Uredale Community Partnership
Business in Uredale
Working with employers to shape the future of Ripon, Masham and the villages in between
If Ripon and Uredale thrive, businesses thrive.
Local employers have told us that the area's long-term success depends on skills, housing, space and connectivity being tackled together. The Uredale Community Partnership (UCP) gives businesses a practical, time-efficient way to make their voice heard and to connect with the people who can help.
UCP is independent and non-political. We bring together councillors, community groups, public services and businesses across an area of around 33,000 people, and make sure local evidence reaches the people who make decisions about investment, planning and services. Find out more about UCP.
What businesses have told us
Our business gatherings have brought together large employers and small independents from across Ripon and the surrounding area. The messages have been consistent.
🎓 Skills and recruitment
Recruiting and keeping skilled staff is the biggest challenge, particularly in engineering, construction, logistics, hospitality and care. There is no local further education campus, and travel to training is a real barrier, especially for young people. Many employers are unaware of existing skills programmes, and small businesses struggle to find the time to engage.
What we're doing
- Connecting employers with colleges, training bodies and regional skills leads to explore how training could be delivered closer to home
- Gathering local employer evidence to inform the Local Skills Improvement Plan for York and North Yorkshire, so the needs of a rural and market-town economy are understood
- Working with schools, youth organisations and employers to show young people the careers on their doorstep
🏠 Housing for workers
The cost and availability of homes in the area makes it harder to attract and keep staff, and rental stock is limited.
What we're doing
- Co-ordinating local input into the North Yorkshire Local Plan
- Engaging with Homes England on the Clotherholme development
- Exploring community-led housing options
🚌 Space, transport and connectivity
Businesses need affordable office, workshop and logistics space, reliable broadband and mobile signal, and better transport links for staff.
What we're doing
- Feeding business priorities into the Ripon City Investment Plan
- Lobbying collectively on mobile "not-spots" and sharing gigabit rollout information
- Supporting community transport pilots and priority bus routes
🌳 Quality of place
A vibrant city centre, cultural offer and evening economy help attract staff and their families, as well as visitors.
What we're doing
- Mapping cultural assets across Uredale and championing year-round activity
- Working across the groups to identify opportunities for young people in the creative and cultural sector
🤝 A voice with decision-makers
Businesses want engagement that is enabling, relevant and two-way, with clear outcomes.
What we're doing
- Opening doors to direct conversations with North Yorkshire Council and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Bringing collective business insight into local investment and funding plans
📅 Coming up: Uredale Skills Roundtable
Thursday 26 November 2026
Bringing together employers, training providers, schools and regional skills partners to agree practical next steps on recruitment, retention, youth pathways and work readiness.
Register your interestHow to get involved
You don't need to commit lots of time. You can:
- Join our business mailing list for updates and event invitations
- Come to a business gathering or the Skills Roundtable
- Act as a sounding board on proposals before they are finalised
- Host a session or showcase the careers your business offers to young people
Get in touch
To find out more or tell us what would help your business, contact the Uredale Community Partnership.
📧 hello@uredalecp.com
📘 Facebook: @uredalecp
Useful links
Ripon City Investment Plan – Stakeholder Engagement Report (March 2026)
Business calls for action (Sept 2025)
UCP first year report 2024-25
Digital Connectivity in Uredale
Local Skills Improvement Plan 2026-29
York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub
Ripon Business Improvement District
Business North Yorkshire