Local radio station Rombalds Radio plans to expand to broadcast on DAB and offer more promotional opportunities to businesses across Ilkley, Skipton and Keighley as it announces a new partnership with multi-platform brand Your Harrogate.
Rombalds Radio, founded by Ilkley resident Nick Babb and Silsden’s Stuart Clarkson in 2020, will
continue to deliver local news and information across its website and radio station, with the team from Your Harrogate providing business development and advertising sales expertise.
Your Harrogate, which also launched in 2020, was set up by former Stray FM breakfast show
presenter Nick Hancock and colleague Adam Daniel. As part of the changes to take effect from 1st November, Stuart Clarkson and Nick Babb will head up content and programmes, while Your Harrogate oversees strategy and the station’s offer to local businesses in the Aire and Wharfe Valleys. Programmes will continue to be produced and presented from the Rombalds Radio presenters’ home studios - including in Ilkley, Silsden and Skipton.
Nick Babb said: “Over the past three years we’ve seen our ‘lockdown project’ grow into a well-
respected local commercial radio station with a strong focus on Ilkley, Skipton and Keighley.
“Our listener base is growing and we’ve been getting out and about at events such as the Christmas
Light Switch-Ons, Ilkley Carnival, Skipton Sheep Day and more. That will continue and we look
forward to being a bigger part of the local community for many years to come.”
Listeners across Keighley, Ilkley and Skipton will soon be able to tune in to local services via digital
radio, after the media regulator Ofcom announced last week that a new ‘small-scale’ DAB multiplex
licence will finally be available to apply for in early 2024.
Stuart Clarkson from Rombalds Radio said: “Our plan from the start has been to be available on DAB.
The business is ready to grow to the next level - but we felt we needed to bring in some expertise that we just don’t have.
“Nick, Adam and the team at Your Harrogate have a brilliant radio and online product - and do many
things that we’ve just not been able to offer to businesses in our area because of limited resources.
This deal will ensure the continuation of local programmes and content while preparing the station we created from scratch to be an even bigger success in the future.”
Adam Daniel, Group Commercial Director at Your Harrogate, said: “We’re excited to acquire
Rombalds Radio and we can’t wait to start working with all the brilliant businesses across Skipton,
Ilkley and Keighley.
“We have been so impressed with Rombalds Radio - it offers a fantastic service at the heart of its
community with a very loyal audience.”
Tune into Rombalds Radio at rombaldsradio.com, via the free Rombalds Radio smartphone app or
ask your smartspeaker to “Play Rombalds Radio”.