• Pennine Cottages a business of three holiday cottages, one in the North Pennines and two on Holy Island offering self catering accommodation.
• Chairman of the local North East Outward Bound Association and member of the National Liason/Steering Group for Associations in the UK.
• Board member of the North Pennines Heritage Trust and currently Vice-Chairman/Projects Director.
• County Mountain Advisor for Northumberland Scouts supporting Leaders including training in all aspects of Mountineering/Hillwalking.
• North East Chairman of the Local Branch of the Association for Project Management
• Member of an Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) panel for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors as Assessor/Chairman for quantity surveying/project management.

Apart from business and other interests, personal hobbies include wood turning, an active interest in mountaineering, holding a coaching qualification (Mountain Leadership Certificate) and running an allotment.

Harry James is married to Valerie, a teacher of Art and Design and Technology, and they have two sons. Adam in pursing a career in Architecture, having completed his degrees at Newcastle University, and Nick a furniture designer maker with his own business.