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…
AAB welcomes two firms in latest strategic growth deal
BpH Wealth Management and Jane Smith Financial Planning join AAB as Assets Under Advice reach £2.5 Billion AAB’s award-winning chartered financial planning team, AAB Wealth, continues to implement its strategic growth plan with the acquisition of two firms – BpH Wealth Management and Jane Smith Financial Planning. The move will mean AAB Wealth serves over…
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…
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…
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…
Independent financial services firm focuses on Scotland for growth
An independent financial services company has launched a recruitment drive in Scotland as it continues to grow its client base. The drive forms part of T L Dallas Independent Financial Services Limited’s wider strategy to build on its long-standing connections north of the border. Director, Jane Maclauchlan, who has worked for the firm for 19 years,…
West Yorkshire consultancy marks growth with move to Salts Mill
A West Yorkshire technology consultancy is building on more than a decade of growth following its move to Salts Mill in Saltaire, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. True9 Limited, founded in 2014 by Chris Richardson and Martin Taylor, has relocated from Croft Myl in Halifax and is now based at the historic Salts…
Katrina Lewis champions AI innovation transforming workplace design
As a board member of the West North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and founder of Katrina Lewis Interiors, Katrina Lewis is proud to spotlight a groundbreaking step forward in workplace design innovation led by Design Tonic. Working in client development at Design Tonic, Katrina is supporting the launch of an industry-first AI-powered moodboarding tool—an idea…
Strengthening Yorkshire’s Business Backbone: The Power of Inclusive Growth
Across Yorkshire, our businesses are the lifeblood of the community. But to stay competitive in a global market, we must move beyond traditional models. True growth isn’t just about the bottom line; it’s about the people behind it. That is why the Institute for Equity, University Centre is proud to champion a more inclusive future…
Research partnership secures bright future for Guiseley bakery with new products, branding and growth
A research-led partnership between Leeds Beckett University (LBU) and Haighs Bakery in Guiseley has brought together marketing students and academics to launch new product ranges, branding and social media accounts, and a unique Master Baker Experience, helping to secure the long-term growth and sustainability of the Leeds family bakery. The project is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), part-funded…
Chadwick Lawrence expands into the North East with new Darlington office
Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors has opened a new office in Darlington, marking a significant step in the firm’s expansion into the North East. The firm’s ninth office, based in Business Central – just a two-minute walk from Darlington train station – will provide commercial, practical, and supportive legal advice to businesses and individuals across County Durham,…
AAB launches ‘Office of the CFO’ service to support growing businesses with flexible finance leadership
In response to the increasingly complex trading environment for businesses, professional services firm, AAB, has launched a new ‘Office of the CFO’ service designed to give organisations the ability to strengthen their finance leadership and gain clarity in their numbers without the difficulties of recruitment of finance professionals at all levels. Businesses across the UK are facing more challenges than ever before – from inflationary…
Henley embarks on new chapter with MBO and acquisition
Henley Construction Management Group (“Henley”), a specialist construction group headquartered in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, has completed a management buyout (MBO) alongside the acquisition of Smart Crosby International (SCI), a leading engineering and consultancy practice. The MBO was completed by long-standing senior team members Tom Cardoe, Jon Henley, Dave Cawley and Jim Wenham. It marks a…
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…
Fintech future ahead for young minds of industry
Bradcoin, a digital rewards token, is at the heart of a wave of fintech innovation emerging from the University of Bradford, where students are reimagining how technology can improve everyday financial experiences. Created by postgraduate students on the University’s MSc Financial Technology (FinTech) programme, Bradcoin is a proposed campus‑wide digital token that would reward students…
York St John becomes the first university in the UK to use revolutionary maternity simulator that actually gives birth
Midwifery students can use Mama Anne to prepare for the most challenging scenarios in labour and birth. York St John University has become the first UK higher education institution to integrate the Mama Anne birthing simulator into their new midwifery programme. Mama Anne is the most cutting-edge maternity simulator currently available and offers tangible, physical…
Blacks Solicitors is ‘movin’ on up’ with major office move in Leeds
Reflecting its growth, ambition and investment in its people, Blacks Solicitors has today announced that the firm is ‘movin’ on up’, relocating its Leeds headquarters at 29 King Street from the second floor to the newly acquired fourth and fifth floors. The move will increase the firm’s workspace from 11,500 sq ft to 17,000 sq…
Leading housebuilder invests in the North East
Leading housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes North East, based in Gateshead, has built 606 homes in the region during the past year and contributed £118.6 million to the UK’s economic output. The achievements are highlighted in a new report which measures the housebuilder’s social and economic contribution to the region over the past financial…
Accu fasteners part of world first marine seagrass harvester
Precision engineering component distributor Accu has collaborated with Tandem Ventures, an organisation which specialises in science, technology and conservation innovations, and Project Seagrass, a marine conservation organisation, in the development of the world’s first underwater seagrass harvester. Seagrass thrives in vast meadows in sheltered coastal waters and these ocean meadows are known as the lungs…
Incredible interactive 3D models will preserve centuries of heritage
Two of Ireland’s most historic walled towns – Kilmallock in County Limerick and Derry/Londonderry in Northern Ireland – have been digitally recreated in stunning detail thanks to pioneering technology developed at the University of Bradford. The project uses advanced scanning techniques to create immersive digital twins of these medieval settlements, capturing everything from towering walls…
Town Centre Securities PLC acquires prime retail asset on Marylebone High Street, London W1
Strengthening TCS’s Portfolio with a High-Quality Marylebone Asset Leeds-based Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) announces the off-market acquisition of 68–69 Marylebone High Street, London W1, a high-quality retail property located in one of the capital’s most desirable and resilient retail and residential districts. The property comprises two ground and basement retail units, let to high-end…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Prestige Gifting expands delivery to mainland Europe with flowers and hampers just in time for Christmas
Prestige Gifting, Halifax – one of the UK’s leading online gifting companies, is delighted to announce that it can now deliver its popular flower and hamper ranges to customers across mainland Europe. This marks an exciting milestone in Prestige Gifting expansion plans With its strong reputation for excellence and customer satisfaction in the UK, Prestige…
Leeds Beckett University to launch Sport Health Tech Incubator to boost innovation and wellbeing in West Yorkshire
Leeds Beckett University (LBU) is set to open a pioneering Sport Health Tech Incubator, using cutting-edge research to help tackle health inequalities, spark innovation and drive business grown in the region’s thriving health tech sector. Backed by a £1.1 million investment from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) through the West Yorkshire Investment Zone, the new Incubator…
Crysp founder named as ‘One to Watch’ in LDC/The Times Top 50
The founder of a Bradford success story has been recognised as ‘One to Watch’ in LDC and The Times’ prestigious Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders. Pete Mills, chief executive of Crysp Ltd, was awarded the accolade in the eighth annual listing of Britain’s best and brightest business leaders and entrepreneurs – marking the culmination…
When Labour Costs Rise, Robots Create New Value
What happens when wages climb, staff shortages worsen and customers still expect the same high standards? It is a dilemma many businesses across Yorkshire are grappling with right now. From hotels struggling to fill cleaning shifts to warehouses facing gaps on the night roster to hospitals under pressure to keep services running, the challenge is…
Car wash concession opens at second site in Yorkshire
An established family car wash business is the latest concession to open at a South Leeds garden centre. Handy Andy Car Wash Limited opened its 12th car wash site, the second in Yorkshire, at Tingley Garden Centre on 8th September. The site offers a range of car wash and valet services to visitors to the…
Strike Padel, Bradford’s first indoor padel tennis centre has officially opened in Beckside Business Park, BD7
The centre is dedicated to bringing people together through the fast-growing sport of padel, championing inclusivity, and physical wellbeing for all ages and abilities. The facility will play an active role in encouraging local communities to get moving, connect with others, and celebrate Bradford’s vibrant culture. Founded by local healthcare professionals based in offices at…
Bradford manufacturer acquires waterproofing specialist
Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete has acquired structural waterproofing specialists, PUDLO, in a strategic move to diversify and strengthen the business. Bradford-based Oscrete, a leading UK supplier of specialist construction chemicals since 1983, manufactures and supplies a wide range of concrete admixtures for precast and ready-mix concrete, as well as the ready-to-use mortar industries. Peterborough-based PUDLO,…
Meet the Leeds marketer supporting medical aesthetics clinics with SEO
Leeds-based digital marketing specialist Jane Nriapia has officially launched BoutiqueSEO, a search marketing agency dedicated to helping medical aesthetics clinics grow their online visibility, attract patients, and thrive in a competitive industry. With over 16 years of experience in digital marketing and four years working directly inside aesthetics clinics and training academies, Jane brings a…
Manningham Housing Association secures ownership of £5m affordable homes scheme
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has acquired five new build detached houses in Eccleshill, Bradford in a £1.1 million deal. With the addition of these two three-bed and three four-bed properties, MHA now owns all 24 homes in the recently completed One Meadow development on Victoria Road. This represents a total investment of £5 million, delivered…
Young Creatives tackle smart glasses design challenge
Students at Bradford College have been given the unique opportunity to design packaging for a new range of smart glasses. The competition by Zanco, a digital tech firm set up by former Bradford College student Shazad Talib, will see Professional Services and Leisure learners compete to design the best packaging for new Zanco Smart Glasses. The…
LBU Impact Series: Research-led partnerships to help secure future of two Guiseley heritage businesses
Academics at Leeds Beckett University (LBU) are partnering with two long-standing, family-owned businesses at the heart of the Guiseley community in Leeds – Abraham Moon & Sons Ltd (Moon) and Haighs Bakery – in research-driven projects designed to safeguard traditional skills while accelerating innovation and growth. The partnerships are Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects, part-funded…
Leeds Beckett University’s the Retail Institute leads groundbreaking project on sustainable packaging
The Retail Institute at Leeds Beckett University, one of the UK’s leading academic research centres focused on the future of consumer experiences in retail, food and packaging has released a major new report on the future of sustainability in the packaging sector. Bringing together senior leaders from across the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) supply…
British creative studio announces US book tour
Leeds-based design studio, Buttercrumble, has set their sights on the USA. They are proud awardees of a highly competitive bursary delivered through the Creative Export Accelerator programme. The accelerator (designed by Full Circle and funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority) aims to provide creative entrepreneurs with the confidence to break into international markets. The bursary…
L6 Student Takara’s Growing Business
Lower Sixth student Takara Hodson launched KCore in May 2024. KCore imports and retails official Korean pop culture merchandise to the UK. Products include: Music albums (CD’s) Fan-made merchandise created in the UK (Beanies, T Shirts, notebooks & blankets) Key rings, cup sleeves Light sticks Phone charms Photo cards Takara is a sole trader, operating…
Fashion retailer Vanilla to open at White Rose
Women’s fashion brand Vanilla has been announced as the latest addition to White Rose Shopping Centre, with its new store set to open this May. Offering both its Pink Vanilla and Blue Vanilla collections with a wide range of options for shoppers of all ages, including clothing, footwear, and accessories, the new store will take…
TCS enhanced Albion Street offering with 11,000 sq. ft leisure letting to Rileys
High-profile letting set to strengthen city centre leisure scene Leading Leeds and London based property investment and development company Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), has announced a major new leisure letting with national operator Rileys Sports Bars at 123 Albion Street, Leeds. The deal sees Rileys take 11,000 sq. ft of prominent ground floor space…
UBC launches ‘Business Boost’ competition to support early-stage businesses in the UK
UBC Flexible Offices, a leading provider of serviced office space and business support solutions, is proud to announce the launch of UBC Business Boost, a social media competition designed to help early-stage businesses and entrepreneurs accelerate their growth. Aimed at businesses that have been operating for two years or less, the UBC Business Boost competition…
Final days of Doggerland interactive map and animation
AI will help us find ‘goldilocks’ zone for human life Archaeologists from the University of Bradford have created an interactive simulation tool to chart the evolution (and demise) of Doggerland – the Ice Age landmass that once connected the UK to mainland Europe. It is part of a project known as Unpath’d Waters, funded by…
AI-powered eye surgery could mean the end for glasses post cataract surgery
CustomLensAi invited to join prestigious Microsoft for Startups Hub A revolutionary approach that uses AI to help improve cataract surgery outcomes could mean the majority of post-op patients no longer need glasses. A Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between visual computing experts at the University’s of Bradford’s School of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Electronics (CSAIE)…
‘AI lifeguard’ start-up wins international award
Deep Blue uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to track dozens of swimmers using existing camera networks and is already being trialled on beach and swimming pool environments in Dubai. Karl, 44, who is now into his second year of the Executive MBA, won the prestigious Start-Up of the Year Award 2025 in the AMBA &…
Bradford College student to receive £150,000 business funding
A Bradford College student has been making waves in the business world with Microsoft pledging £150,000 funding towards digital infrastructure for his start-up. Abdul Rahman Majid’s innovative idea, ‘Kallabot’, was initially formed when he moved to Bradford and experienced difficulties trying to communicate with utility companies regarding bill payments. Kallabot is described as an ‘AI-powered call-centre solution’ which offers automated…