The brain drain that threatens future of spa town

HARROGATE is particularly affected by the exodus of youngsters, with experts saying that unless action is taken, an entire chunk of the spa town's population could disappear.

The problem has become so severe that Harrogate Borough Council has listed the loss of 18 to 29-year-olds as a major threat in its new five-year economic strategy.

More than 70 per cent of teenagers leave the town at 18 to go into higher education and most never return.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The council says the loss is made worse by the lack of higher education facilities meaning no new students are coming into the town to help stem the flow.

Brian Dunsby, chief executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce, said: "It does impact on the town's economy, we are losing our best and brightest young people and this has got to stop.

"The town is missing out on fresh young thinking and it is a concern, particularly for the new industries setting up here.

"Twenty to 30-year-olds are a whole demographic that is almost missing.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It is not a new phenomenon here but it is being exaggerated by rapid changes in society.

"I have three grown up children who went to university and never came back, I'm afraid this story is repeated all over Harrogate.

"We have got excellent schools that send a lot of people off to university but they don't come back."

He added: "These are the town's brightest stars but once they have gone away and lived in another place for a few years they stay away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"There is no inflow of that age group so they are not being replaced. With the ageing population it is a problem that is becoming magnified."

High house prices are seen as one of the main reasons why young people are being forced out of Harrogate.

A recent study found nearly half of Yorkshire's 20 most expensive streets are to be found in the town.

Harrogate's proximity to major cities across the North is also a strong lure in tempting young people to leave.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

To help address the problem, the council says it has poured resources into creating more affordable housing throughout the town and says that is also working to improve higher education to encourage youngsters to study closer to home.

Paul Cliff, 38, head of learner entitlement at Harrogate College, the only higher education facility in the town, says the college is launching a business school next month to help bring youngsters back.

He said: "Youngsters in Harrogate have high aspirations but to an extent the town is paying the price for these aspirations.

"It has come to a point where we need to stop this exodus.

"There are a lot of attractive cities not far from here, even Leeds feels like the bright lights compared to Harrogate.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Once you have moved out of Harrogate to a big city it is very different – there is a lot of excitement out there.

"But we hope this will be a temporary blip.

"Quite rightly, young people have aspirations but we need to make these achievable here. The local economy needs this."

Coun Andrew Jones, cabinet member for resources on Harrogate Borough Council, said: "It is an unwelcome reputation. This is a big problem nationally but it is being reflected here on a local level.

"Housing and a lack of opportunities have had a big impact on this. We recognise that house prices are part of the problem.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"As a council we are increasing the proportion of affordable properties. We are talking to Harrogate College about increasing higher education in the area."

He added: "More needs to be done to promote Harrogate and increase the level of opportunities."

Business thrives as countryside 'brings no disadvantages'

CASE STUDY 1

Despite being in his early 20s, Duncan Turnbull is running a thriving rural business with customers all over the country.

Based just north of York, Mr Turnbull runs Yorkshire Meats, a firm that allows consumers to adopt a pig which they watch grow until it is ready for slaughter, giving just about the ultimate guarantee in food provenance.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Turnbull is highlighted by the Commission for Rural Communities as an example of how rural businesses need the proper backing.

From his base at Shipton, North Yorkshire Mr Turnbull enjoys good broadband and phone access meaning his operation can take orders effectively like any other business.

"Being in the countryside has brought me no disadvantages," he said "Broadband is fine, access is fine, the customers like visiting the farm."

Mr Turnbull said that none of his friends were looking to work in the countryside, with most intending to head for London or neighbouring cities.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However the young entrepreneur said he had no intentions of quitting rural life.

"Never," he said. "Some people keep pigs in the urban environment, but probably not on the same scale. No friends are going to work in the countryside. Most are going to London or the city."

Mr Turnbull started his firm when he was still at school from his parents' 26-acre farm. He promotes the rare breeds of Oxford Sandy and Black – with the farm being one of the largest breeders in the North of England.

Company finding it difficult to attract 'young blood' on home ground

CASE STUDY 2

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lee Evans, 27, is one of the few to move back to Harrogate after spending several years away.

Mr Evans, who had left the town in his early 20s to live in Leeds, thought his old district would be a good place to start Vital Online Studio and Vital Network Solutions.

But despite advertising for a number of jobs over the past two years, he says he has been unable to attract young blood locally to work in his Knaresborough studio.

He said: "We have been advertising jobs for the past few years and despite it being in the recession, it's been a real struggle.The type of CVs we were getting were just totally different to when you are in a big city.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"In big cities these jobs get flooded with people applying who have just left university and are looking for a job for a few years before moving on.

"This would have been perfect for us and was exactly the type of candidate we were looking for.

"In the end we had to join a national apprenticeship scheme to get the right people.

"I left Harrogate in my early 20s and moved back a few years ago but my friends always tell me I'm an old fogey.

"The young people just don't seem to be here."