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…
Understanding property opportunities across West and North Yorkshire
West and North Yorkshire continue to attract interest from property buyers, developers, and business owners, supported by strong regional demand, ongoing regeneration, and a diverse mix of city centres, suburbs and surrounding towns. While Leeds is often seen as the focal point, the wider region, including Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Harrogate and York, presents a range…
York supply specialists secure seven-figure public sector contract with Bolton Council
Following a competitive tendering process, York-based supply specialist, PPS, has been awarded a seven-figure contract with Bolton Council for the supply and delivery of chemicals and consumable goods for services across schools. The three-year agreement will see PPS responsible for supplying a comprehensive range of cleaning and hygiene products to approximately 90 schools across the…
Castle Howard Estate plants over 60,000 trees to create more woodland, as part of wider strategy to sequester carbon and increase biodiversity
Castle Howard has planted 60,978 trees in winter 2025/6 on the Castle Howard Estate, as part of a five-year plan to plant 100 hectares of new woodland, supported by the Forestry Commission England Woodland Creation Offer. Trees have been planted between the Stray (the six-kilometre public road that stretches through the Estate) and the village…
Notre Dame signs up to Leeds City Council’s Future Talent Plan
Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College has formally pledged its support to Leeds City Council’s Future Talent Plan, a city-wide initiative to ensure Leeds becomes a place where no one is left behind in an increasingly competitive labour market. The pledge, submitted by Principal Justine Barlow, reflects Notre Dame’s commitment to supporting young people across…
New ‘Ready for Parenthood’ campaign launches across York and North Yorkshire to support healthier, happier pregnancies
City of York Council, North Yorkshire Council, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and YorSexualHealth have joined forces to launch ‘Ready for Parenthood’ – a new regional campaign designed to help women feel informed, supported, and confident from pre-conception through to birth and beyond. The campaign focuses on three simple themes that make…
Fuel duty regulations
The Cost of War on Transport As a small business, we pride ourselves on flexibility and stability of service. We know that things can be unpredictable for our customers, and that is exactly why we work hard to be a dependable partner for their transport needs. That reliability, however, is deeply compromised when the government…
Free energy improvements keep residents warm and worry-free – and others are urged to apply
Homeowners and private tenants can apply for free energy efficiency improvements to make their home more comfortable and affordable to run. “We feel like we’ve won the Lottery!” say a retired couple in Heworth after their bungalow was made more energy efficient. Solar panels generating free electricity, loft insulation, and air source heat pump and…
Azets’ five cashflow management tips for SMEs: Monitor and manage Work in Progress
Businesses in Yorkshire are being urged to meticulously track the heartbeat of work in progress throughout its lifecycle. Monitoring, managing and making changes to reduce mission creep, improve efficiencies and maximise cashflow are critical steps which can improve a business’ health and growth prospects, according to a senior finance professional. The advice comes from Matthew…
Harrogate Homeless Project Announces New Charity Partnership with Swinton Estate
Harrogate Homeless Project (HHP) is delighted to announce the launch of a new year‑long charity partnership with Swinton Estate, beginning 1st April 2026. This collaboration will raise vital funds and awareness to support people experiencing homelessness across the Harrogate District. Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Proprietor and Countess of Swinton, said: “The Harrogate Homeless Project provides vital, compassionate…
Former smokers from York voice their support for regional quit smoking campaign
Peter Milner and Shaun Bettison from York are lending their support to Yorkshire and Humber’s first quit smoking campaign developed and filmed in the region. Pete, from the Stockton Lane area of York, smoked for more than 50 years before a diagnosis of COPD finally prompted him to quit. Just six weeks after giving up…
New strategy and delivery partner will deliver much-needed homes and facilities
City of York Council will consider creating a new strategy, and securing a new strategic delivery partner to deliver high quality Council buildings including homes for social rent or housing for older people. This new Delivery Strategy has been developed to support the Council’s Housing Delivery Programme (HDP) of building homes for shared ownership and…
New Carers Strategy sets out York’s shared commitment to improving the lives of unpaid carers in the city
A new citywide strategy, setting out a shared vision for improving the lives of unpaid carers, will be considered by City of York Council’s executive later this month (14 April). The draft strategy has been developed through extensive engagement with local carers, carers’ groups and partner organisations. It focuses on four key areas of work:…
April powers: abolition of tax relief for household expenses for 300,000 people
Employers may be expected to plug the shortfall of up to £124 a year, adding to rising business costs Impacts employees who incur homeworking costs that are not reimbursed by their employer Measure, from Monday, April 6, will particularly affect remote staff if their employer doesn’t have a workplace Around 300,000 people working from home…
Residents struggling with heating costs urged to apply for financial assistance from the York Crisis and Resilience Fund
City of York Council is encouraging residents who are having trouble affording their heating bills to apply for support through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, which is replacing the Household Support Fund. The fund is designed to provide swift, practical financial help for residents experiencing hardship, particularly during periods of high energy demand, including…
Highways maintenance plan dedicates £16.5m across York
York’s annual maintenance plan for our roads and streets has been published today (31 March), which will result in a 50% increase in investment in highways, pathways, lighting, drainage and more. This will see significantly more invested in York’s roads than in previous years and the wide-ranging plan commits to highway repair schemes in villages…
Public consultation on proposed rail upgrades between Standedge and Gledholt (Huddersfield) extended
The public consultation on proposed rail upgrades between Standedge and Gledholt has been extended, giving communities in and around Huddersfield more time to share their views. The consultation, which opened on Monday 16 February 2026, has been extended until Friday 24 April 2026. The extension provides a further opportunity for residents, businesses and stakeholders to…
Award winning York data firm secures grant thanks to support from City of York Council
City of York Council is celebrating the continued success of York-based data transformation specialist Simpson Associates, following targeted support from the Council’s Business Growth Manager to help the company expand its reach, strengthen partnerships and unlock new opportunities. After help from the council’s Business Growth Manager they have recently secured £10,000 from the Get Exporting…
50,000 tonnes of ballast, 11.5km of track, 5,515 sleepers: the numbers behind TRU’s next series of major upgrades
Throughout May and June, Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) teams will take another huge step in delivering faster, more frequent trains on a greener railway across the North, through a series of engineering works between Huddersfield and Leeds. From Saturday 2 May until Monday 25 May, 56 engineering trains will be deployed along this stretch of…
Turning a ‘problem’ into global strength: Peace Studies leads 60th anniversary lectures
A remark reportedly made by Margaret Thatcher; ‘Has that Peace Studies problem been dealt with yet?’ is now inspiring a forward-looking conversation as the University of Bradford launches its 60th anniversary lecture series. The lecture’s title, inspired by the 1984 quote, shows how far the University has come since those early questions about whether a…
York woodland supports work of York’s foster carers
The work of City of York Council’s amazing foster carers is being recognised and celebrated with a special area of designated woodland at York Community Woodland this spring. The 78 hectare York Community Woodland site has been identified by the council to increase green space in the city. The area of woodland dedicated to fostering…
University of Leeds ‘Growing Well Study’ to launch pop-up research hub at Merrion Centre
Families invited to participate in child health research in central Leeds The Merrion Centre continues to diversify its city centre offering with the arrival of a new research-led pop-up from the University of Leeds this April. Located in an upper-balcony level retail unit, the temporary ‘Growing Well Study’ hub will open on 8th April and provide…
Buy-to-let property in West Yorkshire: Rental yields and capital growth around Leeds
West Yorkshire continues to be a key area of interest for buy-to-let property, particularly for those looking beyond Leeds city centre and into the surrounding suburbs and commuter towns. While Leeds remains a strong economic hub, many buyers are now exploring nearby areas where entry prices are more accessible and rental yields can be comparatively…
94% of businesses not ready for Making Tax Digital
A UK poll of businesses shows that 94% are not prepared for Making Tax Digital (MTD) which is being introduced from 6 April. Firms were responding to the survey carried out by UK top 10 accountancy and business advisory firm Azets, which has offices in Leeds, Bradford and York. Fraser Campbell, UK head of accounts…
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…
Have your say on introducing wheeled recycling bins
City of York Council is set to launch a city‑wide consultation inviting residents to share their views on proposed changes to kerbside recycling collections from Monday 23 March. The council is considering moving from the current three‑box system to a wheeled‑bin service and is asking households across the city to take part in a short online…
Final opportunity to have your say on car parking charges consultation
A review of car parking charges in Bishopthorpe Road, Micklegate, The Groves and East Parade/Heworth has entered its final phase with a series of face-to-face drop-in sessions. A consultation has been taking place over the past few months after residents and business in all four of these areas initiated a challenge to parking charges through The Right to…
York welcomes two new Youth Parliament representatives
City of York Council is pleased to announce the results of the recent online election for York’s representatives in the UK Youth Parliament. Following a strong turnout from young people across the city, Will has been elected as York’s new Member of Youth Parliament (MYP), with William chosen as Deputy Member of Youth Parliament (DMYP)….
Work underway on new £100m TrainCare Centre in Shipley
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has this week welcomed Leader of Bradford Council, Susan Hinchcliffe, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw and Councillor Liz Rowe to its Shipley site, where the programme is investing over £100m in the construction of a new TrainCare Centre. The rail depot will initially be used to house and maintain Northern’s fleet of…
Apprenticeships: a young person’s perspective
Too many young people in the UK feel they need to leave the communities they grew up in to succeed elsewhere. This has a profound impact on local economies across the country. For example, £1.5 billion is lost every year from young people leaving North Yorkshire. It is a similar story for other regions across the UK. What…
City of York Council approves £4.8m Crisis and Resilience fund for the next 3 years
City of York Council has approved a new three year Crisis and Resilience Fund to support residents on low incomes who experience a financial shock, as well as to strengthen long‑term financial resilience across the city. The new scheme, approved at today’s Decision Session for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, and Equalities, will run from 1…
Council commits to York Cultural Strategy
City of York Council has confirmed it will adopt the York Cultural Strategy following a Decision Session today, 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 a clear…
Bradford scores national double for student affordability
Bradford has achieved a national double for student affordability, with new data revealing the University of Bradford offers the UK’s best value halls of residence while the city itself has been ranked the most affordable place in the country to study. The city’s University has the UK’s cheapest accommodation, with an average cost of £97.75…
94% York pupils get first choice of Secondary School
Secondary school admission figures for entry in September 2026 published today [2 March] show that 94% per cent of York children have been allocated their first preference of school. Parents and carers who applied online can find out where their child has been allocated a place by logging into their parent portal account today via www.york.gov.uk/SecondarySchoolAdmissions….
Leeds shopping centre and Yorkshire art organisation team up to raise breast cancer awareness during National Self-Check Month
Yorkshire art organisation Sand in Your Eye has partnered with White Rose Shopping Centre to showcase an impactful display highlighting the importance of breast cancer awareness: seven unique nude torsos, each sculpted from ice and snow. Created to illustrate the statistic that one in seven people will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their life…
Huddersfield company Accu takes part in trade mission designed to strengthen business opportunities across Europe
Alastair Morris, Managing Director of Huddersfield-based Accu, one of the UK’s fastest growing distributors of precision engineering components, travelled to Switzerland and Germany last week as part of Mayor Tracy Brabin’s West Yorkshire trade mission. Alastair was invited to join the trade mission due to his high-profile work championing UK advanced manufacturing. he was part of…
‘Have you considered National Defence Agencies?’ Turing Institute expert asks Bradford AI students
Artificial Intelligence expert Timipado Imomotebegha, Data Science Facilitator at the Alan Turing Institute, told University of Bradford that industry was crying out for graduates with AI and data science skills. The human-computer interaction specialist said: “AI is moving really quickly. You can use your skills to solve real life problems. You are at Ground Zero in terms of your careers. There are so many opportunities…
York supports LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week
City of York Council’s fostering team and One Adoption North and Humber, the regional adoption agency for York, North Yorkshire and Humber, are showing their support for LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week (2-6 March) by lighting up the city walls in rainbow colours. Led by charity New Family Social, this year’s campaign, Now’s the Time is calling…
Bradford research praised as teenage pregnancy rise prompts warning
A national expert has warned of complacency over teenage pregnancy after rates increased for the first time in 14 years, adding the University of Bradford is playing a crucial role in understanding and tackling the issue. Alison Hadley OBE, Director of the Teenage Pregnancy Knowledge Exchange and a leading figure in shaping national policy for…
Refurbished apartments to welcome returning tenants
Five completely refurbished blocks of apartments in Bell Farm are almost ready to welcome new and returning tenants. 40 apartments have been updated significantly to make them considerably more comfortable, safer and more affordable to run. While this major work was underway, tenants were moved to alternative accommodation. A number of former residents have chosen…
York seeks to tackle childhood inequalities with new Centre of Excellence for early childhood development
Proposals that would see York become a Centre of Excellence for early childhood development, helping to tackle childhood inequalities, will be considered for approval by the council’s Executive next month (3 March). The proposals reflect the authority’s ambitions to support communities and reduce inequalities in child development, including health and wellbeing, school readiness and healthy…
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…
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…
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,…
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,…
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…