AGM held 12 May 2026
Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce
AGM Meeting held 12 May 2026
In attendance:
Phill Holdsworth (President)
Martin Mann (Chief Executive)
Sam Oakes – Vice President and Membership Secretary
Jackie Snape – Vice President
Vicky Findlow – Vice President
John Garbutt – Honorary Treasurer
Tara Stagman – Management Group
Sarah Darbyshire – Management Group
Martin Taylor – Management Group
Andrew Joy – Management Group
Members of the Chamber
Apologies:
Joy Allen - Essential Needs, Deacon Gary Hoare – Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit, Joe Joyce – Harrogate Brewing
Fiona Movley – Harrogate Club, Kate Rogata – Management Group, Ian Howard – Management Group
Elaine Stevenson – HADCA, William Woods – Woods of Harrogate.
1. Welcome
The meeting was opened at 19.45 hrs by Phill Holdsworth (President). Voting rules were outlined.
2. Apologies
There were five apologies from Deacon Gary Hoare – Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit, Joe Joyce – Harrogate Brewing, Fiona Movley – Harrogate Club, Elaine Stevenson – HADCA, William Woods – Woods of Harrogate.
3. Minutes of the 2026 AGM
A brief report of the previous AGM, held on Monday, May 12th, 2026, was given. The link to the minutes was sent out prior to the meeting. Tara Stagman proposed that the minutes be agreed and Vicky Findlow seconded the motion.
4. Draw for the President’s Charity
The President stated that the Chamber has had a year in which Time Together were the Chamber Charity and that this had been a great relationship. He noted that as a Chamber we have tried to support their work. The President then announced that the Charity for 2026/27 would be chosen by way of a draw. Liz Cluderay – Artizan, made the draw, and it was confirmed that the President’s Charity for 2026 – 2027 will be Harrogate Theatre.
5. President’s Cup and Chamber Management Group Salver
President Phill Holdsworth made two presentations to members of the Chamber.
The President's Cup was presented for the fifth year. This Cup is awarded to someone who has given a great deal to the town of Harrogate. This year is awarded to Michelle Hayes of Resurrected Bites. Michelle was, unfortunately, unable to accept her award as she was not at the meeting and is standing down from the charity shortly.
The President then awarded the Chamber Management Group Salver. The Salver recognises commitment and contribution to the Chamber. The President said he would like to recognise Martin Mann for his work. The Salver was presented to Martin by Vicky Findlow, the outgoing holder of the Salver.
The President stated that the amount of work that Martin puts into helping these events, the meetings, organisational tasks and the behind-the-scenes work is tremendous. He makes the management team’s tasks much easier.
6. President’s Report
The President gave his annual report as follows, noting that he had prepared a two-year report covering his tenure as President. He noted that he had been having around one meeting a fortnight over the last two years. He feels encouraged by the growth of the Chamber, noting that the Chamber is often asked to get involved with a very wide range of local organisations. In addition, he has been asked to present awards as well as get involved in transport and planning meetings. He has, over his two-year tenure, set out to engage with as many people as possible, win hearts and minds, gain champions, and forge alliances, of course, doing good for members. The members are what makes the chamber what it is.
Phill thanked everyone for allowing him to be President for the last two years. Working with the management team has been tremendous, and he thanked them for the opportunity and privilege. His full report is reproduced below.
This report covers the period May 2024 to April 2026, presented at the Annual General Meeting on 12th May 2026. It documents 49 formal engagements across two years, reflecting a Chamber that has been consistently visible, actively engaged with the district’s political and civic life, and growing in both membership and financial strength.
Acknowledgements
To the management committee — thank you. Your time, your energy and your commitment are what make this Chamber work.
To John Garbutt and DSC Chartered Accountants — thank you for keeping our finances in such good order and presenting them so clearly to members.
To our host venues, our charity partners, and every member who has attended an event or renewed their membership — thank you. The Chamber exists because of you.
Phillip Holdsworth
President, Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce
11th May 2026
7. Treasurer’s Report
John Garbutt presented his report, noting that the copies of the accounts had been provided to each table for their review. John went through the reports issued. Feedback on last year’s account was that the income was slightly confusing. This year he has altered the way it is presented in order to make it clearer.
John assumed that everyone was familiar with a set of accounts. The P&L was discussed, and the last year has been very good for the Chamber. We have increased turnover by 20%, and our income is now the highest it has been in the last ten years. We do have some additional costs, notably with support, but overall, we have generated a surplus again. This is a very welcome return.
Looking at the balance sheet, the fixed assets are being depreciated, and we are trying to replace things as and when we can.
We don’t have a large number of liabilities.
8. Chief Executive’s Report
Martin Mann presented the Chief Executive’s report as follows:
What a year. 2025/26 has seen the Harrogate Chamber invited into rooms and onto projects that will shape our town and region for years to come.
Many of you will remember Tony Watson speaking at last year's AGM, just six weeks into his role. Today's presentation shows the direction he's taking us, both as Head of Visit North Yorkshire and now in his expanded role as Head of Economy.
North Yorkshire Council has since created the Visit North Yorkshire Advisory Group and Business North Yorkshire Advisory Group. We've been invited to both, and the questionnaires many of you completed have directly shaped the conversations I take into those meetings.
Around this time last year, the new Harrogate Town Council was created. We've been invited to both Mayor-making ceremonies, Chris Aldred's inaugural appointment and Viv Poskett's just last week.
The Town Council brings new funding opportunities for Harrogate, and the Chamber has been recognised as a primary partner alongside North Yorkshire Council and Harrogate BID in shaping how that money is spent. Current examples include town signage and the Vibrant High Street fund, where I've been meeting interested parties to offer advice and support.
We have also been asked to be involved in the reboot of the Pateley Bridge Chamber which should come in to being now that funding has been awarded as the Nidderdale Business Association.
And next week Phill and I are meeting with the Chief Exec and President of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber, and we do maintain a good relationship with Knaresborough Chamber.
We've hosted 15 meetings over the past 12 months. Alongside the usual 12 member meetings, covering everything from AI to North Yorkshire Council, we hosted a post-budget session with Tom Gordon, a breakfast at the Great Yorkshire Show moderated by the Dean of Ripon Cathedral with Cllr George Jabbour, and an Overnight Visitor Levy meeting where hoteliers spoke directly with Mayor David Skaith.
We have also sponsored a number of events as part of our marketing – Phill and I attending the Stray Ferret awards, the Excellence in Business awards, and Tara and I attended the Your Harrogate Local Hero’s last Friday. And I have even spoken at the Bilton Ladies Forum about the history and purpose of the Chamber.
We are also fortunate enough to be building on our existing relationship with Menwith Hill with Phill and I attending various events, and where appropriate, asking for other local parters to be invited as well.
We've naturally lost some members through retirement, acquisition, or sadly, businesses ceasing to trade. But we're consistently welcoming new ones. Phill and I often meet prospective members before they join, and our numbers are up year on year.
And every month we share 30 to 40 news stories about our members, new hires, events, milestones, across our website and to our 13,000 social media followers."
It has been a busy year, and a genuine pleasure to work alongside our management team. My thanks to Jenni Brown, who keeps me on the straight and narrow with admin, and of course to Phill Holdsworth, who has agreed to serve a further two years as President, giving us a much-needed period of stability and leadership since Covid. Thank you to the team, and to all our members.
My thanks to all of the team and to all of our members.
9. Any questions relating to the reports
There were no questions relating to any of the foregoing reports.
10. Special Resolution
Members were asked for approval for the management committee to take such steps as necessary to transfer the activities of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce into a new legal entity as set out in ‘the proposal’ including amendment of the constitution. Said proposal having been detailed on the Chamber website and a link provided in the agenda which was sent to all members as per established protocols.
This is primarily to switch us from an association to a Limited Company by Association.
The Chamber was canvassed to ensure that all agreed with a show of hands being given to formally adopt this Special Resolution which was carried unanimously.
More information : https://www.harrogatechamber.co.uk/business-hub/harrogate-district-chamber-of-commerce-structure-change-communications-plan
11. Election of Executive Officers
The Executive Officers who are presented for election are as follows.
Election of President for a further two-year term:
Phill Holdsworth - AurumGold (2024-2026)
Unanimous in favour. Election confirmed.
Election of Vice-Presidents for a further two-year term:
Sam Oakes - Gobo Creative - Vice President and Membership Secretary (2024 - 2026)
Jackie Snape - Disability Action Yorkshire - Vice President (2024 - 2026)
Unanimous in favour. Re-election confirmed for both Sam Oakes and Jackie Snape.
Re-Election of Existing Management Committee Members for a further two-year term
Andrew Joy - ActionCOACH (2024-2026)
Ian Howard - Libertas Professional (2024 - 2026)
Kate Rogata - Supporting Older People (2024-2026)
Unanimous in favour. Re-election confirmed for all three parties.
Re-Election of Hon Treasurer for a further two-year term:
John Garbutt, Director of DSC Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers (2025 - 2027)
Unanimous in favour. Re-election confirmed
Existing Vice-Presidents continuing in office for the remainder of a two-year term
Vicky Findlow, Bradleys Jewellers (2025 - 2027)
Existing Members continuing in office for remainder of a two-year term
Tara Stagman, Ake - Humphris Wine Merchants (2025 - 2027)
Sarah Darbyshire - HR Solutions Yorkshire Ltd. (2025 - 2027)
Martin Taylor - Apollo Communications (2025 - 2027)
Proposed New Members of the Management Committee
Zach Greaves - Artus Digital
Louise Terzza - Time Together
Unanimous in favour. Election Confirmed.
12. Any Other AGM Business
Members raised no further AGM business.
The meeting was adjourned at 20.07 hours.
