our key priority.
“It’s about creating conversations, not paperwork. When running a small business, time is one of your most valuable assets and mistakes are costly. We want small business owners to be able to quickly find someone they can trust.”
David Kerfoot MBE, Chairman, Kerfoot Group
Articles
Farm Diversification: Where to start
According to DEFRA, 71% of farm businesses in 2023/24 have some form of diversified activity, up from 61% in 2014/15. Income from these activities produced £1.393 billion in 23/24, up from £1.321 in the previous year. This demonstrates how important these income streams have become.
Scams warning as Self Assessment customers targeted
Scammers often impersonate HMRC, offering fake refunds or demanding urgent payments to steal personal and banking information. They may say it’s safe to share personal details. It’s not. Passwords, usernames, and access codes are private and customers should never share them, even with someone they trust or who helps them with their tax.
York and North Yorkshire farms urged to apply for sustainability funding
Farms and businesses that have had an energy audit can now apply for funding up to £49,950 to help decarbonise their businesses. York and North Yorkshire’s Business Sustainability Programme will help farms and businesses implement changes that have been recommended by the local authority or Grow Yorkshire decarbonisation support programme or one which has been done by a suitable private sector organisation.
Events
21st August 202510:00 am - 11:30 amFREE
🌎 Business Basics Webinar: Accessing Capital for Growth
Gaining access to outside investment means you don’t have to give up on your dream. So how do you prove to any potential investor that your business model is worth investing in. What information will they need from you? What timescales are involved and what are the likely costs/cash flow implications.
28th August 202510:00 am - 11:30 amFREE
🌎 Business Basics Webinar: Forecasting
It is really important to have up to date numbers. Those representing the trading to date can really help any stakeholder to understand the business. But we can no longer influence what has already happened, so the key to successful decision making is in forecasting.
02nd September 20257:00 pm - 9:00 pmFREE
🟢 Strive Live Start-up Incubator: September 2025
If you are currently running or looking to launch a start-up based in York & North Yorkshire, join this award-winning incubator designed to help grassroots entrepreneurs launch their business. Strive Live blends weekly live online training with regular one-to-one advice and on-demand online learning to make it simple and exciting to start a business. Plus, you could win up to £2,500 in micro grants at the end of the programme.
Resources
Business Basics Series Part 2: Webinar Recordings & Blogs
These resources provide a guide to key subjects such as tax, pricing and all things numbers. Jo Tomlinson is a qualified Management Accountant, certified QuickBooks Advanced ProAdvisor, Making Tax Digital ProAdvisor and 1 of only 11 Certified QuickBooks Trainers’ that work on behalf of QuickBooks, training accountants across the UK.
Webinar: How to get higher in Google: The basics
Want your website to be seen by as many potential customers as possible? Get practical tips from an experienced Search Engine Optimisation professional on how to woo those elusive search engine robots and climb the rankings.
Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund Phase 2 - Webinar Series
This webinar series is designed to provide practical guidance and in-depth support with your application. Applications for Phase Two of the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund are now open, and will close at 5pm on the 31st July.