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…
Paramedic students given ‘crash course’ on campus
Paramedic students at the University of Bradford gained hands-on experience of their future profession by taking part in a crash scene simulation staged on campus. A group of BSc Paramedic Science students were faced with a mock three-vehicle crash, featuring one of the cars flipped onto its side and trapped passengers. Working with experienced and trainee firefighters…
York rivers trail launches to connect people, place and flood resilience
A new way to explore York’s rivers has launched this summer, inviting residents and visitors to discover how water shapes the city, its communities and its future. The York rivers trail: the rivers and us is a walking and wheeling trail along the River Ouse in York, combining art, storytelling and digital experiences to help people understand…
Vice-Chancellor signals new chapter for University of Bradford
The University of Bradford’s incoming Vice-Chancellor Professor Gillian Murray has signalled “a new era” for the university focused on innovation and partnerships. Professor Murray, who will take up her new role on Monday, July 13, at the start of the University’s summer graduation week, has a strong track record in leading large-scale partnership programmes between…
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…
What NATO’s latest summit reveals about the alliance’s future
Professor Christoph Bluth, Professor of International Relations and Security at the University of Bradford, argues that NATO emerged from its recent summit militarily stronger but politically more fragile. In this expert analysis, he explores growing tensions over defence spending, Ukraine, Iran and US leadership, and assesses what this means for the future of the alliance. As global security challenges…
North Yorkshire river project delivers 9 ways to drive positive environmental change
York St John University report highlights the power of community engagement, spending time in nature and sharing local know-how across generations. A pioneering environmental initiative working across the River Esk and Coastal Streams Catchment is helping communities reconnect with nature while building a stronger foundation for long-term conservation and biodiversity recovery. The River Esk catchment…
TRU celebrates successful Community Fund projects across route
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is showcasing some of the organisations from its 2025 Community Fund round, who have used their grants to improve local spaces and places. Launched in 2024, the TRU Community Fund aims to help local community groups, schools and charities to create or enhance community-focused facilities across the 70-mile route. The second iteration in 2025 saw 35 successful applicants offered small, medium and large…
The Institute for Equity, University Centre launches major strategic expansion on its 6th birthday
On its 6th Birthday, the Institute for Equity, University Centre launches Major Strategic Expansion with Three New Academic Schools to Drive Global Leadership and Social Transformation Marking exactly six years of delivering pioneering education, the Institute for Equity, University Centre (IEUC) has today unveiled a bold and historic expansion of its academic architecture. Moving dynamically…
Family Football Festival to celebrate our Armed Forces in York
City of York Council is joining partners across the city and the UK to celebrate and recognise the contribution of our Armed Forces this summer. Here in York, the Council and partner organisations will be showing their support for currently serving personnel and their families, plus veterans and cadets with a free, vibrant football festival,…
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…
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…
Night works see progress on Station Gateway highway works
Councillors will receive an update on the Station Gateway project at a meeting next week (7 July). Executive will hear the latest on the project, including its financial position, as part of the Capital Programme Monitor which provides details around the delays to the project which have increased the spend on the programme by £5.4m….
Checks to start on Council Tax discount recipients
Checks by the Council will start next month on households claiming a single person’s discount on their Council Tax. From July this year, the Council will start a regular review of who is getting and who is still eligible for the single person’s discount. This is a 25 per cent reduction in Council Tax for…
28 days of TRU improvement works completed in West Yorkshire
Major improvement works modernising the railway between Morley and Dewsbury in West Yorkshire have taken the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) a step closer to delivering faster, more frequent trains on a more reliable and greener network across the North. Work began on Saturday 30 May and ran until Saturday 27 June. During this period, teams…
City of York Council marks Armed Forces Day and honours service community
City of York Council is joining communities across the UK to mark Armed Forces Day on Saturday 27 June, recognising the vital contribution of serving personnel, veterans, reservists, cadets and their families. The council is proud to support the Armed Forces community through its commitment as a Gold Award signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant,…
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…
Bradford College, Production Park and Academy of Live Technology launch landmark partnership through The Producing Academy
Bradford College has announced a major new partnership with Production Park and Academy of Live Technology (ALT), anchored by its flagship Producing Academy, to create industry-leading training and employment pathways into the UK’s fast-growing creative and live events sectors. The three organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deliver a collaborative programme of skills,…
Volunteers improve Fulford Cemetery as its future management is considered
Dedicated volunteers are helping to keep Fulford Cemetery in good order, since City of York Council took over its management last year. Options for the future of the cemetery are being discussed this summer at public meetings. The proposals, which include the Council permanently managing the cemetery, were supported by the council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee…
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…
Poetry in Motion: Creative Writing lecturer’s work connects passengers with the history of reopened railway
Dr John Challis ‘honoured’ to see his verse brought to life at stations along the Northumberland Line. Dr John Challis, Poet and Lecturer in Creative Writing at York St John University says it’s a ‘great honour’ for his poetry to be selected to celebrate the reopened Northumberland Line. His specially commissioned poem The Journey has…
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…
York Youth Festival returns to Rowntree Park this summer
Young people across the city are invited to take part in the York Youth Festival, returning to Rowntree Park on Wednesday 22 July, from 2pm to 5pm. Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, the festival will once again provide a free, fun and welcoming space for young people to come together, enjoy activities,…
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…
£130,000 invested to help Bradford communities thrive together
GiveBradford have invested nearly £130,000 in 9 Bradford community organisations through The Thrive Together Fund! The programme is our partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players. The Thrive Together Fund aims to develop inclusive places, spaces and activities for people who are least able to come together. The…
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…
York Health Trainers create quick tips to stay healthy during this Men’s World Cup
York Health Trainers are encouraging residents to look after their health and wellbeing as the largest-ever FIFA Men’s World Cup kicks off this week. With 104 matches taking place across Mexico, Canada and the USA over the next five weeks, thousands of football fans will be tuning in – often late into the night –…
Review payroll processes amid tighter minimum wage scrutiny, bosses warned
Employers across Yorkshire are being urged to review their payroll processes and employment practices urgently amid growing scrutiny over National Minimum Wage (NMW) compliance and the expanding enforcement powers of the Fair Work Agency (FWA). Accountancy and business advisory group Azets, which has offices in Leeds, Bradford and York, has warned that many businesses are…
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…
New waiting room for York crematorium
Mourners and visitors to York Crematorium will have a second waiting room to use from this autumn. It will be more accessible and have toilet facilities. Visitors may see workers, their vehicles and equipment on the site at Bishopthorpe, as the building and other maintenance work takes place. No work will take place during services:…
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…
We want your views to shape accessible and inclusive play areas in York
We are inviting people across York to help shape the future of the city’s play areas, as part of our major investment in parks and green spaces. We have launched the Accessible and Inclusive Play Areas Survey 2026 to gather views from disabled children and young people and their parents and carers, so we can…
A value-added boost for Yorkshire charities
A long-standing tax levied on businesses donating to charities has now been removed, a major accountancy and advisory firm in Yorkshire has said. Azets, with offices in Leeds, Bradford and York, wants to remind businesses that they can now give goods to registered charities without paying VAT. The news comes at a time of falling…
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…
England v Germany veterans game marks 1966 World Cup anniversary with powerful message about later life fitness
Documentary follows England’s Veteran Over 75s as they overcome strokes, cancer and bypass surgery to be fit for historic rematch with Germany this July. England’s Veteran Over 75s football team have announced they will mark the 60th anniversary of England’s victory over Germany with a commemorative match against their European rivals. The game was the…
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,…
York leads the way as air quality targets met for second year running
As Clean Air Day (Thursday 18 June) approaches, City of York Council has confirmed that the city has met national air pollution targets for the second consecutive year. New monitoring data for 2025, presented at the Combined Executive Member Decision Session on 2 June 2026, shows that the significantly lower nitrogen dioxide levels recorded in 2024…
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…
City of York Council proud to support LGBTQIA+ communities
City of York Council will once again show its support for LGBTQIA+ communities by taking part in York Pride, celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion across the city. Council teams will have a strong and visible presence at York Pride, taking place on Saturday 30 May, where thousands of residents and visitors are expected to come…
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…
Council shares transport information as York Station Gateway Highway works set to complete
City of York Council has published travel information for residents and visitors to assist them to get to the city centre and station in advance of upcoming road closures around York Station. Work to finish the carriageway surfacing around York Station will start on 1 June and be carried out in four stages. Details for…