Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland opens for its 20th season of festive fun at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet York
Celebrating its milestone 20th season in York, Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland opens today with an array of festive touches and colourful surprises. The award-winning outdoor ice rink, funfair and Santa’s Grotto provides a fun-filled winter experience at York Designer Outlet and no end of photo opportunities for all the family. At the Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland lights switch-on last…
Dilettante wins inaugural new music stage at Aesthetica Film Festival
Aesthetica Film Festival is delighted to announce Dilettante as the winner of its first-ever New Music Stage, a showcase of the UK’s most exciting emerging musical talent. Dubbed the “UK’s version of SXSW,” the festival brings together music, film, games, and XR in one immersive environment, providing a unique platform for collaboration, discovery, and cultural exchange. This…
Votes at 16: Yorkshire academics and youth workers highlight urgent need for political conversations with young people
York St John University to host webinar to examine the role of youth work in preparing for the extension of voting rights to 16 and 17 year olds across the UK. “Young people are politically socialising themselves via social media – they need other voices in the mix” As today’s current Year 7s (12 and…
Bridging the gap: Law Society President visits Leeds Beckett to support aspiring students
Law students at Leeds Beckett University had the opportunity to hear from leading legal professionals at a special Law Society Aspiring Solicitors event on Tuesday 12 November, focusing on social mobility and widening access to the legal profession. The event welcomed guest speakers Mark Evans, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, alongside…
Keighley’s new engineering and manufacturing hub is officially opened
Keighley College’s cutting-edge Technical Engineering Centre (TEC) has been officially opened by a stalwart of the local manufacturing industry. Ninety year old Michael Parkinson OBE from Airedale Springs – whose links to the college span more than half a century – joined employers, apprentices and alumni for the event on Wednesday 12 November. The multi-million…
Award-winning coach launches next chapter with new executive coaching packages for 2026
Jasmine Clarke, EMCC Senior Accredited Coach and founder of Zest Productivity, has been named New Business of the Year 2025 at the Keighley & Airedale Business Awards. The win marks a defining moment in her journey from productivity specialist to one of Yorkshire’s emerging voices in executive and leadership coaching. Through her company, Zest, Jasmine…
YorEnergy retrofit event to help York and North Yorkshire residents cut bills and make homes warmer
Residents across York and North Yorkshire are invited to discover how to make their homes warmer, greener, and cheaper to run at the YorEnergy Retrofit Futures event on Tuesday 25 November 2025 at York Guildhall. The event also marks the public launch of YorEnergy, a new end-to-end home retrofit service developed through the Retrofit One…
Female Founders boosted by Bradford start-up event
Female-led innovation took centre stage at the University of Bradford’s Demo Day, showcasing some of the region’s most promising start-ups. Among the 20 start-ups on display were Lotessa, a digital health platform founded by Tsitsi Chinyandura, and X-Trim, a wearable fitness device developed by Lucy Finn. The event marks the culmination of the Bradford-Renduchintala Enterprise…
Students in pole position thanks to Santander’s UK-first app launch
Students at the University of Bradford were firmly in the driving seat during the launch of a new one-stop-shop app developed in partnership with Santander Universities UK. Bradford is the first UK university to join the Santander network – with its UoB Digital app – which contains a campus map, timetables, news, student support services links, Santander benefits…
Russell joins the Bulls
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce the signing of Papua New Guinea international Dan Russell on a one-year deal – subject to international clearance. The 6ft 4in back row forward, who can also play in the centres, spent seven years in the Queensland and NSW Cup competitions in Australia before making his NRL debut for…
Industry-leading safety training centre hits 10,000 visitors
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) TRUST centre, the first purpose-built rail safety centre of its kind in the North of England, has now surpassed 10,000 visitors. Launched in Huddersfield in 2023, the facility enables rail workers to experience real life safety-critical scenarios in a safe environment that offers a platform for discussion and an opportunity…
York has cut city-wide emissions by 16% in just two years
City of York Council has confirmed there’s been a 16 per cent reduction in city-wide carbon emissions since 2021, as the council acts to improve health and cut costs, whilst marking significant progress towards the city’s ambition to reach net zero by 2030. The figures, published in the latest City-Wide Emissions Report, show emissions fell from…
Taxing time for company directors over dividends reporting requirements
Company directors and shareholders in Yorkshire face new mandatory reporting requirements for the first time when it comes to declaring dividends from profits for owner-managed and family-run ‘close’ companies. Close companies are usually privately owned limited companies controlled by five or fewer participants, including shareholder directors. The reporting for the compliance ruling by HMRC starts…
Why climate change affects women more than men
TV weather presenter Laura Tobin hosted a conference to discuss why climate change adversely affects women more than men. Climate Justice for Women was held at University of Bradford, which three years ago gained members status of COP (COP30, the largest global United Nations event for discussions and negotiations on climate change, runs until November…
There is no place like this home: Castle Howard opens their Oz-tastic Christmas extravaganza
The iconic North Yorkshire stately home is transformed into Oz, until 4th January Castle Howard has opened their 2025 Christmas event, Christmas at Castle Howard with the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The 300-year-old House becomes an immersive Christmas experience, dressed in set pieces, decorations, floristry, projections, lighting and sound, set to delight tens of thousands of…
New guide for Armed Forces personnel published
In the week of Remembrance Day, a new guide to services for Armed Forces personnel in York and North Yorkshire has been published. The guide has been developed by North Yorkshire and City of York Councils for all veterans, serving members and reservists across our region. A central part of the Armed Forces Covenant agreement…
Project update: Roof conservation project on track – stonemasons add their own message to York’s Historic Walls
Work on York’s historic City Walls continues to progress smoothly as part of the Bootham Bar conservation project. City of York Council’s Ancient Monuments team and in-house stonemasons are carrying out essential works to replace the roof, which is now almost complete. The project remains on schedule to finish by mid-December, as originally planned. The…
Chamberlain joins the Bulls
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce the signing of Ed Chamberlain on a season-long loan deal from Hull FC. The 29-year-old can feature in a number of positions including centre and back row, adding versatility and experience to Kurt Haggerty’s side in 2026. Chamberlain made his professional debut for Whitehaven in 2015, before going on…
Drax strengthens partnership with Selby High School by enabling alternative provision at Skylark Centre
Drax is pleased to announce a further collaboration with Selby High School (SHS), nearby to Drax Power Station, to provide the school with regular access to the Skylark Centre at Barlow Nature Reserve, to deliver a purpose-built alternative provision programme for school students. The initiative will offer a sustainable, high-quality learning environment for students with…
Aekins joins the Bulls
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce the signing of former NRL full-back Caleb Aekins on a one-year deal. The 27-year-old made his debut for Penrith Panthers in 2018 before going on to also represent Canberra Raiders in the Southern Hemisphere. Aekins made the move to Leigh Centurions in 2022, playing a key role in their…
Andrew Jackson appoints Chris Booth as partner and head of employment
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP has strengthened its employment law practice for clients across the region with the appointment of Chris Booth as partner and head of employment. Jonathan Dale, who has led the firm’s employment team since 2007, has recruited Chris to the team to focus on the continued growth of the firm’s employment offering, and to…
Lasting legacy: J.B. Priestley’s son’s will donates royalties to preserve archive
The University of Bradford’s archive of Bradford-born author J.B. Priestley will continue to flourish after a donation of future royalties in his son’s will. An ongoing share of the royalties from his works has been donated in the will of J.B. Priestley’s son, Tom Priestley, a film editor, who died aged 91 in 2023. The…
Winners Announced at Aesthetica Film Festival 2025
The BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival has concluded its landmark 15th anniversary edition, announcing this year’s award-winning filmmakers — a new generation of talent poised to shape the future of screen culture. For 15 years, Aesthetica has been the home of new voices in film, where tomorrow’s BAFTA and Oscar nominees and winners are first discovered. Across five transformative days, from 5-9 November…
York Walls in Bloom: Celebrating the changing seasons
As part of the York Walls in Bloom initiative, the vibrant wildflowers across the city’s historic walls are carefully managed to reflect the natural rhythm of the seasons. Now the summer blooms are starting to fade, City of York Council and dedicated volunteers, led by St Nicks, are coming together to care for these unique spaces….
Bradford housing association ‘sprinkled with magic dust’ praised by independent assessor
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has again earned the Customer Service Excellence (CSE) quality mark following a week-long assessment. The BME organisation – which manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley – achieved full compliance across all categories, including 13 Compliances Plus ratings for going above and beyond expectations. MHA…
Azets announces Yorkshire promotions
Azets, the international accountancy and business advisory group, has announced 42 promotions across its Yorkshire business. The firm, one of the top ten accountants in the UK, has offices in Leeds, Bradford and York where it employs 335 people. There have been 26 promotions in its York office, 13 in Leeds and three in Bradford….
Consul General of China welcomed by York partners
Ahead of the tenth anniversary of the sister city relationship between Nanjing in China and York, City of York Council has welcomed a visit by the Consul General of China in Manchester. The relationship was forged in 2016 with a view to developing a mutual understanding and benefits to these two historic and prominent cities….
Okunbor pens new deal
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce Jayden Okunbor has signed a new, full-time two-year deal with the club ahead of our return to Super League in 2026. The towering winger arrived initially on loan midway through the 2024 campaign, instantly impressing to earn a permanent stay in the red, amber and black for 2025. The…
Artist’s poignant reason behind raising funds for University’s Burns Unit
An artist whose children were at Valley Parade on the day of the 1985 fire is supporting the University of Bradford-based Burns Unit through sales of his painting of the modern-day stadium. Bob Barker, known for his ‘northern impressionism’ paintings, has released a limited-edition artwork, ‘Take Me Home’, which captures Bradford City AFC supporters walking…
York celebrates its amazing care leavers as part of National Care Leavers’ Month
City of York Council is celebrating the positive impact young people leaving care have on communities across the city during National Care Leavers’ Month (November). The month-long event aims to raise awareness and celebrate care leavers, with this year’s theme being “Rising as Me: Overcoming challenges, transforming, and finding your identity”. Around 30 young people…
Strongman says ‘I Do’ before national competition
A former University of Bradford student has undergone a different type of build-up to compete in this year’s England’s Strongest Man by getting married and going on honeymoon. George Smith, 27, who studied BSc (Hons) Computer Science for Cyber Security at the University, is taking part in the televised strongman contest on Sunday 9 November, after he…
Blake pens new deal
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce Fijian flyer Waqa Blake has signed a new, full-time two year deal – keeping him at the club until at least the end of the 2027 season. The 31-year-old initially joined the Bulls on a two-year deal prior to the start of the 2025 campaign, having previously represented Penrith…
TRU wins national award for considerate construction practices
The Transpennine Route Upgrade’s (TRU) West Alliance has won ‘The Most Outstanding Award’ from the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) in their National Site Awards. The Alliance is undertaking major rail upgrades on sections of the Transpennine route between Manchester and Leeds. The award recognises their exceptional performance across the scheme’s Code of Considerate Practice, which…
People with dementia step inside iGloo to boost wellbeing
An innovative project using a 360-degree immersive room showing images of Bradford landmarks to help the wellbeing of people with dementia has been launched by the University of Bradford. ‘Back to Bradford: An Immersive Experience’ sees people with dementia enter the University’s iGloo, a seven-metre 360-degree floor-to-ceiling immersive learning space, to view a presentation of…
Leeds College of Building to expand North Street Campus with major site acquisition
Leeds College of Building (LCB) has announced the purchase of a large building adjacent to its North Street Campus — a move that will significantly expand facilities and open up new training opportunities. The 5,000 m2 former Vodafone site on Melbourne Street sits next to LCB’s North Street Campus and will effectively increase the size of…
York’s smoking rates drop to one of the lowest in England
York continues to lead the way in public health, with adult smoking rates now at just 6.7 per cent — the 8th lowest in the country, according to the latest data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. York’s Health Trainer Service has played a key role by offering free, personalised support to help residents quit smoking and improve…
Leeds Beckett University leads research-powered partnership to boost health innovation across West Yorkshire
Leeds Beckett University is spearheading a major new collaboration with universities across West Yorkshire to fast-track innovation in health technologies – supporting businesses to bring new ideas to market and improving health outcomes in the region. The Innovation Pathways (In-Path) programme – led by Leeds Beckett in partnership with the Universities of Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford – is backed…
Low-carbon dispatchable CfD contract agreement
Drax confirms that it has signed an agreement with the LCCC for a low-carbon dispatchable CfD to cover all four biomass units at DPS over the period April 2027 to March 2031, with a strike price of £109.90/MWh (2012, real). The terms are substantively as announced in the Heads of Terms (February 2025). The strike…
Fulton pens new deal
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce Zac Fulton has penned a new, full-time two year deal to remain with the club as we return to Super League for the 2026 season. The former Manly Sea Eagle arrived at Bartercard Odsal Stadium in 2024, making an instant impression scoring 14 tries in 26 appearances and we’d…
A new home for the new year: North Yorkshire homebuilder promotes winter move
Home buyers wishing to put their best foot forward in 2026 are being encouraged to consider Barratt Homes’ Harclay Park development in Boroughbridge, where a selection of properties across South Yorkshire are ready to move into this winter. When the festive period wraps up, many people look forward to the new year with plans to move house….
Race on to protect wealth from inheritance taxes
Families in Yorkshire considering how to protect up to 40% of their wealth from being handed over in inheritance tax to the Treasury now only have a small window left to act. Azets, the UK top 10 accountancy and business advisory with three offices in Yorkshire, has been inundated with enquiries following the government’s overhaul…
Andrew Jackson Solicitors advises Falkland Islands Government on £109 million new port development
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP has advised the Falkland Islands Government (FIG) on the signing of key contracts for the design, construction, and delivery of a substantial £109 million port facility at Stanley, which is one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the Islands’ history. The new port will replace the ageing…
Young duo pen full time deals
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce rising stars Alfie Leake and Cameron Bate have penned new full-time deals with the club. Both Leake and Bate are young forwards who have come through the Bulls’ Elite Academy system, impressing to earn their first professional deals earlier this year. The duo join fellow ex-Elite Academy graduate Jamie…
Schofield Sweeney focuses on emerging talent
Leading commercial law firm Schofield Sweeney has underlined its commitment to emerging talent and retention, with the appointments of newly qualified staff, trainees, and four new apprentices. The new appointments follow a series of senior recruits at the firm, aimed at delivering a strategic expansion of its service offering. The newly qualified staff and new…
LCB Named ‘Construction Apprenticeship College of the Year’
Leeds College of Building (LCB) is celebrating after winning a top industry trophy at the Construction Apprenticeship Awards 2025 in Manchester. The prestigious ‘Construction Apprenticeship College / University of the Year’ category was awarded to Leeds College of Building for its dedication to apprentices and playing a vital role in shaping the future of construction…
Chadwick Lawrence recognised for progressive culture with awards success
Yorkshire law firm Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors has been recognised for its progressive and inclusive workplace culture, following a successful awards season. Recently, the firm was awarded Employer of the Year at the Mid Yorkshire Chamber Awards, in recognition of its commitment to the well-being and growth of its employees. It was also awarded runner-up for…
Accu reveals innovative new Pika screws
Accu, one of the UK’s leading precision engineering component distributors, has introduced Pika screws to its range, which are ideal for applications where aesthetics and a flush finish are essential. Pika screws are an innovative type of fastener designed with a unique spring-loaded concealed drive and three-lobed configuration, making them ideal for applications where aesthetics…
Keyes pens new deal
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce Joe Keyes has penned a new full-time deal to remain with the club until the end of the 2026 season. The half-back returned for a third spell in the red, amber and black prior to the start of our 2025 campaign, making 24 appearances and scoring six tries. Keyes…