West Yorkshire plantsman fulfils a lifelong ambition to build an RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden
Such is a Halifax plant buyer’s commitment to conservation and gardening that he used annual leave to volunteer on the build of an award-winning garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Marc Salama took leave from his position as Commercial Plant Manager at Yorkshire Garden Centres to work on the Gold medal-winning Water Aid…
Twin sisters publish The Brand Power Manifesto to upskill female entrepreneurs
Chloe and Abigail Baldwin, are twin sisters, business partners, and now co-authors. They were shaped by their modest upbringing and sought out their own opportunities. With no prior business experience (but fuelled by sheer determination) they established Buttercrumble, an award-winning creative studio. Their inspiring but down-to-earth story is now immortalised in their debut book, The…
A fine line: top tips for a suitable work-life balance at home
North Yorkshire housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes has compiled a series of top tips to achieve a good work-life balance. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week (13th to 19th May), the leading homebuilders are stressing the importance of making sure work and home life are kept separate. This year’s theme is “Movement: Moving…
UK first – AA launches a trio of full-electric recovery vehicles
Up to 6000 kg payload and 170 mile range from one charge Major focus on piloting shift to low emissions vehicles in preparation for net zero Fully electric recovery trucks will be hitting the UK’s roads thanks to a pioneering launch from The AA. The move will see The AA become the first UK-based roadside…
Bradford’s largest housing provider opens new hubs in the community
Housing provider Incommunities has opened two of a planned five local community hubs, helping customers to access their services face-to-face. The hubs will mean that customers in Allerton, Bradford and Deighton, Huddersfield can speak to Incommunities staff without having to travel to Shipley or making a home appointment. The two new hubs are located at…
Arts students bring colour, vision and vibrance to campus for end of year shows
York St John University Degree Show Exhibitions open their doors to the public From sculpture to photography, graphic design to animation: York St John University is proud to welcome friends, family and members of the public to the Art and Design Degree Show Exhibitions 2024. The Art Degree Show will feature sixty exhibiting artists across…
Yorkshire garden centres awarded membership of prestigious Garden Centre Association
Two members of a Bradford-based garden centre group have been accepted as members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA), joining an elite group of 200 garden centres nationwide. Tingley and Otley Garden Centres were awarded membership of the GCA, which champions professionalism in garden centre retailing, after passing a stringent audit that covered all elements…
YorHome announces home improvement grants and 12 months rent up-front for new landlords
City of York Council’s not-for-profit letting agency YorHome is offering new incentives for landlords signing with us. Besides offering probably the lowest management fees in the city, we’re now offering market-beating benefits of 12-month’s rent up front and funding for certain home improvements. Anyone with a residential property in or immediately around York who is…
Dome is where the Farke is: Trinity Leads play-off push
Shopping Centre’s Super-Sized Show of Support for Leeds United is the City’s Biggest. Football fever is reaching new heights as a 294-square-metre portrait of Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been unveiled on the glass dome roof of Trinity Leeds shopping centre ahead of this Sunday’s Championship Play-Off Final. The supersized Farke portrait – which…
Major refurbishment to Glen Lodge’s original building starts
After adding 27 extra homes to Glen Lodge in 2018, work is starting to refurbish and make the 32 original apartments more energy-efficient, accessible and comfortable. This popular independent living community in Heworth was originally built in the 1970s and a £4 million investment in 2018 added 25 new apartments and two new bungalows to…
Carpentry students create bug hotel for RHS cancer-awareness garden
For the second consecutive year, students at Leeds College of Building are using their skills to help create a poignant RHS show garden. The Level 1 Diploma Carpentry & Joinery students have crafted two five-foot triangular wooden bug hotels. The structures will feature at the main entrance of a garden going on display at RHS Tatton Flower…
York scientist wins international award for his work to tackle unnecessary animal testing
Dr Owen Kavanagh from York St John University founding member of group honored by the Lush Prize 2024 “We believe it’s time to put an end to the bias in favour of animal-based methods in research as often non-animal methods are more suitable and ethical.” Dr Owen Kavanagh, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Science at York…
Council elects new Lord Mayor and confirms new Executive Team
City of York Council has elected the new Lord Mayor of York, and approved its new leadership team at a full council meeting today (23rd May 2024) Councillor Claire Douglas remains as the Leader of the Council and has responsibility for Policy, Strategy and Partnerships. Councillor Pete Kilbane stays as Deputy Leader with executive portfolio…
Melissa Butler joins AWB Charlesworth Solicitors
Melissa Butler has joined AWB Charlesworth Solicitors as paralegal in the Wills, Trusts and Probate department. AWB Charlesworth’s work in this area is growing, and they now have a team of eleven, including five solicitors and a specialist probate and trusts accountant. In turn, the department works closely with other departments in the firm: Residential…
£100,000 fund opens for applications to support ward residents
Following £100,000 of support having been successfully awarded to support ward residents in January 2024, a further £100,000 is now available this year. At the beginning of 2024, 37 organisations from across the city applied for a share of funding and 16 were successful. This next £100,000 pot will be offered in two lots of…
City of York Council celebrates the life-changing impact of its amazing foster carers during Foster Care Fortnight (13-26 May)
City of York Council is celebrating the life changing impact its foster carers have on the lives of local children and young people. The council cares for over 200 children and young people in York and local foster carers provide safe, loving homes if they can’t live with their own families. Ordinary people doing the…
Korean corndogs take over Trinity Kitchen alongside bao buns & more
Trinity Kitchen has announced an exciting line-up of street food vendors, including Korean corndogs – a unique new offering for Trinity Kitchen. Guests can explore a huge range of options from the new vendors, including: Wagyu Lookin’ At?, Return of the Mac, Bao Machine, Clapping Corndog and Otherside Fried Chicken, which will be taking over the…
RJJ Software shortlisted for UK Business Awards’ Digital Transformation Award
RJJ Software, a leading software development firm, has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2024 Digital Transformation Award at this year’s UK Business Awards. The nomination recognises companies that have, “demonstrated exceptional innovation in their approach to digital transformation, leveraging emerging technologies or implementing creative solutions to drive digital change.” As a company specialising in .NET,…
Yorkshire Children’s Charity is named garden centre group’s charity of the year
The Yorkshire Garden Centres (YGC) group has announced that Yorkshire Children’s Charity will be its Charity of the Year for 2024 following a unanimous team vote. Through a series of fund-raising events and collection boxes at the tills, the teams at Yorkshire Garden Centres’ four sites at Tong, Tingley, Otley, and Bingley plus Dean’s of…
Access consultation delivers five new bays for Blue Badge holders and businesses
Following the Council’s consultation on making York city centre more accessible, five new experimental bays open today (21 May) for Blue Badge holder parking and business loading. Disabled people, residents and business have been consulting with the Council since November 2023 in a number of different ways, including drop-in sessions, online and in-person workshops. They…
A Personal Choice! Lord Mayor of York chosen charities
‘Stroke Association’ Chosen by Lord Mayor as key charity for 2024 – 25 The incoming Lord Mayor of York; Cllr Margaret Wells has chosen her charities for her year in office, the headline charity will be Stroke Association. Both the Lord Mayor Elect and Sheriff Elect Fiona Fitzpatrick are both stoke survivors and know first-hand…
The Big Number Natter: York celebrates National Numeracy Day
York residents are being invited to join the celebrations for The Big Number Natter: National Numeracy Day (Wednesday 22 May). York Learning and Multiply – national Government-funded numeracy courses – are inviting people to pop along to the Garden Room at York Explore Library Learning Centre on Wednesday anytime between 9:30am – 12:30pm to find…
Leeds Beckett forms new partnership to boost growth of Doncaster-based Westdale Group
Marketing experts at Leeds Beckett University have teamed up with Doncaster-based Westdale Group Ltd to support the company’s ambitious plans for growth – and help them meet the increasing demand for home energy efficiency projects crucial to the Government’s net zero plans. The project is a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by the Government through Innovate…
It’s question time for businesses on the Humber
Humber Business Week event brings together some of region’s leading business figures Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP will host a ‘Question Time’ panel discussion next month, which will bring together a panel of the region’s leading business figures to discuss some of the big questions from the audience in an hour of discussion…
Castle Howard raises record-breaking £25,000 for GOSH Charity
Castle Howard have achieved an extraordinary milestone by raising an amazing £25,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity). This is the largest charitable sum raised in the North Yorkshire stately home’s recent history. Castle Howard fundraised for the charity as part of their Peter Pan-themed Christmas in Neverland event, which ran from…
Bradford College Vice Principal named Muslim Woman of the Year
A Bradford College Vice Principal has been named Muslim Woman of the Year at a prestigious national awards ceremony. Alina Khan won the ‘Noor Inayat Khan Muslim Woman of the Year’ category at the British Muslim Awards 2024 which took place at the Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester. Now in their 11th year, the British Muslim Awards…
Online ticket touts jailed for fraud
Ticket touts who shamelessly exploited people longing to see their music idols in concert have been sentenced to a combined total of 6 years and 5 months imprisonment at Leeds Crown Court today (17 May), thanks to the work of York and North Yorkshire-based investigators. Husband and wife – Maria Chenery-Woods and Mark Woods –…
RJJ Software recognised as a top five software development company in Leeds by Design Rush
RJJ Software, a leading software development company specialising in .NET, Python, and AI technologies, has been listed among the top five software development companies in Leeds by Design Rush (https://www.designrush.com/agency/software-development/uk/leeds). This recognition highlights RJJ’s position as experts in their field and further solidifies its reputation as a trusted provider of high-quality software solutions. As a…
Mix of private and public sector investment keeping Yorkshire & Humber market strong says latest market intelligence from RLB
Leading construction and property management consultants, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) claim that the market in Yorkshire & Humber continues to be strong thanks to a steady level of activity and new starts across a mix of public and private sector projects with clients planning new developments as well as rationalising existing assets, according to…
Forget Bridgerton’s Lady Whistledown, the most savage high society commentator of Georgian times was an angry green parrot
York St John University students make The Parrot accessible for modern audiences for the first time A fascination with royal affairs and high society gossip may seem at its peak during the current digital age but history shows us there was a huge appetite for it in Georgian England too. In the eighteenth century…
New report delivers blueprint for colleges to enhance West Yorkshire’s finance and professional services sector
A new report sets out how colleges can play a leading role in supporting West Yorkshire’s flourishing finance and professional services (FPS) industry. Commissioned by Luminate Education Group, the research builds on the work of the Yorkshire and Humber Financial and Professional Services Skills Commission, and highlights how colleges are currently an untapped resource for…
City of York Council hits tree planting milestone
Almost 2,500 new trees have been planted as part of the council’s Green Streets© project. Working with local schools, parish councils and other stakeholders, trees have been planted along Malton Road and at Melrosegate Park, Huntington Environment Park, Carr Infants School, Lakeside Primary Academy, Burton Green Primary and seven other school sites. This first year of…
West Yorkshire woman shortlisted for two Women in Rail Awards
A West Yorkshire woman has been nominated for two national awards for her contribution to making the rail industry more inclusive. Harriet Harbidge, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at TransPennine Express (TPE), has been shortlisted for two Women in Rail Awards. Despite her relatively short tenure of just 18 months at TPE, Harriet, a 28-year-old from…
Painting students fix up farm with volunteer makeover
A group of Leeds College of Building students brushed up on their skills after volunteering to redecorate facilities at Herd Farm Residential and Activity Centre. Painting & Decorating and Multi-Skills students from the College spent several weeks on site, prepping walls and woodwork before painting two office rooms, a reception area, and the staff kitchen….
Oscrete lays “foundations for play” at Bradford primary schools
Employees at Bradford concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete went back to school this month to improve the grounds at a local primary where two of the staff started their education. Oscrete’s concrete technicians and brothers Michael and Keiron Todd attended Lower Fields Primary School in Bradford between 2001 and 2011 and returned with colleagues this month…
Kids carnival at White Rose this May half term
White Rose Shopping Centre is hosting an exciting Kids Carnival this May Half Term, 24th May – 9th June. With rides suitable for children of all ages, this event is the perfect springtime family day out. The carnival will include a host of different rides and activities for visitors to enjoy including classics such as Dodgems…
Andrew Jackson facilitates Casper’s latest vessel purchase
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors announces that it has recently assisted Immingham-based Casper Chartering Limited (”Casper”), on its purchase of the cargo vessel “MV VESPER” (formerly “ATLAS”), from Norwegian owners. MV Vesper is the latest vessel to join Casper’s growing fleet, which now comprises seven ships. Built in 2006, Vesper is 88.60m LOA (length…
City of York Council Executive approves new Improvement Plan
City of York Council’s Executive has approved a new Corporate Improvement Framework, subject to consultation. The Framework is part of a programme of work to deliver the Council Plan, ‘One City, for all’ that was agreed by full council in September 2023. That plan embeds four core commitments; Equalities, Affordability, Climate and Health (EACH). The…
White Rose marks Mental Health Awareness Week
White Rose Shopping Centre is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week’s 2024 theme of Movement with a wellbeing walk on Wednesday 15th May. The event has been arranged with the centre’s long-established group of mall walkers as well as a number of White Rose brands including JD, Footasylum, M&S, McDonald’s, Wetherspoon, Superdrug, Flying Tiger, Lush, and Office….
Interest rates held, for now – Economist’s view
Commenting on the Bank of England’s decision to hold interest rates today, Max Shepherd, Group Economist at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “The Bank of England has agreed to leave the base rate unchanged, at 5.25%, as expected. Andrew Bailey has said he is optimistic things are moving in the right direction, implying interest rate cuts…
York City-wide Leaders’ Meeting to host new Mayor
When they meet this week, York City Leaders are to be joined by the newly elected Mayor for York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, in his first week in the job. The Mayor has confirmed he will meet key partners from across the city on what will be only his third day in office. City…
Building a smokefree generation in York
City of York Council is helping to create a smokefree generation in York. The council has been allocated £195k government funding to help expand its existing offer to residents and provide even more support to help people quit for good over the next five years – as new figures from Action on Smoking and Health…
Launch date announced for new ‘Nike Rise’ concept store at Trinity Leeds
The brand new Nike Rise store will open its doors at Trinity Leeds this week – on Thursday, May 9th. Taking over a prime location on the ground floor, at the former Victoria’s Secret unit, the new 10,000sq ft store aims to enhance shopping experiences through innovative digital services, including a digitally powered Footwear Fastlane…
Bradford College team up with Sewell Construction for ambitious T Level project
Bradford College have partnered with Sewell Construction for the creation of their new multi-million-pound T Level facilities. The work, which starts in May, will involve the remodelling of a number of areas within the College’s David Hockney Building to create a high-quality training environment, enabling students to learn skills which will help them in their…
Ofsted praise for York St John University’s Degree Apprenticeships
Ofsted has judged York St John University’s provision of Degree Apprenticeships as ‘good’ for overall effectiveness in its latest report. In the first report by Ofsted into the University’s degree apprenticeships, the University was awarded ‘good’ for its quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development of students and leadership and management. The report…
Another key hire for law firm: partner joins firm’s nationally renowned shipping & transport practice
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce that Gavin Farquhar has joined its nationally renowned shipping & transport practice as a partner. Gavin – who is dual Scottish and English law qualified – has over 30 years’ broad experience acting nationally and internationally for a range of businesses operating in the…
Fifty is the magic number for Alan
A leading light in Yorkshire’s business world has called time on an illustrious career spanning fifty years in accountancy. Alan Wintersgill has stepped down as a consultant with top ten UK accountancy and business advisory firm Azets in Bradford exactly half a century after he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1974. He opened his…
C-Kore Systems receives a Third Royal Award
C-Kore Systems Limited from Escrick, York have been honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise – International Trade 2024 due to their outstanding short-term growth in overseas sales over 3 years. This is their third award in just over 5 years, having already received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise – Innovation in 2019 and a…