More, better quality affordable homes proposed
As part of the Council’s commitment to increase the quantity and quality of homes in York, it is proposing to develop 93 new affordable homes on the city centre Castle Mills site. Details are outlined in a report to Executive councillors being discussed next week. Another Executive report will outline plans to provide additional pitches…
Brit Systems run with the Bulls in 2026
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce a brand-new partnership with Brit Systems, who join the club for the Bulls’ return to the Super League in 2026. Brit Systems will feature as sponsors on the club’s brand new warm up jumpers, which were first seen by supporters at Doncaster in pre-season – as well as enjoy the season as Hospitality…
Comic artist raises £25,000 for Bradford mental health charity in memory of her brother
Award‑winning British comic book artist and author Zoe Thorogood has donated £25,000 to local mental health charity Bradford District and Craven Mind. The donation was made in memory of her brother James, who died by suicide in 2024 at the age of 23. In the wake of her brother’s death, Zoe turned to her art…
Council asked to commit to York Cultural Strategy
City of York Council is set to consider whether to adopt the York Cultural Strategy at an Executive meeting on Tuesday 3 March. The strategy, though funded by the Council thanks to a grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, was developed independently by arts, heritage and cultural organisations across the city. It lays out…
City of York Council set to expand smoke control area to improve air quality and health
City of York Council is set to approve plans to expand the Smoke Control Area (SCA) to cover the entire city, in a major step towards cleaner air and healthier communities, at a meeting next week. Currently, 80 per cent of York’s households are within an SCA. The new citywide approach will ensure consistent rules…
Yorkshire Building Society partners with Plain Numbers to improve customer understanding
Yorkshire Building Society has entered a new partnership with Plain Numbers, an organisation dedicated to helping companies communicate numbers clearly and effectively. The partnership is designed to make life easier for members and customers by improving how the Society explains financial information — particularly for those who may find numbers challenging or overwhelming. Plain Numbers is…
Homebuilder prepares to unveil luxury development in North Yorkshire
Leading homebuilder David Wilson Homes prepares to unveil its Castra Park development in Huntington. Located in the popular village of Huntington, Castra Park will offer a range of luxurious, energy-efficient two, three and four bedroom homes. The development offers a great opportunity for first-time buyers and families to find their ideal home in a picturesque area on…
Schofield Sweeney strengthens team with new appointments and promotions
Yorkshire law firm Schofield Sweeney has expanded its team through a series of promotions and senior appointments, broadening its service offering and strengthening its company culture. The firm has recruited three new senior team members and promoted three employees in the business. The new hires include Dorrien Peters, who joins the firm from Knights as…
New measures to enable safe and accessible city centre events
Councillors will receive an update on measures to keep city centre events safe and make them more accessible to all at an Executive meeting next week (3 March). The report provides a progress update into the ongoing work led by City of York Council in partnership with a variety of stakeholders, including North Yorkshire Police,…
Yorkshire Garden Centre group celebrates primroses with month long festival
A Yorkshire garden centre group is marketing the approach of spring with a celebration of primroses. The month-long Primrose Celebration will take place at Yorkshire Garden Centres’ sites at Tong, Tingley, Otley, Bingley, Pennine, York and Scarborough until March 14th. “Primroses are the first true sign of spring and a welcome reminder that it’s time…
City of York Council to begin engagement on introducing wheeled recycling bins
City of York Council will begin talking with residents on proposals to move from kerbside recycling boxes to wheeled recycling bins, aiming to make recycling easier, safer and more efficient for households across the city. The proposed change forms part of the Council’s wider transformation of waste services. It would support future national recycling requirements,…
Castle Howard announces Vanbrugh celebration for anniversary year
Image Caption (above): Castle Howard. Photo by David Lindsay Castle Howard celebrates its creator and architect Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) throughout 2026, the 300th anniversary of his death. Hailed as ‘The Rockstar of the English Baroque’ and ‘The original starchitect’, Vanbrugh had concurrent careers as an architect, playwright, adventurer, soldier, spy, diplomat and garden designer. Castle Howard is celebrating…
No, AI isn’t conscious – even when it acts like it is, new study finds
Human beings are famously good at spotting patterns where none exist – from seeing faces in clouds to hearing hidden messages in noise. New research suggests the same instinct may be at work when people claim artificial intelligence is, or could soon become, conscious. In two new studies, researchers from the University of Bradford and the Rochester Institute of…
Make sure you have your say about car parking charges in Bishopthorpe Road, Heworth, Micklegate and The Groves
Residents and businesses are being reminded that the online and paper consultation over car parking charges in Bishopthorpe Road, Heworth, Micklegate and The Groves/East Parade ends on Friday 27 February 2026. Traders and residents in these four areas initiated a challenge to parking charges under the Traffic Management Act 2004. This followed the authority’s decision to increase charges for…
Rail services between Huddersfield and Leeds to be impacted during May & June as part of major upgrade works
Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) rail engineering work will be undertaken throughout May and June, with significant disruption expected between Huddersfield and Leeds. In addition, trains will not call at Huddersfield on weekends in April. These closures will enable the safe delivery of critical infrastructure upgrades, including track and drainage renewals, bridge works, signalling improvements, and…
Dame Judi Dench urges people to support York Against Cancer through the “Quintessentially Bond” auction
Dame Judi Dench has urged people to support York Against Cancer by taking part in the ‘Quintessentially Bond’ auction. The timed online auction is being run by MovieManiaOnline. The company sell film memorabilia through their own auction platform and website, and has cabinets in The Antique Centre in York. Each year they sell a series…
New Leeds Beckett University partnership to simplify solar energy adoption for businesses
Electronic engineering and computer science experts at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are partnering with Huddersfield-based Zenergy Solar on a research-led project designed to make large-scale solar energy systems easier to install, monitor and manage – particularly for organisations operating across multiple sites. The collaboration brings together LBU’s expertise in computing, data systems and applied research…
Health Trainers take the lead in launching new Healthy Families sessions
City of York Council’s Health Trainer service is excited to launch the brand‑new Healthy Families Service – a warm, welcoming and completely free way for families in York to boost their physical and emotional wellbeing. Led by the friendly faces of Katie and Donna, the Healthy Families Service is all about supporting your whole family,…
Beyond burnout: why flow state is your competitive advantage
Your team is working longer hours than ever, sending midnight emails, working weekends in the office, and receiving performance reviews that reward presenteeism. Yet productivity plateaus, sickness absence rises, and your strongest performers begin to disengage and quietly explore other opportunities. This is the paradox of hustle culture in modern business: the belief that more…
Redefining creativity in the age of generative AI
Internationally acclaimed VFX artist and Visiting Professor at York St John University to give free lecture on how generative AI (artificial intelligence) is transforming creative practice. Professor Andrew McNamara, an award winning VFX artist, creative and technologist, will share insights and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities AI presents, in a special talk on Wednesday…
AAB acquires fractional finance support business to strengthen support for start-ups and scale-ups
Leading professional services firm, AAB, has today announced the acquisition of RORA, a specialist finance support business focused on start-ups and scale-ups. London-based RORA provides fractional finance leadership to early-stage and high-growth businesses, operating as their dedicated finance team or as specialist support to existing in-house finance functions. The acquisition further strengthens AAB’s capability to…
New ‘click before you tip’ booking system introduced at Hazel Court HWRC
City of York Council will introduce a pre‑booked timeslot system at Hazel Court Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) from Monday 2 March, to help reduce congestion, improve safety and provide a better experience for residents and site users. Under the new ‘Click Before You Tip’ approach, all visitors – including residents, registered traders, charities and…
Scholarship support for young people from major health study
Young participants of a landmark health research project are to receive financial support to study at the University of Bradford. Sponsored scholarship places are available to Born in Bradford (BiB) participants, now aged 18 and progressing to become students at their home city University. BiB is a long-term study of more than 60,000 people, including 13,500 children…
Manufacturer of frying ranges for fish and chips shops saved
Sale of Henry Nuttall, founded in 1865, by joint administrators Azets, with all jobs saved A manufacturer of frying ranges for fish and chip shops across Great Britain, that traces its roots back to Victorian times, has been saved after running into financial difficulties. Henry Nuttall, founded 161 years ago in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, is…
North Yorkshire homebuilder donates power washers to Huntington Cemetery
Five-star homebuilder Barratt Homes has donated power washers to Friends of Huntington Cemetery for the upkeep of the cemetery. Currently building at Knights Gate on New Lane in Huntington, Barratt Homes have donated power washers to a nearby cemetery. With the cemetery being close to the development, the power washers will be used to generally upkeep the…
Rani scholar aims to empower more future women in tech
A student hopes to inspire more young women to pursue careers in technology as she benefits from a scholarship backed by University of Bradford Chancellor Anita Rani, which is returning for its third year. Anum Ayub, 22, a second year BSc Computer Science student, is enrolled on the Rani Scholarship, which supports women who would not otherwise…
York Garden Centre raises its fundraising target for Wetherby children’s hospice
With two months of the charity year still to go, a Bradford-based garden centre group with a site in York has smashed its fundraising target and extended its commitment to a local children’s hospice. In April 2025, the teams at Yorkshire Garden Centres’ sites in West and North Yorkshire pledged to raise £30,000 for Martin…
Switalskis invests in inclusive qualification routes
Law firm Switalskis is investing in training programmes that support colleagues to train and qualify through a range of routes, enabling them to choose pathways that suit their circumstances. Switalskis has recently supported solicitor Catherine Cain to qualify through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) while continuing her work in family law. The firm provided adjusted…
Yorkshire firm Refreshment Systems expands nationally with Neubria partnership
Bradford, Yorkshire-based Refreshment Systems (RSL) has announced an official partnership with Neubria, marking another milestone in the company’s continued national expansion from its Yorkshire roots. Proudly founded and headquartered in Bradford, Refreshment Systems has grown from a regional family-run business into one of the UK’s most forward-thinking vending and refreshment providers. This latest partnership highlights how…
Bradford Hospitals Charity secures The Broadway’s Charity of the Year
Bradford Hospitals Charity has been named The Broadway Bradford’s ‘Charity of the Year’, following an enthusiastic public vote which saw the charity secure almost 700 votes. The shopping centre invited the public to choose which local good cause should receive year‑long support. While all nominated charities were worthy contenders, Bradford Hospitals Charity topped the poll…
Hope for Tomorrow featured on national TV as government’s milestone cancer plan is released
Cancer care charity, Hope for Tomorrow, recently took centre stage on national TV, coinciding with the government’s landmark release of the national cancer plan. To mark the launch on World Cancer Day, ITV’s Good Morning Britain joined us on board our Gloucestershire-based mobile cancer care unit. Viewers saw how one of our mobile cancer care…
Brides for a Cause: York Against Cancer to hold a pre-loved wedding dress sale
York Against Cancer are holding a pre-loved wedding dress sale on Sunday 1st March. The sale will take place The Leveson Centre, York Against Cancer’s cancer support centre at York Community Stadium, from 10am-4pm. Through the event, the charity hope to help cut the costs of weddings for brides to be, providing beautiful gowns, without…
Celebrating 150 years of Leeds Girls’ High School
This year marks a remarkable milestone in the history of education in Leeds: 150 years since the founding of Leeds Girls’ High School (LGHS). Established in 1876, at a time when academic opportunities for girls were still limited, LGHS was founded with a bold vision — to provide girls with an education equal in rigour…
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Three-sy doesn’t do it for small parcel exporters to EU
Why Yorkshire businesses need to prepare for July: €3 tariff duty is being applied to each small parcel sent to the EU with a value below €150 Businesses in Yorkshire which export small parcels to the EU with a value below €150 per an item face a €3 duty for each one from July. They…
Public invited to share views on proposed major rail upgrades between Standedge and Gledholt (Huddersfield)
Communities in and around Huddersfield are being invited to have their say on the next phase of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), as plans are unveiled for significant improvements between Standedge and Gledholt. The proposals form part of the multi-billion-pound programme to modernise the railway between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds and York, delivering faster, more frequent…
Bradford research powers first global launch of plastic‑free drink technology
A breakthrough University of Bradford technology that could eliminate billions of single‑use plastic bottles is hitting the global market this week, with a New Zealand drinks launch built on the University’s patented co‑crystal science and manufactured under exclusive licence by Yorkshire firms Octopoda Innovations and Health Innovations (UK). A University of Bradford research breakthrough with…
White Rose sees Golden Quarter success
White Rose is celebrating after delivering a strong ‘Golden Quarter’ – the final three months of 2025 – with sales and footfall both up year-on-year. The shopping centre saw strong consumer demand with total sales increasing 9.1% and footfall up 5.2% vs the previous year, significantly outperforming the British Retail Consortium national benchmarks of -0.2%…
International panel to share expertise on York becoming the UK’s first Dark Sky City
Cities Under Stars: Tackling Light Pollution in Cities offers an evening of discussion, performance, and reflection with leading dark-sky experts, artists, and academics. Wednesday 25 February 6.30pm to 9.00pm Creative Centre Auditorium, York St John University As part of the North York Moors Dark Skies Festival this month, York St John University is hosting an evening of discussion, live performance…
Rewarding food industry excellence at Verner Wheelock
Food industry training expert Verner Wheelock has just announced the winners of its annual Excellence Awards. The business is the training company of choice for numerous, well-known food manufacturers and has trained thousands of delegates over the years. The Verner Wheelock Excellence Awards recognise outstanding delegates and companies dedicated to training and ethical excellence. The…
York Hospital Tiny Lives Appeal hits £50,000 – and needs help to reach £100,000
York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity is marking a major milestone in its Tiny Lives Appeal, after the campaign reached £50,000 in just a few weeks – halfway to its overall target of £100,000. Launched in November 2025, the appeal hit the £50,000 mark in January 2026, thanks to an extraordinary wave of support from local…
Wunder Crumble and MyLahore community rallies to raise £20,000 for critically ill newborns
£20,000 has been raised to support families of babies being cared for at Bradford Royal Infirmary, as Bradford Hospitals Charity Ambassador Ishfaq Farooq leads a powerful call to action. Ishfaq raised the money in just one night with support from friends, family and colleagues across MyLahore and Wunder Crumble, helping to fund a new ‘Home…
Property boom in 2026 as North Yorkshire residents given greater affordability
New data from Rightmove has predicted a stronger property market in 2026, providing peace of mind for North Yorkshire house hunters. A Boxing Day boom in visits to the property portal saw record figures surpassed. Visits to Rightmove nearly doubled (93%) between Christmas Day, the quietest day of the year, and Boxing Day, which was a bigger…
City of York Council approves challenging council budget to maintain services in 2026/27
Amid an ongoing and challenging financial outlook for councils across the country, City of York Council has approved a council tax increase of 4.99% for 2026/27 [Thursday 12 February]. The uplift will cover the increased cost of delivering services due to inflation. Whilst the annual budget setting process has been extremely challenging for the city,…
Law firm cements sports portfolio with five Rugby League club partnerships
Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors continues to strengthen its presence across professional Rugby League in Yorkshire, with five club partnerships for the 2026 season. The firm has long-standing relationships with Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls and Wakefield Trinity, and in recent years has built on this through partnerships with Huddersfield Giants and Castleford Tigers. This year, the firm…
Progress continues on project to transform area near York Station
Work to improve the area to the front of York Station is progressing and there are some further changes to be aware of in the coming weeks. These changes will see significant improvements made to the pavements and public spaces, including the installation of York’s first pedestrian crossing with a countdown timer, and will require…
Local firm triumphs at Bradford College Apprenticeship Games 2026
A local firm powered its way to victory at this year’s annual Bradford College Apprenticeship Games. Northern Pump Suppliers Ltd were crowned winners after a day of intense battling against nine other employer teams. The fourth annual Apprenticeship Games brought together teams of apprentices and their employers for a day of action-packed challenges. Each squad competed for…
CO₂Sustain unifies technologies into one breakthrough product
CO₂Sustain, the specialist drinks technology company, today announced the merger of its two flagship solutions –CO₂Sustain™ and TasteMod2™ into a single, next-generation product TM2 engineered to deliver two powerful benefits for drink manufacturers: Superior taste modification Enhanced carbonation retention This strategic move comes in direct response to feedback from leading brands, co-packers and NPD teams around the world, who increasingly seek a single,…