Senior Business Advisors play a key role in supporting the growth and resilience of businesses across North Yorkshire. They provide specialist, high‑level guidance to new and established businesses, helping them navigate challenges, identify opportunities, and plan for long‑term success.
Their role typically includes:
- One‑to‑one expert advice on business planning, growth strategy, finance, innovation, skills, and productivity.
- Connecting businesses with relevant support programmes, funding options, training, and local or regional initiatives.
- Helping organisations access and understand council services, such as licensing, Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Planning, and Regulatory Requirements.
- Signposting to local and national partners, including universities, skills providers, Growth Hub resources, and sector‑specific networks.
- Supporting start‑ups, scale‑ups, and SMEs to overcome barriers, improve operations, and unlock opportunities.
- Acting as a strategic link between businesses and the wider economic development landscape, ensuring local needs are understood and addressed.
Senior Business Advisors ensure that businesses across North Yorkshire receive practical, tailored, and proactive support, fostering a strong and thriving local economy.
Meet the team
Sue White
Economic Development Manager
About Sue
Sue oversees the Senior Business Advisor team, providing strategic leadership to a specialist team of economic development and business support professionals. She ensures the effective delivery of the council’s ambitious Economic Growth Strategy, shaping services that enable business growth and drive inward investment. Backed by more than significant experience across North Yorkshire and the North-East, Sue brings extensive knowledge and strong operational leadership to the function.
Carey Bilton
Senior Business Advisor for Scarborough & Whitby
About Carey
Carey is an experienced Senior Business Advisor supporting businesses across the public and private sectors, delivering tailored 1:1 guidance that drives growth and strengthens the Scarborough and Whitby economy. Her deep expertise in training, skills development, and apprenticeship advocacy, combined with firsthand experience running her own business, enables her to provide practical, informed, and strategic support to local enterprises.
Heidi Green
Senior Business Advisor for Selby & Ainsty
About Heidi
Heidi is a seasoned Senior Business Advisor with extensive experience across the public and private sectors. She offers specialist support in strategic planning, workforce and skills development, funding advice, apprenticeships, and succession planning, helping businesses navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Passionate about sustainable growth, she combines practical insight with a solutions‑focused approach to strengthen businesses of all sizes.
Claire Lowe
Senior Business Advisor for Richmond & Northallerton
About Claire
Claire is an accomplished Senior Business Advisor with extensive experience across the public and private sectors, bringing strong expertise in business development, strategic support, and hands‑on problem‑solving. Drawing on her background as both a business owner and advisor, she delivers tailored 1:1 engagement to enterprises in Richmond and Northallerton, helping them strengthen performance and unlock growth opportunities.
Michael Reynolds
Senior Business Advisor for Harrogate & Knaresborough
About Michael
Michael is a skilled Senior Business Advisor who delivers tailored 1:1 support to businesses across Harrogate and Knaresborough, offering clear guidance and practical solutions. With extensive public‑sector experience, he excels at helping businesses navigate complex departmental processes and access the right support to achieve their goals.
Joanna Rodwell
Senior Business Advisor for Thirsk & Malton
About Joanna
As a Senior Business Advisor, Joanna brings deep knowledge of economic development, regeneration, and project management, developed through years of work across diverse public sector services. She delivers tailored 1:1 support to businesses in Thirsk and Malton, offering strategic insight and hands‑on guidance. Her strong partnership‑working skills enable her to connect businesses with the right opportunities to drive growth and resilience.
Michaela Young
Senior Business Advisor for Skipton & Ripon
About Michaela
As a Senior Business Advisor, Michaela delivers bespoke, practical support to businesses in Skipton and Ripon, specialising in strategic planning, financial guidance, funding applications and skills planning. Her significant cross‑sector experience, including operating her own businesses, give her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities local enterprises face. She combines strategic insight with hands‑on knowledge to help businesses build resilience and achieve sustainable growth.
Our Senior Business Advisors work with you to understand your challenges and priorities, and to connect you to teams within North Yorkshire Council who can support you on your business journey, teams like:
Trading Standards
Trading Standards help businesses and consumers save time and money with trusted advice on critical issues, from scams and fraud prevention to fair trading, product safety, and compliance, covering everything from buying second-hand goods and animal health to weights and measures and underage sales.
NYtech Cyber Security
NYtech is North Yorkshire Council’s specialist cyber security and digital forensics service, trusted by businesses and law enforcement since 2002. They provide expert solutions in digital forensics, data recovery, and cyber health checks to protect your systems and uncover critical evidence. Whether you need to secure your network, recover lost data, or safeguard against cyber threats, NYtech offers tailored, professional support that keeps your business safe and compliant.
Planning & Conservation
Our Planning and Conservation Service ensures sustainable development while protecting the county’s unique built and natural environment. From planning applications and permission guidance to conservation, heritage, and environmental protection, they provide expert support at every stage. Services include planning policy (including the emerging North Yorkshire Local Plan), building control, enforcement, developer contributions and more, helping you deliver projects that meet regulations and create lasting impact.
Health, Safety & Food Compliance
Our Environment and Neighbourhoods team is your trusted partner for compliance and best practice. They provide tailored advice on managing health and safety, occupational safety, and workplace-specific requirements, helping you create a safe, productive environment. For food businesses, they offer expert support on food safety, premises registration and approval, and conduct thorough inspections to keep your operations compliant and customer ready. With their guidance, you can focus on growth while they handle the details.
Licensing and Registration
Our Licensing and Registration team helps you stay compliant with quick, reliable licensing services for a wide range of business activities.
Services include:
- Alcohol, entertainment and gambling licences
- Taxi and private hire licensing
- Animal welfare and boarding licences
- Street trading and charity collection permits
- Registration for tattooing, piercing and beauty treatments
- Caravan site approvals
- Scrap metal dealer licences
- Fireworks sales permissions
Business Rates
Business rates, also known as National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR), ensure businesses contribute to the cost of vital local services. If you occupy a non-domestic property, these charges apply to you.
The business rates information can help you to
- Learn how business rates are calculated
- Get details on the non-domestic multiplier
- Access valuation guidance and FAQs
They can help you to stay informed and compliant.
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From the breathtaking Yorkshire Dales and the wild beauty of the North York Moors to our stunning coastline, North Yorkshire offers unforgettable experiences all year round.
Visit North Yorkshire is more than just an information hub; it’s your gateway to everything this incredible destination has to offer. As the county’s official Destination and Marketing Service, they work to grow North Yorkshire’s visitor economy by attracting guests who stay longer, explore further, and experience more.
Meet North Yorkshire is the official Convention Bureau for the county, helping businesses discover and secure the ideal venues for meetings, conferences and corporate events. It offers personalised venue recommendations, expert event‑planning support and access to a diverse range of spaces, from historic buildings to unique scenic locations, designed to make business events memorable and effective.
North Yorkshire Council’s cultural function drives the county-wide Cultural Strategy, using the region’s rich heritage and creative assets to support economic growth. It works with national and local partners to strengthen the creative sector, unlock funding, promote culture‑led regeneration, and widen access to skills and cultural opportunities. For businesses, this creates a vibrant, innovative environment that attracts talent, supports collaboration and adds value to the local economy.
Libraries
Looking for the perfect place to start or grow your business? North Yorkshire libraries offer more than just books; they’re your local business hub. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, computer access, and essential services like printing, scanning, and photocopying (some charges may apply). Need tech support? Many libraries have friendly volunteer IT buddies ready to help.Â
Planning a meeting or event? North Yorkshire’s libraries feature professional meeting spaces, with rooms to hire for up to 50 people.
Thinking of starting a business? They’ve got the resources to turn your idea into reality. As a library member, you’ll get free access to The Complete Business Reference Advisor, a website packed with over 4,000 factsheets, market reports, funding sources, and practical guides for launching more than 350 types of businesses.
Adult Education and Training
Take your business to the next level with our flexible skills development programmes, from essential foundation courses to tailored training designed for your staff.
The Adult Education and Training team offer
- Customised learning to meet your business goals
- Expert support from our Learner Engagement Officers
- Convenient drop-in sessions for quick advice
They can help you to Invest in your people and strengthen your business