Community leader Dennis Robbins recognised with honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University
Dennis Robbins received his award for his outstanding service to the city. The award celebrates Dennis’ exceptional and inspiring leadership of The Hunslet Club, one of the UK’s largest and longest-standing youth organisations, along with his lifelong commitment to helping young people reach their potential. Dennis first joined The Hunslet Club as a member in…
TPE customers set to be kept on the move during major TRU work thanks to upgraded Huddersfield diversionary route
TransPennine Express (TPE) will increase the number of services on a key diversionary route between Manchester and Leeds to three trains per hour from last weekend, keeping passengers moving while the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) continues to transform the railway. The uplift in services on the Calder Valley route, between Manchester Victoria and Mirfield via…
Celebrations in Bradford as £5m affordable homes development reaches completion
Special guests including Manningham Housing Association (MHA) residents, project partners, board members and staff joined together at Eccleshill in Bradford for the official opening of the BME organisation’s stunning new £5 million affordable homes scheme. The ribbon was cut by MHA Chair Rupert Pometsey, supported by Councillor Ian Paterson, who represents the Eccleshill ward in…
New research-informed podcast series launched to help boost SME productivity
A new joint podcast series from Leeds Beckett University (LBU) and business support experts Exemplas is bringing research-led insights to business owners and policy makers – offering practical, real-world advice on how to drive productivity and sustainable growth. The six-part series of bite-sized, accessible episodes are focussed on what really makes a difference when it…
TPE adds more services to support national Armed Forces celebrations in Cleethorpes this weekend
TransPennine Express (TPE) will be running extra services and providing more seats this weekend to support customers travelling to Cleethorpes for Armed Forces Day. The popular three-day event, recently chosen as the national celebration, will take place from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 June and is expected to draw large crowds to the coastal town,…
GSAL Principal wins national Headteacher of the Year award
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is delighted to announce that Principal, Sue Woodroofe, has been named Headteacher of the Year (Independent) at the Tes Schools Awards 2025. The awards ceremony, which took place in London on Friday 20 June, celebrates the very best in education across the UK’s state and independent sectors. Known as…
Planning approved for student accommodation at the Merrion Centre
Major milestone reached in the next phase of the Merrion Centre’s evolution Leeds-based property investor and developer, Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS), has received planning approval from Leeds City Council for a landmark student accommodation scheme at the Merrion Centre, further cementing the centre’s position as a dynamic, mixed-use city destination. The approved plans will…
LBU Impact Series: Leeds Beckett research team partners with urgent care provider IC24 to tackle stress in NHS 111 call centres
A new research-driven collaboration between Leeds Beckett University and urgent and primary healthcare provider Integrated Care 24 (IC24) is using innovative technology and psychological science to improve staff wellbeing and reduce stress for NHS 111 call handlers. The three-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project, part-funded by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) through Innovate UK, brings…
Plans to transform York city centre come under the spotlight at York Festival of Ideas
York Festival of Ideas in partnership with LNER is offering York residents and visitors an exciting opportunity to find out more about the major developments taking place in the city centre. The free event York: A 21st-century rail hub on Saturday 7 June will turn the spotlight on the York Station Gateway project, which is…
Leeds Beckett University celebrates reaccreditation of prestigious Small Business Charter Award
Leeds Beckett University has been reaccredited after a recent assessment, recognising the ongoing impact of its work supporting small businesses, student entrepreneurship and local economic growth. The award, granted by the Charter Association of Business Schools and the Small Business Charter, places Leeds Beckett among a select group of UK universities acknowledged for their deep…
College’s £17m building hits milestone as steel frame completed
The four-storey steel frame of Bradford College’s new £17 million building is now in place—marking a key step in transforming the Thornton Road site. Led by Morgan Sindall, the new Junction Mills building will offer students specialist training in motor vehicle, advanced electrical, hybrid and hydrogen technologies, vital in supporting the growth of low-carbon skills…
Bradford to open joint college with university in China
The University of Bradford has announced a new international joint college with one of China’s leading research technology universities. The Yangzhou University–University of Bradford Joint College of Advanced Manufacturing will welcome its first students in September 2025. Based entirely in China, the Joint College, which has been formally approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education,…
Sporting chance for active schools scheme thanks to new £4m investment
An initiative to encourage Bradford children to become more active has received a huge boost thanks to a £4 million investment from Sport England. Over the next three years, the JU:MP (Join Us Move and Play) programme will work with children and their families from across the district to help improve physical activity levels. The…
Bradford College connects to Energy Network in Net Zero Push
Work to connect Bradford College to the £70m Bradford Energy Network is officially underway, marking a significant move away from fossil fuels and towards achieving Net Zero. Heat networks (also known as district heating) supply heat from a central source. Underground pipes carry hot water to buildings on a network, enabling the rapid decarbonisation of…
Is the air we share a toxic soup of invisible pollutants?
The Air We Share is a Pint of Science talk that offers a fascinating insight into the one thing we all cannot live without – air. Cell Biologist/ Pharmacologist Dr Jacobo Elies from the University of Bradford lifts the lid on the toxins we breathe on a daily basis. He says: “Pollutants are everywhere but most…
GSAL Nursery to welcome 2-year-olds from September 2025
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is delighted to announce that from September 2025, its nursery will begin welcoming children from the age of two, marking an exciting new chapter in the school’s early years provision. This expansion reflects GSAL’s commitment to supporting families from the earliest stages of their child’s education, offering a nurturing…
Bradford City Centre sees positive growth as footfall rises 25% in early 2025
Bradford City Centre is showing encouraging signs of recovery, with both footfall and dwell time on the rise following a challenging year for local businesses. The Bradford Business Improvement District (BID), which represents almost 600 member businesses in the city centre, closely monitors a range of performance indicators. Figures from the first quarter of 2025…
Bradford’s historic Little Germany sets its sights on a new chapter
Following the completion of a successful round of funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a team led by Impact Hub Bradford has revealed plans to regenerate the city’s historic mercantile quarter, Little Germany. Home to 55 Grade 2 Listed buildings, the area is home to one of the most remarkable heritage destinations in the…
£700k investment in University computer science labs
The University of Bradford’s Computer Science labs have officially opened following a £700,000 makeover. The refurbishment has created five state-of-the-art functional labs in the University’s Horton D building, providing students with the best learning environment possible and increasing capacity to allow for future growth. Cutting-edge facilities Professor Shirley Congdon, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bradford,…
Further investment in York’s city centre
York’s historic city centre is set to be ready for the next, and future, millennia. With funding from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, the council and its partners will reimagine the city centre and develop a ‘city centre spatial plan’ (known as Reimagining York Streets, to tell a new story about the city centre)….
Funding delivers upgrades to 11 community buildings in York
The impact of funding to safeguard the future of community spaces in York’s outer wards was highlighted at a celebration held last Friday (28 March) in Bishopthorpe. In partnership with Community First Yorkshire, City of York Council has supported 11 venues through the Community Buildings Fund, worth a total £133,059. The programme has also benefited from…
York is saying ‘Yes to Quit’ with new smoking campaign
York is saying ‘Yes to Quit’ with a new smoking campaign. The Yes to Quit campaign has launched across TV, radio, transport links and social media this week, throughout Yorkshire and the Humber. It asks audiences ‘what will you miss?’ more than smoking, such as weddings, births or quality time with others – two in…
Neurodiversity celebration week: York schools accredited as ‘ADHD friendly’ as part of citywide support for students with neurodiversity
Eight York schools have been accredited as ‘ADHD friendly’ as part of a citywide commitment to support neurodiverse children and young people, including those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Awarded by the ADHD Foundation*, the schools were accredited as ADHD friendly because they committed to making their schools safe, nurturing, welcoming and exciting places,…
New expert report published to share practical advice for growing local economies
Experts at Leeds Beckett University, with leading business support provider Exemplas, have designed a new blueprint for boosting the growth of local economies, through a partnership delivery of business support and academic research. The team have worked together since 2022, delivering grassroots business support programmes to SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) on behalf of the…
Local social workers recognised in national ‘Amazing Social Worker’ awards
City of York Council is proud to announce that 15 of its social workers have each received a nationwide award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the social work profession. ‘Amazing Social Workers’ is a campaign run by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and champions exceptional work across the profession. The awards…
Nature-inspired bench art revealed ahead of Front Street celebration event
Art of Protest has installed the first phase of new artwork in Acomb ahead of the mural reveal and celebration event later this month. Each of the 8 wooden benches have been transformed with a unique design to reflect links to nature. Each bench is painted with a leaf design from the local woodland. This…
Magistrates charge company guilty of fly posting £5,400
A local company illegally putting up posters in and around York has been found guilty by York Magistrate’s Court and ordered to pay £5,421. Between July and October 2024, a large number of posters appeared in and around York and were reported to City of York Council. The notices were A1 (roughly 60 x 84centimetres),…
GSAL student joins prestigious Children’s Commissioner youth ambassador programme
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is proud to celebrate the achievement of sixth form student, Naemi Asmerom, who has been appointed as one of only 17 youth ambassadors nationally for the Children’s Commissioner for England, following a highly competitive selection process. The youth ambassador programme, led by Dame Rachel de Souza DBE, provides young…
Council secures more than £3.4m funding for warmer homes
Council leaders have confirmed that City of York Council will receive more than £3.4m of funding thanks to two separate grants. The funding, announced this week by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, will be used to upgrade around 280 homes over the next three years, to reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty…
Bradford start-up off to Houses of Parliament to launch UUK campaign
University of Bradford start-up i-Diagnose, which aims to save the NHS thousands of pounds by using artificial intelligence to slash training costs, has been invited to the House of Lords as part of the Universities UK ‘Unis start up the UK’ campaign. Sania Bibi and Aaron Walshaw, who started their business through the University’s BREE…
Yorkshire & Humber Construction Market poised for growth, driven by private housing boom
The latest Construction Market Intelligence (CMI Q1 2025) report from Yorkshire & Humber-based construction and property management consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB UK) forecasts a positive outlook for the region’s construction sector, with private housing emerging as the fastest-growing sector. Key Regional Developments Regional market sentiment remains generally optimistic, with significant development activity across the region’s larger…
Work to protect key heritage building uncovers unique history
A renovation scheme to secure the city’s historic Mansion House for years to come has uncovered some unique history. Over £1.3m is being invested in a range of essential repairs and improvements, including re-roofing the building, repairing its windows and ensuring it is health and safety-compliant. As part of the renovation, a new glimpse of…
New chapter for historic Leeds Library with opening of £2.3m extension
The Leeds Library turns the page on a new chapter in April with the unveiling of a new extension. In an investment totalling £2.3million, the library has extended its historic home on Commercial Street and created new facilities including an event space for education and community activities, a rooftop reading terrace, more space for books…
Efforts to improve the Jubilee Terrace to Scarborough Bridge path take a step forward
Work to invest £1.7m in improvements to a well-used riverside path could take a further step forward next week (11 March). At a decision session the council’s Executive Member for Transport will be asked to agree to progress work on the Jubilee Terrace to Scarborough Bridge riverside path to detailed design and construction. This meeting…
Looking for a new job? Visit York Jobs Fair
Anyone looking for work, support with training or getting new qualifications is invited to the latest York Jobs Fair on Tuesday 11 March. The popular event will be held at York Barbican from 1-6pm and will showcase representatives from 50 employers including Aviva, GMI Construction, Pearltech, Rack Systems (Engineering) Limited and Yorkshire Housing. A range…
Council to enhance its standards to improve residents’ experience
City of York Council’s Executive will be asked to adopt new standards to support people living with poverty in the city, at a meeting later this month (11 March). The standards are set out in a Charter for Organisational Standards created by York Truth Poverty Commission and aim to make services more responsive to people’s needs rather…
York free school meal pilots extended to a third primary school
York’s free school meal pilot has been rolled out to a third school this term. Pupils at Fishergate Primary School are now able to get a free breakfast at school each morning as part of the citywide campaign to deliver free meals to primary school pupils. The campaign is part of the council’s wider commitment…
93.7% York pupils get first choice of Secondary School
Secondary school admission figures for entry in September 2025 published today [3 March] reveal that 93.7% 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….
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 (3-9 March) by lighting up the city walls in rainbow colours. Led by charity New Family Social, this year’s campaign, Change Lives in ‘25 is…
Homes released to benefit first time buyers in North Yorkshire
First time buyers in North Yorkshire are being encouraged to take a look at Barratt Homes’ Harclay Park development in Boroughbridge, where a range of homes perfect for that first step on the property ladder have been released. The new community, located on Stump Cross, is ideal for a variety of house hunters, with the…
Your invitation to exhibit at the upcoming SEND Next Choices event on Tuesday 24th June 2025
SEND Next Choices – Getting ready for adult life Leeds first direct arena | Tuesday 24th June 2025 | 10am-6pm We are delighted to invite you to exhibit at the forthcoming SEND Next Choices – Getting ready for adult life event on Tuesday 24th June 2025 at Leeds first direct arena. Organised by Leeds City…
Leeds City College achieves NEBOSH Silver Learning Partner status
Leeds City College is proud to announce its recent accreditation as a Silver Learning Partner by the National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH). Following a rigorous inspection audit in November, this prestigious upgrade from Bronze status highlights the college’s dedication to exceeding NEBOSH’s principles of learning excellence. Why Choose NEBOSH? NEBOSH, a globally…
Bradford professor prepares to launch Space Tech Assembly
Businesses from this region and beyond can partake in ‘astronomical opportunities’ outlined at the forthcoming Space Tech Assembly in March, according to the University of Bradford professor who is set to open the event. The conference, organised by Space Hub Yorkshire, the UK Space Agency-funded regional space cluster, will examine how space tech is evolving…
Upcoming changes around York Station as Station Gateway project progresses
In the coming weeks, people will notice a lot of changes to the area to the front of York Station as progress on the Station Gateway project continues. The new image reveals paving that will form the new public spaces in the area where Queen Street Bridge used to be, as well as give a…
Make a difference this Great British Spring Clean
City of York Council is encouraging residents, schools, businesses and community groups to get involved in this year’s Great British Spring Clean. The ninth annual Great British Spring Clean will take place from 21 March – 6 April. During the Great British Spring Clean, the council will lend a hand to support anyone taking part, including: providing…
Weidmann support upgrade to local children’s playground
Weidmann UK is thrilled to support its local community by contributing vital funds to the Parish Council. As a major employer in the region, Weidmann was approached to provide financial support to upgrade and improve the local children’s playground that had fallen into disrepair. The donation will contribute towards replacing outdated and worn-out surfaces with…
Bradford seals £1m funding for 6G research projects
The University of Bradford has been awarded £1 million from the European Union’s Horizon Innovation Action programme to lead pioneering research into the socio-economic and sustainability impacts of disruptive technologies, including 6G networks and edge computing. Secured by a team of researchers at the University’s School of Management, the funding supports three ambitious projects—COP-PILOT, 6G-VERSUS,…
New homeless prevention drop-ins start today
As the risk of homelessness continues to worry many residents and be a reality for some, City of York Council is increasing support to help people keep their home. Additional to ongoing work to help people keep their homes, new face-to-face support starts today. At the monthly Homeless Prevention drop-in sessions, the team will work…