Jobs in Ripon | Pictures of Ripon

Lying on the eastern fringes of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is Ripon, one of the North’s hidden gems. Located 11 miles north of Harrogate, 27 miles north of Leeds, and 24 miles north west of York, Ripon is an attractive and unspoilt Cathedral city with a population of just over 16,000 and a rich heritage as a market town which continues to dominate the local economy today.

Then and now
Throughout Ripon’s history the city has been the subject of numerous warring factions. First came the Danes who marched on the city when heading south from Northumbria in the hopes of extending their influence in the rest of England. Then the likes of Robert the Bruce et al identified Ripon’s strategic importance when waging war against the English. And the city became the temporary capital of England when Henry IV fixed his residence here when he was driven from London by the plague.

Ripon has grown up around its market place, which has provided focus to the life of the town and city since the 10th century. And throughout the ages, Ripon’s principal manufacturing export was spurs, which were in such high repute, that ‘as true steel as Ripon rowels' became a proverbial expression to denote honesty and courage. It was also noted for its woollen and textiles and malt industries. But the industrialisation that affected and radically transformed many of its Yorkshire neighbours barely touched Ripon on account of its remoteness. As such, the city has continued to thrive as a market town.

Indeed, the retail sector is the mainstay of the local economy. With a workforce of around 7,900 people, 36 per cent of people ply their trade within this sector across a variety of independent shops and market stalls. In fact, Ripon has one of the most reputable weekly markets in Yorkshire and in the 18th century, Daniel Defoe described the Ripon Market Square as 'The finest and most beautiful square to be seen, that’s one of its kind in England'. Moreover, retail occupancy rates since 2003 have continued to increase – indicative of the strong contribution of the retail sector to the economy, in terms of revenue and employment generation.

In contrast, the national average of people employed within this sector stands at 26 per cent.

After retail, the public sector is the biggest employer in the area, accounting for 1 in 3 (32 per cent) of all jobs in Ripon. With around 2,600 people working within the fields of public administration, education and health it is the latter of these three areas that is the most significant in employment terms. Indeed, Harrogate and District NHS Trust dominate the health sector, with around 1,100 (14 per cent of the workforce) workers making their living in a variety of health and social care occupations.

Such is the prominence of these two sectors in terms of employment generation, there is a significant gap between them and the third most important jobs provider – manufacturing. Indeed, the manufacturing sector accounts for around 8 per cent of all jobs in the area as compared to the national average of 12 per cent.

However, it should be noted that the bulk of jobs within this sector are provided by one main employer, Wolseley UK – the building products and plumbing equipment suppliers - which employs 400 staff at its Ripon headquarters.

Key business districts
As befits a traditional market town the commercial district is at the centre of the city. Kirkgate is an ancient street that runs from the Market Place to the Cathedral. Just off Kirkgate is Duck Hill. These two streets have a wealth of interesting shops from art galleries to florists, deli's to restaurants, and hairdressers to toy shops.

Elsewhere, there are a small number of industrial estates on the outskirts of the city, including Thorp Arch Trading Estate and Barker Business Park.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Ripon.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Ripon below.

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Ripon or find out more information on the local area.