Work begins on major refresh of construction college façade
Work has begun on a new look for Leeds College of Building’s (LCB) North Street Campus building. As part of ongoing improvements to its estate, LCB is over-cladding the façade of the building that has been its home since the 1960s. In addition to increasing the kerbside appeal of the North Street Campus, the works…
Bradford breaks into top 500 global QS rank
The University of Bradford has been ranked among the world’s top 500 universities for the first time, marking a significant milestone in its continued rise on the global stage. In the latest QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June, Bradford climbed 14 places to 497th in the world, securing its place in the…
Sustainable construction partnership announced by Yorkshire & Humber college network
An innovative new construction initiative will see a group of colleges from across Yorkshire and the Humber become partners with the Supply Chain Sustainability School (The School). The Supply Chain Sustainability School works with over 225 UK partners to develop industry-led learning, with over 50,000 people from 7,000 supply chain businesses actively learning with the School in…
The hidden nervous system cost of building shelter for others
In property, development, construction and the built environment, responsibility has a very physical quality to it. Deadlines matter. Budgets matter. Safety matters. Delivery matters. Reputation matters. But beyond it all sits something deeper in that the work shapes places other people will live in, work in, move through and rely upon. That creates a particular…
University brings business leaders together as AI shift accelerates
Business leaders from across the region are invited to come together next month to explore how organisations can respond to the rapidly accelerating impact of artificial intelligence. The University of Bradford will host a one-day forum on 18 June, bringing together senior figures from industry, the public sector and academia to explore how AI is…
7 behaviours you need to kickstart your STEM career
Diana Bird, Executive Principal, Leeds City College More students are leaving school with solid technical knowledge in 2026: think coding, digital content and data literacy. But do you have the behaviours and mindset needed to thrive at work and develop successful Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers? The world of work demands a much…
Accu expands undergraduate scholarship scheme to support next generation of engineers
Accu, the Huddersfield-based precision engineering components supplier trusted by 75% of the world’s top manufacturers, has expanded its undergraduate scholarship scheme to support the next generation of engineering talent. Working in partnership with Zero Gravity – a tech company that identifies high-potential students from low-opportunity backgrounds – Accu aims to reach aspiring engineers early in…
Why financial responsibility is so difficult to rest from
At senior level in banking, lending, wealth management and financial leadership, money is never just money, is it? It represents security. Payrolls. Mortgages. Business continuity. Family stability. Long-term futures. That is why the pressure in these roles is rarely superficial. Leaders in finance are not only managing figures. They are carrying the emotional and practical…
York families urged to reapply for free school meals
Families whose children receive free school lunches are being urged to reapply for the meals this term, following changes to the national scheme. Everyone must reapply for their child or children before the start of the new school year in September. City of York Council has sent information and application forms to schools across the city to…
Star names announced as Bradford Literature Festival returns with biggest programme yet
What do Green Party MP Hannah Spencer, official 2012 Olympic poet Lemn Sissay and Bake Off star Prue Leith have in common? That’s right, they’re all taking part in this year’s star-studded Bradford Literature Festival, from July 3-12. They will be joined by not one but two former Emmerdale actors Bradley Riches and Jessie Elland, poet Lemn Sissay, former first Minister of…
Teachers, educators, parents and policymakers invited to online showcase of education research
From preparing school students for the workplace to new ways to boost engagement and attendance for neurodivergent pupils York St John University’s Institute for Social Justice is pleased to invite anyone with an interest in school education to a unique showcase of Innovations in Education Policy. Taking place online on Monday 29 June, this specialist session will…
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,…
Castle to host free Employer Update for Yorkshire businesses ahead of Employment Rights Act changes
Yorkshire businesses are being encouraged to prepare early for major employment law changes that could affect how they recruit, manage and retain staff from 2026 onwards. Castle HR & Training Solutions and Castle Employment Solutions are hosting a free face-to-face Employer Update on 25 June to help employers understand the upcoming Employment Rights Act changes…
York rivers trail gathers momentum as community helps shape new experience on the River Ouse
A new riverside experience for York took a significant step forward last week, as residents, partners and contributors came together on the River Ouse to help shape the York rivers trail. The event, held as part of the York Festival of Ideas, invited participants onto the water for a curated journey through the city. From…
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…
Bradford 2nd in UK for optometry amid strong national gains
The University of Bradford has strengthened its position in the latest Complete University Guide 2027 rankings, rising nine places overall as its optometry provision cements its place among the very best in the UK. Ranked second in the country for Optometry, Ophthalmics & Orthoptics, and first in Yorkshire and the Humber, Bradford continues to build on a reputation as a national leader…
Do school uniforms contribute to bullying and sexism?
Is it time to get rid of school uniforms? As schools face rising temperatures and the pressures of the summer term, rigid school uniform policies are being challenged for contributing to bullying, inequality and poor mental health among pupils. Dr Elizabeth Nassem, Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Bradford and a leading researcher on…
University of Bradford expands China offering
The University of Bradford has strengthened its international footprint after securing approval to deliver two new academic programmes in China. The Chinese Ministry of Education has formally approved a postgraduate engineering management programme with China University of Petroleum-East China (UPC), alongside an undergraduate business and management programme at the Sino-British College in Shanghai. Both programmes will launch in September and…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
AOC Nationals 2026
Last weekend, Team ND attended the Association of Colleges (AOC) National Championships in Nottingham. The weekend brings together the top sporting students from colleges around the country, each representing their county with the aim of winning the Wilkinson Sword. We brought representatives for Yorkshire in volleyball, badminton, table tennis, tennis, and endurance running. The weekend…
Plans to reform provision for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities in York
Children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) in York will find it easier to get early support and have their needs met in mainstream schools if proposed changes to SEND provision are approved next month (2 June). City of York Council’s Executive will consider York’s draft Local SEND Reform Plan, which outlines the city’s…
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…
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…
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…
Manningham Housing Association awarded funds to train tenants for leadership roles
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has secured £70,000 of government funding to boost tenant involvement in important decisions made by landlords in Yorkshire and Humber, and the North East. Working in partnership with the Housing Diversity Network (HDN) – a not-for-profit social enterprise that specialises in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the housing sector – the…
University Centre Leeds launches new FinTech degree
A brand new degree, designed to equip learners with the future-ready skills needed to thrive in FinTech, one of the fastest-growing global sectors, is starting in September 2026 at University Centre Leeds. Open for applications, BSc (Hons) Financial Technology is a dynamic three-year programme which blends core principles of finance and accounting with cutting-edge training…
Breaking free from the spreadsheet trap
How Excel Could Be Holding Your Organisation Back For many organisations, Excel has slowly become embedded in everyday operations. Holiday tracking, scheduling, order handling, approvals and finance processes. If a workflow exists, chances are someone has built it in a spreadsheet. And initially, that works just fine. But as organisations grow, expectations increase, and AI…
Over £1 million awarded to boost young people’s mental health through creative writing and ethical AI
York St John University partners with Goldsmiths and University of Leeds for Creative Writing Together project A major new research project led by York St John University has secured over £1 million in funding to support young people’s mental health, strengthen family relationships and promote inclusion through creative writing. The three-year project, Creative Writing Together, is…
Leeds Beckett Innovation projects earn top ‘Outstanding’ rating from Innovate UK
Two research-led Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects between Leeds Beckett University (LBU) and Yorkshire-based companies Sniffers Pet Care and Ardent have achieved the highest possible grading of Outstanding from Innovate UK. The recognition highlights the significant commercial impact, innovation, and long‑term growth and sustainability delivered through the university’s research expertise and close collaboration with its industry partners…
Green plaque honours global impact of Bradford Sling
A World Origin Site green plaque has been unveiled at the University of Bradford to commemorate the global impact of the Bradford Sling and the world‑leading Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PSBRU), where the innovation was developed. The internationally recognised Bradford Sling, created at the University following the 1985 Bradford City fire, is a simple but highly…
National warning that England is raising an inactive nation
University of Bradford‑led research may provide the solution England is facing a growing crisis in children’s physical activity, health and wellbeing – and research led by the University of Bradford is now helping to shape what could be a national response. A major new report from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Inactive Nation, warns that more than…
The Grammar School at Leeds unveils exciting plans to transform its sixth form centre
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has announced plans to refurbish and upgrade its sixth form centre, creating a space to enhance independent learning, collaboration and student wellbeing. The project forms part of the school’s ongoing investment in its 140-acre campus, following the opening of The Cryer, GSAL’s performing arts centre, in 2025, and reflects…
New innovation partnership to accelerate growth of Shipley textile manufacturers
Marketing and business experts at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are partnering with Shipley-based Specialised Covers to secure the long-term growth and sustainability of the family-owned bespoke protective textile cover manufacturers. The two-year project is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) through Innovate UK, and is led by Dr Catherine…
From refugee child to scholar – Andrews’ remarkable journey over last 30 years
A University of Bradford student has recalled being a child refugee sleeping next to dead bodies on board a ship while fleeing a war 30 years ago. Andrews Adjei became a refugee in his native Ghana aged six in 1996 after leaving Liberia during the First Liberian Civil War, which ran between 1989 and 1997….
Bradford students ‘over the moon’ after stellar USA trip
A group of 30 lucky Bradford College students returned to Earth with a bump after a trip of a lifetime to study science and engineering in the USA. The Level 2 and 3 Science and Computing students spent 13 days working at prestigious organisations, including NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and The Kennedy Space Centre…
Upcoming Ebor lecture at York Minster to explore society’s treatment of refugees
York Minster to welcome distinguished academic and refugee advocate Professor Alison Phipps for a powerful and timely Ebor lecture entitled “When Every Hope has Gone: Grief, Rage and Refuge in a Merciless Age”. In this deeply reflective lecture taking place on Wednesday 20 May, Professor Phipps will examine the theological and practical failures exposed by…
AI-driven movement analysis could transform early detection of Parkinson’s
An artificial intelligence (AI) system which could accelerate the early detection and monitoring of Parkinson’s, using smart phone video recordings, is being developed by the University of Bradford. The project, led by Dr Ramzi Jaber, Researcher in Data Science for Applied AI at the University, and supported by clinicians at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust…
One in three stroke survivors may be missing life‑saving medication, new research suggests
Action on Stroke Month (May): why medication could prevent a second stroke and why many don’t get it New research undertaken at University of Bradford is investigating why as many as one in three stroke survivors are missing out on life‑saving medication. Stroke survivors who miss out on essential preventative medication increase their risk of suffering a second – often more disabling – stroke. Stroke survivors are up to 15 times…
Are locally led initiatives more effective than top-down Government schemes?
A new national compendium published by the Key Cities Innovation Network (KCIN) highlights how cities and universities across the UK are rethinking innovation ecosystems to support more inclusive and sustainable regional growth. The University of Bradford is among ten contributors to Innovation Ecosystems, the first i‑PLACE Compendium, which brings together peer‑reviewed research and real‑world case studies exploring how…
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…
LCB to receive over £919k in Government funding for renovations
Leeds College of Building (LCB) is one of 18 colleges in Yorkshire and the Humber set to benefit from government funding for essential estates and building improvements. In a recent announcement, it was confirmed that LCB will receive £919,871 from the FE College Condition Allocation (FECCA) fund. This latest £30 million package from the Government…
First look at Bradford College’s new £19.3m Motor Vehicle & Engineering building
Scaffolding has come down on the new Bradford College Junction Mills building on Thornton Road, set to open in September this year. Junction Mills will offer students skills in new technologies, such as modern automotive and digital engineering, electric/hybrid vehicles, and advanced manufacturing. The building will be vital in supporting the growth of technology and…
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…
National Offer Day for primary schools- York children allocated their Reception school place for September
A total of 94.3% of children who applied for a Reception place at a primary school in York this September were allocated their first choice on National Offer Day [Thursday 16 April]. All the children who applied for a Year 3 place in a junior school were allocated their first choice. Parents who applied online…
York parents and carers to receive support to help get their child school-ready
York parents and carers with children starting school in September will receive specialist information to help them get their child school-ready this month. Around 1,700 households will receive two information booklets – one focussing on how parents can get children toilet trained before starting school – and another with helpful tips to make sure children…