Verity Frearson – the estate agents daring to be different in the Harrogate community

The long-established estate agents were the stars of the Harrogate Advertiser Excellence in Business Awards, taking home the Business in the Community title and being named Overall Best Business.

Being Harrogate’s top selling agent for over ten years, with a consistent market share of 25%, the firm have made an ongoing commitment to give back to the local community.

‘100 days of giving’ marks 100 years in business

The company supports many charities, initiatives, and community events so it can help make a difference. Perhaps the most memorable of its community engagement campaigns is its ‘100 days of giving’, which marked the company’s 100th Anniversary.

Kicking off in September 2022 and running through to the end of the year – Verity Frearson asked its customers and social media followers to nominate local people who they believed deserved recognition for what they do in the community.

Some of the work carried out included donating food to food banks, volunteering with charity events, planting trees for the environment in association with Harrogate Rotary, delivering flowers and chocolates to teachers and other deserving recipients, and paying for a group from Artisan Café – entirely staffed by differently-able chefs, waiters and waitresses – to go to the pantomime at Harrogate Theatre.

Marketing manager Lyndsay Snodgrass explained: “With the cost of living crisis and the war in Ukraine the mood was quite sombre, so we decided that throwing a big party to mark 100 years of Verity Frearson was not quite right. Instead of spending money on canapes and fizz, we thought it was better to give something back to the community that has supported us for so long.”

Supporting the community that has supported them over the years

In addition to the ‘100 days of giving’ Verity Frearson has supported many charitable and community endeavours over the years. They have taken part in Cancer UK Race for Life and recently won It’s A Knockout, organised by Harrogate Hospital Community Charity. The firm has also entered a team into September’s Great North Run in aid of St Michael’s Hospice.

The business has been a supporter and sponsor of many sports’ teams and clubs for many years including Harrogate’s Indoor and Outdoor Bowling Clubs, Harrogate Hockey Club, Harrogate Rugby Club and Pannal Ash Football Club. They have just agreed sponsorship deals with Harrogate Cricket Club Juniors and Knaresborough Forest Ladies Cricket Team

Without this type of support, which costs the business around £30,000 a year – grass roots clubs like this, which help develop the next generation of sporting talent, simply wouldn’t survive.

In addition, the firm supported Lyndsay’s daughter Maggie as she collected 3,000 teddy bears for the Teddy Trust who then delivered them to war-torn countries.

Response to Covid

During the pandemic they signed up for the NHS volunteer programme, donated toys to Harrogate Hospital, delivered food parcels to elderly and vulnerable residents and lent the fleet of Verity Frearson Minis to doctors and nurses in support of their tremendous efforts of keeping everyone safe.

About Verity Frearson

Director Matt Stamford said the whole team was proud of what they had achieved: “We are honoured and thrilled to win the Business in the Community Award, winning Business of the Year was incredible and the icing on the cake.

“It was the perfect way to round off our centenary celebrations, Charity has always been a big part of our company ethos and we have lots of exciting plans to continue to give back to the community in the future.”

Verity Frearson has been at the top of its game for just over 100 years. It has thrived within the Town’s residential property market since 1921 and has – during that time – built a reputation for success that comes from being straightforward, honest, and professional and, built a brand that is recognised through its innovative marketing approach and distinctive yellow boards.

Matt added: “Here’s to the next 100 years!”

To find out more visit www.verityfrearson.co.uk