Welcome to the Skipton and Ripon page of the Business North Yorkshire newsletter. Here you will find details of local networking groups, events in the area, and business news from around the constituency.

To feature your business news or events, contact us by email.

Networking and events in your area

Thrive Circle

The Hive, 8 Skelton Business Park, Cross Hills, BD20 7BY

• Thursday 30 October 9.30am to 11.30am

For more information visit the Thrive Circle website.

News and events in your area

Immediate Impact Digital (Marketing) Level 3

Starts 6 October in Skipton

Digital marketing skills are no longer nice to have: they’re essential. Immediate Impact supports you with all aspects of digital marketing so you’re confident building and managing your online presence to reach new audiences and make more sales. 

For more information, visit the Enterprise Made Simple website.

Free Tourism Marketing Workshop

19 November, Devonshire Institute, Grassington

The Tourism Network, in partnership with Yorkshire Dales National Park, North York Moors National Park, and Visit North Yorkshire, is hosting a series of free in-person events to help your business grow. 

Whether you're an accommodation provider, activity provider, attraction or a food & drink business, these sessions are packed with actionable insights to help your business thrive.

For further information and to reserve your place, visit the Tourism Network website.

Business Spotlight

Valentino’s

Valentino’s is a family run Italian restaurant that has been trading for 39 years in Ripon. Set up by two Italian brothers in 1986, Mario and Fermino di Silvestro, it very much became part of the landscape of Ripon dining. Offering homemade Italian foods and wafer-thin Roman Pizza’s; a recipe brought over by Fermino from his brother-in-law Alfredo, a Roman Pizzaiola. Rick, who started as a pot wash aged 15 and entered the family through marriage, now owns and runs it with Danny and Pablo supporting him. Keeping the authentic Italian recipes that they were trained in and the same service. Seeing generations of families still loyal to this date.  

Over the past years, Rick has worked to add on to the offering, including developing five luxury rooms above the restaurant that are very popular, bringing tourists to the area for an authentic Italian experience. Their last venture enabled them to invest in making their own Gelato, which can be purchased in-house and at other local establishments, concluding their journey to everything being produced in-house. This was achieved with the assistance of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Small Business Grant from North Yorkshire Council, along with the support of their local Senior business Advisor, Michaela Young.

When asked what advice Rick would give to other high street businesses during these testing times, he said: “You decided to start a business with values of what you wanted to deliver. Being in business for over 18 years I have tried to stick to this as best as possible but adapt by navigating the evolving landscape. My biggest assets are my staff and customers. I try to create a positive working environment that empowers staff. The familiarity of having the same staff provides comfort and a relationship with customers, ensuring their return. I would also reach out and look out for useful training, business support and peer-to-peer groups even if you are not struggling, as running a business can be lonely and there is a lot of support available. Useful contacts include Michaela Young, Senior Business Advisor, and Lilla Bathurst, Manager of Ripon BID.” 

Café in the Park

Nestled in the heart of Ripon’s Spa Gardens, Café in the Park has quickly become a vibrant part of the local community. Taken over in June 2024 by Jane Aksut and Paul Page, with business consultant Steve Bolton as a minority shareholder, the café is now open seven days a week, offering a welcoming space for locals and visitors alike.

Jane, drawing on her background in teaching, administration, and business support, set out to create more than just a café. Her vision was to experiment with best business practices and help promote Ripon as a destination, working closely with Ripon BID to develop the ‘Spa Quarter’ and enhance the city’s appeal to tourists.

Café in the Park prides itself on using local produce and providing excellent quality food at reasonable prices. Most menu items are prepared in-house, and anything sourced externally comes from reputable local suppliers. The café also hosts popular pop-up bistro evenings, where chefs, including award-winning Vincenzo Raffone, showcase their culinary talents. It regularly hosts free evening events for local groups and is about to launch free business networking evenings, providing a relaxed space for local business owners to connect and support each other.

Despite the typical challenges faced by hospitality businesses—such as managing start-up costs, VAT, staffing, and seasonality—Café in the Park has thrived thanks to strong local support. North Yorkshire Council played a key role, providing a grant through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that helped the café enhance its outdoor space and visibility. Collaborative efforts with the Council, Ripon BID, and the local City Councillor also led to improved lighting in spa gardens, making the area safer and more inviting. Additionally, Jane and her team have benefited from practical training, workshops, and advice from YNY Growth Hub, Ripon BID, and fellow local businesses, helping them build a resilient and community-focused enterprise.

Now in its second year, Café in the Park’s turnover is on track to be six times that of the previous business. The café employs four permanent staff and twelve seasonal team members, supporting local employment and sourcing supplies from five family-run businesses. Anti-social behaviour in the gardens has decreased, and plans are underway for more evening events and collaborations with local musicians. 

Your local Senior Business Advisor

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As Senior Business Advisor for Skipton and Ripon, Michaela’s primary role is to promote and support business growth and the economic potential of North Yorkshire, and she works with colleagues, partners and key stakeholders to help deliver our Economic Growth Strategy. Michaela takes the lead responsibility for delivering a bespoke one-to-one business engagement and support service to the businesses of the Skipton and Ripon constituency.

During the last 33 years, Michaela has held leadership positions in a number of businesses, including manufacturing and engineering, construction, retail and the charity sector. Her particular strengths include skills and business planning, funding applications and business development. Outside of work, Michaela is a keen gardener and enjoys the great outdoors.

To book an appointment, contact us by email.