Member News Subjects

York’s 100 year-old D-Day veteran receives prestigious city honour

Ken Cooke, who took part in D-Day in 1944 and fought in Europe during World War Two, has joined an illustrious group in becoming an Honorary Freeman of York.  Conferring the honour took place at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council, at the city’s Guildhall yesterday (Thursday 16 July). Mr Cooke, aged 100, was a…

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The best of the best: Site Manager wins Quality Award

A site manager overseeing the construction at Bramble Wood in North Yorkshire has won a top national award for the quality of the homes being built onsite. David Wilson Homes’ site manager, Ricky Coulter-Bell (32), has won a Pride in the Job Quality Award from the National House Building Council (NHBC), an award known as the ‘Oscars’ of the…

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Ed Anderson CBE receives honorary award from the University of Leeds

Honorary Degrees to recognise success England rugby star Ellie Kildunne MBE and renowned political correspondent Steve Rosenberg are among those recognised with honorary degrees by the University of Leeds. Social change campaigner Tina Leslie MBE also received an honorary degree, and Leeds alum Rachel Lord returned to the University to receive her award. Peter and…

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Homecoming honour for organisation founder supporting the vulnerable

The co-founder of an organisation tackling health inequalities among vulnerable people has returned to her home city to receive an honorary award from the University of Bradford. Yvonne Stocks DL is co-founder, director and chairperson of Palm Cove Society (PCS), which address disadvantage, inequalities, education, community bias and health needs experienced by vulnerable people, including…

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Project SEARCH Interns celebrated at Graduation Ceremony

The Kirklees College Project SEARCH interns recently came together to celebrate their achievements and successes over the academic year. Over 50 additional people attended the event, including Kirklees College Principal Palvinder Singh and Councillor Karen Allison, Mayor of Kirklees, alongside parents, carers of students and a number of key employers who were involved with the…

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Comedian Rosie Jones awarded honorary doctorate

If you’ve seen Rosie Jones on your screen, you’ll already know she doesn’t do things by halves and today was no different as she was awarded Doctor of the University of Bradford in recognition of her significant contribution to LGBTQ+ and disability rights. The ceremony took place at the University of Bradford on Wednesday July 15. A…

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Unbelievable! Football legend Kammy honoured for inspiring others

Footballer, manager, pundit, TV presenter and singer – Chris Kamara MBE has done it all during his career. The former Bradford City AFC player and manager has another title to add to that list – Doctor of Health – after receiving an honorary award from the University of Bradford. Nicknamed Kammy, Chris revealed in 2022…

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Hull Road Park awarded the coveted Green Flag Award as it is officially recognised as one of the country’s best parks

Hull Road Park in York raises prestigious Green Flag Award after achieving international quality mark for parks and green spaces City of York Council is celebrating today after receiving a Green Flag Award for Hull Road Park. It comes as the internationally recognised standard for parks and green spaces celebrates its 30th year. Hull Road…

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Council’s new housing sweeps the board in design awards

City of York Council’s first Passivhaus development at Duncombe Square has won three awards at the annual York Design Awards this week. Lowfield Green has also won a Commendation in the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) 2026 awards. Winners of the York Design Awards were announced on Tuesday 7 July, and are for developments which…

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Craven College celebrates excellent Ofsted report

Craven College is celebrating the publication of its latest Ofsted report, which has recognised the College’s excellence across a number of key areas under the inspectorate’s new education inspection framework. The College achieved an impressive four ‘Strong’ judgements, recognising the quality of its education, student experience and employer-focused approach. Underpinned by expert teaching and industry-standard…

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Paralympic champion, children’s television pioneer and community leaders among Leeds Beckett Honorary Graduates 2026

Leeds Beckett University is to award Honorary Doctorates to five outstanding individuals at its summer graduation ceremonies in July, recognising achievement across sport, broadcasting, law, healthcare and public service. Nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft CBE, television presenter and inclusion advocate George Webster, legal trailblazer Lubna Shuja, community nursing leader Steph Lawrence MBE and children’s rights champion Baroness Anne Longfield will all…

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Students scoop top prize in landmark Grayling PR competition

A team of final-year students from Leeds Beckett University have won the prestigious Grayling Prize 2026, after impressing judges with a creative public relations campaign developed in response to a live industry brief. Lilly Argent, Will Turner, Lauren Knowles and Abby Sullivan – competing under the agency name Above the Bar PR – claimed the top prize…

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Bradford College Careers Adviser wins National Education Award

A long-serving Bradford College careers adviser has won the coveted ‘Support Staff of the Year’ title in the national NCFE Aspiration Awards. The annual awards celebrate learners, apprentices, educators, support staff and educational organisations making an outstanding impact in learning across the UK. From going above and beyond to exceed expectations, to overcoming obstacles to…

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Professor laments $2.9 trillion spent on war as he accepts Luxembourg Peace Prize

Luxembourg Peace Prize 2026 winner Emeritus Professor Tom Woodhouse from the University of Bradford used his acceptance speech to warn of a global imbalance between spending on war and investment in peace.  Professor Woodhouse, awarded in the category of outstanding contribution to peace education, was presented with his award by the Schengen Peace Foundation at a ceremony in the European Convention Center in…

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Industrial waste management firm named York and North Yorkshire’s top ranked business for 2026 

The region’s business community gathers at York St John University for the prestigious Top 100 awards. The best performing and most impactful businesses in York and North Yorkshire have been unveiled at a high-profile event at York St John University this afternoon. Hosted by York Business School in partnership with York Press, the York and…

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Yorkshire Building Society wins Thought Leadership Campaign of the Year

Yorkshire Building Society’s External Affairs team has won Thought Leadership Campaign of the Year at last night’s Headline Money Awards in London, recognising its impactful work championing financial education for young people. The Headlinemoney Awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the UK financial media industry—specifically outstanding work in journalism, PR, and communications related to money,…

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Refreshment Systems celebrates winning success at The Vendies Awards

Bradford-based Refreshment Systems has won Collaboration of the Year at The Vendies Awards for its partnership with Oakhouse Foods, while also being highly commended for Best Vending Project for its Vendsmart technology. Refreshment Systems is celebrating a successful evening at this year’s Vendies Awards after winning Collaboration of the Year for its partnership with Oakhouse…

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Record success for LCB at UK’s largest construction skills competition

Leeds College of Building (LCB) students delivered one of the college’s strongest-ever performances at the regional heats of SkillBuild 2026, the UK’s largest construction skills competition for trainees and apprentices. Delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), SkillBuild is a series of regional competitions held across the UK for 12 trade specialisms, testing technical skills,…

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Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards celebrate Yorkshire’s next generation of manufacturing talent

The Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards returned this week, with a rollcall of some of the brightest talent in West Yorkshire’s manufacturing and engineering industry. Apprentices, graduates, rising stars and mentors, as well as employers and manufacturing leaders, were all recognised for their contribution to the sector. Held at Leeds Beckett University on 4 June, as…

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Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards attract record entries as sector offers opportunities amid rising youth unemployment

A record number of entries have been received for this year’s Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards, as manufacturers across the region continue to invest in young talent at a time when employers in other sectors warn entry-level roles for young people are disappearing. The awards, which take place this week, attracted 45 nominations from 19 companies,…

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Yorkshire Recruitment and HR Group Recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026

Independent recruitment and HR business Castle Employment Group has been named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 rankings. The annual nationwide survey, published in partnership with employee experience platform WorkL, recognises organisations with outstanding levels of employee engagement, workplace culture and employee experience. The recognition places the Scarborough-based business alongside nationally recognised…

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Further Education College of the Year

Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Further Education College of the Year 2026 at the prestigious Educate North Awards 2026. The award recognises the College’s exceptional educational outcomes, transformational impact, and unwavering commitment to supporting students from highly disadvantaged and diverse communities. In their citation, the…

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Stella Maris Leadership Gold Awards 2026

On Wednesday, we hosted the Stella Maris Leadership Gold Awards. This year, an impressive 76 students achieved their Gold, a record-breaking number since the award was established in 2019. To earn their Gold, students must have earnt their Bronze and Silver award, achieved virtue commendations from all four categories; Civic, Moral, Performance and Intellectual; had…

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Bradford alumni wins Study UK Alumni Awards for AI research

University of Bradford graduate Dr Bashir Mohammed, a Senior Lead Gen-AI Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services (AWS), has won a prestigious Study UK Alumni award.  He was presented with the award – winning the Science and Sustainability category – at a ceremony in Los Angeles yesterday (May 22).  Dr Mohammed’s work involves conceptualising and implementing AI integration for…

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GSAL named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026

The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 in the Big Organisation category, in the school’s first year of entering the national awards programme. Published in partnership with employee experience platform WorkL, founded by Lord Mark Price, the nationwide survey celebrates organisations leading…

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Schofield Sweeney retains its place in Sunday Times Best Places to Work list

Leading commercial law firm Schofield Sweeney has been named in the official Sunday Times Best Places to Work list for the third year running. The nationwide workplace survey recognises and celebrates the UK’s top employers, showcasing organisations that are leading the way in employee engagement, workplace culture and overall employee experience. The law firm was once again…

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Archbishop Holgate’s School triumphs at York Young Citizen’s Public Speaking Competition

Archbishop Holgate’s School has won this year’s prestigious York Young Citizen’s Public Speaking Competition. Secondary school pupils from schools across the city battled it out for the top slot, going head-to-head to debate one of four topics: Smart phones make present day life much better for children. York is a city with a past but…

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AAB Wealth recognised at 2026 VouchedFor Client Experience Awards

AAB’s chartered financial planning team, AAB Wealth, has been recognised at the 2026 VouchedFor Client Experience Awards, winning the Client Communication Award, in recognition of its commitment to delivering clear, client-focused financial advice. Hosted by VouchedFor, the UK’s leading review platform for financial advisers, the Client Experience Awards are based entirely on verified client feedback….

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Yorkshire engineering firm celebrates success at HSBC’s Small Business Awards

Leading mechanical and electrical engineering firm Salko UK, is celebrating after its family business has been recognised by a leading national award. Salko UK was awarded the Yorkshire, Humber and the North East ‘Family Business Award’ at last night’s HSBC Small Business Awards. The business was recognised for its strong family ethos and active involvement…

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National student nursing partnership award win for second year

The University of Bradford has won the Student Nursing Times Awards’ Partnership of the Year category for a second successive year. This year’s award recognises the University’s Student Supported Services Model, a collaboration with the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, developing student supported services that expand placements, support staff, and enhance patient care. Vikki Carter, the University’s…

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Entries open for Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards as new generation reshapes sector’s image

Entries have opened for this year’s Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards, with manufacturing and engineering employers across West Yorkshire being encouraged to put forward their most promising young talent at a time when a new generation is helping to redefine the industry’s image. Now in their fifth year, the awards, which take place in June, recognise…

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Health T Level Placement Awards

Our Health T Level students received some exceptional feedback and results at the recent Placement Awards at St James’ Hospital recently. Notre Dame students secured a clean sweep of all award categories ahead of Leeds City College, who we partner with through the Leeds Health and Care Academy for T Level Health placement opportunities. The…

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North Yorkshire homebuilders celebrate 17 years of five-star customer ratings

Leading housebuilders Barratt and David Wilson Homes have once again received the maximum five-star rating in the new Home Builders Federation (HBF) annual New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey. This is the 17th year in a row that Barratt and David Wilson Homes have achieved the top five-star rating – an accomplishment no other major housebuilder has…

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LCB reaches regional apprenticeship awards finals with 13 shortlistings

Leeds College of Building (LCB) is a finalist for 13 awards across ten categories at this year’s West Yorkshire Apprenticeship Awards. The annual awards event celebrates outstanding apprentices, employers, and training providers across fields such as engineering, law, and construction. This year will mark the fourth edition of the awards, first set up in 2022…

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Keane celebrates shortlisting at 2026 Prolific North Champions Awards

Recognition highlights impactful B2C campaign for Wilfreda Beehive Keane is proud to announce its shortlisting in the B2C Marketing Campaign of the Year category at the prestigious 2026 Prolific North Champions Awards, marking a significant milestone for the agency and its growing portfolio of high-impact work. The Prolific North Champions Awards celebrate excellence across the…

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Manningham Housing Association in running for four awards

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has been shortlisted for four Northern Housing Awards, including ‘Landlord of the Year’ which it won last year. The BME organisation – which manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley – is also a finalist for ‘Best Affordable Housing Development (Up to £10 million)’ for…

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Bradford secures fifth #1 Social Mobility ranking amid rising national performance

The University of Bradford has been ranked first on the Higher Education Policy Institute’s (HEPI) Social Mobility Index for the fifth consecutive year.  The SMI result sits alongside other strong performance markers, including being ranked 16th in the UK for graduate employment (HESA, 2025) and 8th nationally for ‘value added’ by the most recent Guardian University League Table. University of Bradford Vice-Chancellor Professor Nick Braisby said: “This…

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Bradford-based Refreshment Systems shortlisted for National Retail Technology Award

Bradford based Refreshment Systems Ltd (RSL), a family-run business based in Bradford, has been shortlisted for the Most Disruptive Retail Technology Award at the Retail Systems Awards. The shortlist recognises RSL’s Vendsmart technology, a new software platform built to transform how vending machines operate. While Vendsmart looks like a vending machine, it runs on completely…

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City of York Council celebrates National Social Work Day [17 March] with local social workers nominated for national awards

Social workers from City of York Council’s Adult and Children’s Social Work teams have been nominated for the national Amazing Social Worker awards. Organised by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), the campaign aims to recognise individual and collective achievements in social work, shining a spotlight on the countless examples of exceptional social work practice in…

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Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College named finalist for FE College of the Year

Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College, based on the outskirts of Leeds City Centre, has been shortlisted in recognition of its commitment to academic excellence, student support and innovative partnerships that help prepare young people for their future. The college welcomes students from across Leeds and provides an inclusive learning environment focused on both academic…

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Yorkshire garden centre group shortlisted for national people and culture award

A Bradford-headquartered garden centre group is celebrating after being shortlisted for a prestigious national HR award. Yorkshire Garden Centres Group has reached the final in the Large Organisation of the Year category at the British HR Awards, which celebrate organisations and individuals delivering a world-class people experience. The recognition comes after a period of significant…

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Bradford College Named ‘Apprenticeship Provider of the Year’ 

Bradford College has been named ‘Apprenticeship Provider of the Year’ at the national Apprenticeship & Training Awards 2026. Announced at the Apprenticeships and Training Conference gala dinner and awards evening at the ACC Liverpool, the award recognises a provider that specialises in delivering apprenticeships and has achieved outstanding results. Bradford College was among 19 winners…

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Accu wins Exporter of the Year Award!

Accu, the Huddersfield-based precision engineering component distributor, has won the prestigious ‘Exporter of the Year’ category at the ‘Made in Yorkshire’ awards, held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds last week.  The company, alongside the other category winners from the evening, will now go forward to the national Made in the UK Awards in June. Accu…

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Institute for Equity, University Centre awards qualifications to 20!

The Institute for Equity, University Centre – Developing Individuals, Changing Organisations & Society (IEUC) is proud to congratulate learners who have successfully completed academic and professional qualifications in EDI: Certificate in Inclusive Curriculum Leadership Certificate in Leading Equity, Diversity & Inclusion EDI Fellowship © All 20 successful awardees have led change in EDI within their…

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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…

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Bradford students win global satellite competition

Students from the University of Bradford have been named among the global winners of a prestigious international satellite engineering competition, beating teams from around the world and becoming the only UK team ever selected in the challenge’s history. The multidisciplinary student team was chosen as one of five global winners of the IEEE Geoscience and…

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Core Telecom nominated for Charitable Business of the Year at Yorkshire Choice Awards

We’re thrilled to announce that Core Telecom has been nominated for Charitable Business of the Year at the Yorkshire Choice Awards 2026. This nomination is a tremendous honour and reflects the heart of what we do every day. At Core Telecom, giving back isn’t just something we do — it’s who we are. We’re proud…

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Bradford BID launches inaugural Member Awards celebrating the city’s business community

Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) has today announced the launch of its inaugural Bradford BID Member Awards, a brand-new celebration recognising the innovation, resilience and excellence of local businesses in the city centre. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 25th June 2026 at the iconic Bradford Live, bringing together businesses from across the retail,…

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