My name is Paul Haslam

As a councillor for Bilton and Nidd Gorge in Harrogate, I’ve been proud to serve my community for over a decade. Throughout this time, I’ve worked closely to help local residents and tackle key issues like improving local transport, addressing the climate crisis, and advocate for more affordable housing.

One of my proudest moments was leading the campaign to prevent the construction of a northern relief road around Harrogate, which would have severely impacted the beautiful Nidd Gorge. 

In 2024, I stood for Mayor of York & North Yorkshire to broaden my influence and drive positive change. View my manifesto to learn more about my principles and vision for a greener, more prosperous North Yorkshire.

As chair of Transport for the North’s Scrutiny Committee for the last six years, I’ve worked hard to advocate for better regional transport solutions that meet the needs of our communities. One of my key focuses has been pushing for a new train station off Claro Road in Harrogate, which I believe would help ease traffic congestion and encourage more sustainable transport options.

Throughout my involvement, I’ve consistently highlighted the imbalance in transport funding between the North and the South of England. I strongly believe we need more investment to improve infrastructure, and I’ve used my position to campaign for this. Better mobility boosts the local economy, improves opportunitues and quality of life. It also benefits the climate by reducing our carbon footprint.

My diverse background spans small business, corporate enterprise, and public service. I combine leadership, strategic insight, and a commitment to ethical and sustainable business conduct in all my professional endeavors and public service roles.

I hold an MBA from Manchester Business School, which has provided me with a strong foundation in business management and strategic planning. In addition, I maintain professional coaching certifications to deliver the most up-to-date leadership coaching.

With over 25 years of professional experience—including roles as a CEO and Managing Director at FTSE-listed companies—I have honed my skills in achieving strategic objectives and transformational change whilst promoting responsible business practices throughout.

Climate change and biodiversity loss is the defining crisis of our time. Getting through this may well be mankind’s greatest achievement, requiring a team effort to succeed.

Solutions will need to be just, creating a world that is fair and equitable for all. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals provide an excellent framework for this mission, and I firmly believe that businesses must integrate these values into every aspect of their operations. The world’s leaders and businesses need to transform into forces for good, ensuring equality for all, regardless of race or gender.

People, Planet, Profit: I envision people stepping up, businesses prioritising ethical actions, and the planet recovering. Profit will be measured not just financially, but in societal benefits.