Member News Subjects

‘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 &…

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How boxing can embrace AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) can play a transformative role in sports such as boxing, according to a University of Bradford academic.  Dr Kamran Mahroof, Programme leader for MSc Applied AI and Data Analytics, and his PhD student, Saima Sammad, make the case for boxing’s potential use of AI. They propose that the use of AI in…

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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…

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University of Bradford: Different is what we do

The University of Bradford has launched a campaign – Different is what we do – to highlight how it makes a difference, improves students’ life chances and contributes to the economy.  From pioneering disruptive technologies and using the latest in AI and digital tech to offering an outstanding student experience and winning national plaudits for…

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“Is social media the reason you’re broke?” – insights from a data scientist

Is social media the reason you’re broke? – academic uses shocking personal experience to highlight hidden influence of social media on financial habits and mental wellbeing Dr Somdip Dey’s TEDxTalk selected as Editor’s Pick for a global audience  Dr Somdip Dey, Lecturer in Data Science at York St John University, has used the TEDx platform…

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New features for SMS Direct

At Core Telecom, innovation has always been at the heart of what we do. From Wholesale SMS and Charity Telecommunication to Voice Services, we continuously explore cutting-edge technologies to deliver the very best for our customers. With SMS Direct, we’re breaking new ground once again. By leveraging the latest advancements, we’re introducing powerful new features…

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Pioneering mentorship scheme connects young volunteers with opportunity

A trailblazing new mentoring programme, which brings together local young volunteers and leading role models in the tech and digital sectors, has recently reached its grand finale. Delivered by social value specialist Ahead Partnership, the first-of-its-kind programme has aimed to give back to young volunteers aged 16-19 at Harehills-based youth empowerment charity CATCH Leeds by…

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HSBC leader to share tech insights with York businesses

York businesses are being invited to hear from HSBC’s Head of Technology Sector and Growth Lending at a new Tech Forum. The event, taking place at the council’s West Offices on Thursday 13 February, will see Roland Emmans explore how businesses can embrace rapid technological change. Roland will share insights from a career in business…

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Netcompany announces further digital careers inclusion investment with Ahead Partnership expansion

Netcompany UK, part of the fastest-growing IT services company in Northern Europe, has committed to a further three-years of collaboration with Ahead Partnership to support young people through digital skills inclusion and gender inclusivity initiatives. The two have worked together since 2021, with Netcompany having been an anchor sponsor of Ahead Partnership’s well-established Growing Talent Digital…

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Unleash the Power of SMS Marketing with SMS Direct

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, effective communication is the key to success. Core Telecom is excited to announce the launch of SMS Direct, our state-of-the-art SMS platform designed to revolutionise how UK businesses engage with their audiences. With Special December Offers available now, there has never been a better time to enhance your customer outreach…

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Fighting the Fakes: Data scientists create cutting-edge tool to verify image authenticity

York St John University-led research is “essential in helping people to navigate the fine line between reality and fabrication”  Data scientists at York St John University have announced the launch of a pioneering new tool to spot fake images.   Pixelator v2 uses a new combination of image veracity techniques with capability beyond what can be…

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Accu celebrates with fightfest competition winner

Accu, a leading Huddersfield-based supplier of high-precision engineering components, invited the winner of this year’s FightFest Featherweight robot fighting competition to its headquarters in Huddersfield to judge its own robot combat competition, as part of its commitment to innovation in robotics and engineering. Winner Ellis Ware, 28 and from Shropshire, was presented with his prizewinning…

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York pupils screen their short films at international festival

Last weekend, pupils from schools across York showcased their filmmaking talent as part of special celebration at York’s international film festival, the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2024. Now in its 14th year, the festival attracts audiences and filmmakers from across the world to York over a five-day period. This year, it developed the citywide Filmmaking in Schools project…

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Manningham Housing Association supports efforts to bridge digital divide with tech handover

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has donated a consignment of digital equipment to a Bradford-based community interest company which repurposes old laptops, desktops, tablets and phones before passing them on to asylum seekers and refugees to help them start their lives in their new country. The operations team at Solidaritech wipes kit provided by businesses and…

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C-Kore Systems celebrates 900th subsea tool deployment in Brazil

C-Kore Systems is thrilled to announce the deployment of their 900th subsea testing tool! This significant milestone was reached with a mobilization for a major operator in Brazil, monitoring umbilical installations during a prestigious campaign. C-Kore’s subsea testing units have gained worldwide acceptance with both operators and contractors for the cost-savings the tools provide, the…

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Vital new monitor part of ‘revolutionary MRI process’ for newborn babies

£45,000 has been donated to Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) as part of the J9 Advisory £100,000 Charity Challenge to enable the purchase of life-saving MRI monitoring equipment. The monitor is part of a revolutionary MRI process at the Leeds Children’s Hospital, unique to Europe, which is transforming the care of newborn babies with heart…

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IT exhibition at Wetherby Racecourse

On November 12th 2024 there will be an IT exhibition at Wetherby Racecourse. Hosted by local IT company Deans Computer Services Ltd, 16 vendors will be on hand to show you the latest advancements and discuss your IT requirements. DCS and their partners will be showcasing accounting and ERP software from award winning providers Pegasus…

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The Grammar School at Leeds recognised as a Microsoft Showcase School

The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is proud to announce its recognition as a Microsoft Showcase School for the 2024/25 academic year. This prestigious status places GSAL among an elite group of schools worldwide celebrated for their pioneering approach to education, teaching and learning. Being named a Microsoft Showcase School reflects GSAL’s commitment to innovation…

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Leeds Beckett University supporting Wakefield greetings card company’s growth with innovative use of RFID technology

The rollout of new patented Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, supported by Leeds Beckett University experts, is helping Wakefield-based Riverside Greetings realise their ambition to become the largest supplier of greetings cards to convenience and forecourt stores in the UK. The RFID technology has been piloted, and patented, as part of a two-year Knowledge Transfer…

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Bradford College named a prestigious ‘Microsoft Showcase School’

Bradford College is one of an elite group of education institutions recognised as a Microsoft Showcase School for the 2024/2025 academic year. Microsoft Showcase Schools are global pioneers in education. Only a few institutions earn the title each year for their impact on education through digital transformation, representing “the best of teaching and learning in…

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Deans Computer Services Ltd transfer their shareholding to an Employee Ownership Trust

Deans Computer Services Ltd is one of the longest established independent IT companies in Yorkshire, being formed in 1982. In a significant step to protect the future and guarantee collective success for employees and the company, Deans Computer Services Ltd have recently announced the transfer of their shareholding to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). Considering…

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Heading to Chicago – Crysp Limited

Proud Bradfordians and Chamber members, Crysp headed to the windy city, Chicago to attend the Digital Twin Consortium Conference for Q3. The agenda was full of keynote speakers, group sessions, case studies, panels, presentations and plenty of networking. It provided Crysp the chance to expand their network, showcasing their great product and wave the flag…

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Reducing telecommunication costs one charity at a time

Core Telecom, a telecommunication company based in Leeds, has been making waves with its innovative initiative to aid charitable organisations, housing associations and non-profit organisations across the United Kingdom. This initiative, which began four years ago, offers free 03 numbers and waives incoming call costs for these entities, significantly reducing their telecommunication expenses. The seeds…

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Leeds Beckett University experts help to develop digital solution to support children who stammer

Speech and Language Therapy and Psychology researchers at Leeds Beckett University are joining forces with stammering experts, SuperPenguin, and three NHS organisations to develop an innovative app and web platform to support children who stammer. The three-year project has received £1.5m funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The team will enhance…

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Yasper takes on PR brief for Leeds telecoms specialist

Leeds-based Yasper has been appointed by 24 Seven Cloud to deliver a media and content brief aimed at driving awareness amongst its target audiences. Yasper will initially be supporting the business telecoms provider with strategic B2B media relations support, as well as the production of web and social media content to promote the firm’s independent…

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Yorkshire IT company gets boost from Theo Paphitis

A Cross Hills based firm has received recognition and a business boost from retail guru Theo Paphitis. Last week, Sara Haggas, Sales and Marketing Manager at Comprendo, posted about the business on the former Dragon’s Den star’s Instagram account during ‘Small Business Sunday’. As a result, Comprendo became one of six weekly winners to receive…

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York businesses gain competitive edge with Google’s AI programme

For the second year running, York hosted a meeting of medieval architecture and cutting edge technology as local businesses boosted their digital skills and learned how to use AI to grow their enterprises. Over 80 businesses from York and North Yorkshire gathered on Tuesday 16 July for a day of free digital skills training delivered…

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The Modern .NET Show celebrates one million download milestone, strengthening .NET community connections

The Modern .NET Show, hosted by RJJ Software’s CTO and esteemed Microsoft MVP, Jamie Taylor, has recently reached a significant milestone: one million downloads! This accomplishment highlights the show’s growing influence in the .NET community and its impact on fostering connections between developers and engineers. Since its inception, The Modern .NET Show has featured interviews…

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York business leads revolution in microscope technology

A pioneering York business is leading the way in cutting-edge microscope technology, thanks to support from City of York Council and the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub. Poppleton-based business York Probe Sources (YPS) make parts for powerful electron microscopes, which use electron beams to generate high-resolution images of samples as small as viruses and…

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RJJ Software wins prestigious Digital Transformation Award

RJJ Software is excited to announce that its Chief Technical Officer and senior developer, Jamie Taylor, has had his Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) status renewed for the third time. As an accomplished professional in software development with a focus on .NET, Python, Rust, Go, and JavaScript technologies, Jamie’s expertise is second to none. His commitment…

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RJJ Software wins prestigious Digital Transformation Award

RJJ Software, a leading software development firm, has won the prestigious 2024 Digital Transformation Award at this year’s UK Business Awards. The nomination recognized companies that have demonstrated exceptional innovation in their approach to digital transformation, leveraging emerging technologies or implementing creative solutions to drive digital change. As a company specializing in .NET, Python, and…

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Leeds Beckett to host employer workshop for new degree apprenticeship aimed at bridging the digital skills gap

Leeds Business School invites employers to a free lunch and workshop event on 4th June to learn about our Digital Marketer Degree Apprenticeship. Designed to address the growing demand for digital expertise in the region, Leeds Business School will be offering the qualification from January 2025. To help employers in the region learn more about…

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Navigating the complexities of VAT in a digital world

The e-commerce landscape has evolved significantly over recent years, revolutionising the retail sector by enabling businesses to reach global markets. However, the rise of digital services and online shopping, both B2B and B2C, has generated some complex tax implications, in particular relating to Value Added Tax (VAT). VAT—a consumption tax—is generally applied based on where goods and…

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RJJ Software shortlisted for UK Business Awards’ Digital Transformation Award

RJJ Software, a leading software development firm, has been shortlisted for the prestigious 2024 Digital Transformation Award at this year’s UK Business Awards. The nomination recognises companies that have, “demonstrated exceptional innovation in their approach to digital transformation, leveraging emerging technologies or implementing creative solutions to drive digital change.” As a company specialising in .NET,…

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RJJ Software recognised as a top five software development company in Leeds by Design Rush

RJJ Software, a leading software development company specialising in .NET, Python, and AI technologies, has been listed among the top five software development companies in Leeds by Design Rush (https://www.designrush.com/agency/software-development/uk/leeds). This recognition highlights RJJ’s position as experts in their field and further solidifies its reputation as a trusted provider of high-quality software solutions. As a…

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Call for video games to adopt a ‘positive PEGI’ system after new research uncovers self-care benefits of gaming

Academics from York St John University have published a groundbreaking new study on the positive effects of video games in helping young people manage loss. Dr Matthew Spokes, Dr Jack Denham, Matt Coward-Gibbs and Caitlin Veal from the investigate.games research group have explored how adapting grief models can shed light on the processing and understanding…

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Phishing social engineering tactics and how to avoid them

With the rise of social media and increased digital connectivity, social engineering has become easier, and cyber attacks are more frequent. The importance of raising awareness of social engineering tactics Everyone in your organisation, from the director to the newest employee, is prone to making mistakes. The need to stay alert of looming cyber threats…

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Whaling: Personalised cyber attacks targeting business leaders

Whaling is a phishing attack that targets the “big fish” or high level executives within an organisation masking as a legitimate email. As mentioned whaling attacks are highly targeted as they seek to trick specific group of individuals. As such these targeted phishing attacks may typically include the name, job title, and company of the person they…

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How to protect your physical workplace security

Physical security can pose a huge risk to your organisation whether your employees work from home or in the office. This blog will tackle the complexities of physical security to help you enhance your organisation’s security culture outside of the online environment. The components of physical security in the office Simply put, physical security characterises…

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Zero trust security: a safer approach to cyber security

Humans are lazy, we all are, it’s been studied, documented and evidenced time and time again. The Principal of Least Effort (PLE) or Zipfs Law manifests itself in all our daily behaviours, if there’s a quicker, easier way to achieve a goal, that’s the one we choose. Of course, we never consider these shortcuts as…

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Augmented reality sessions bring science alive for primary pupils

York St John University team creates augmented reality software to provide interactive learning experiences for science in primary school. A multi-disciplinary team from York St John University comprising of academics from Virtual and Augmented Reality teaching, Games Design, Graphic Design, Education and Music Production have joined forces with a York-based multi-academy trust and industry professionals…

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Partnership delivers digital skills training to over 1,000 people from ethnically diverse communities in Bradford

A partnership to help improve digital and employability skills in Bradford district has celebrated one thousand people completing its programme. The Yorkshire Building Society Digital Skills for Employability in Bradford project is a partnership between the mutual and Good Things Foundation and was established in 2021. The programme aims to provide digital skills training, support…

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Leeds Beckett launches innovative apprenticeship to bridge digital skills gap

Designed to address the growing demand for digital expertise in the region, Leeds Business School will be offering the qualification from June 2024. The digital world is changing at a rapid pace, and it can be difficult to keep up with the latest developments in areas such as AI, analytics, and SEO algorithms. That’s why…

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New comms agency Yasper launches with investment from Umpf

Communications and marketing business Yasper has launched in Leeds, following investment from established award-winning agency Umpf. The new entity will share office space with Umpf on the city’s waterfront and both parties will take advantage of collaborative working opportunities.   Launched by Julian Pearce, a PR professional with two decades of experience in media relations, stakeholder comms, marketing and…

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To win more sales in 2024 you must do these 3 things

How To Win More Sales in 2024 Now that you’ve finished the minced pies, perhaps made some new year resolutions (I don’t), it’s time to dust off the tech and get straight back into it. As if the world wasn’t changing quickly enough, there are a number of key issues to urgently address (before Feb,…

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Pillar of community who embraced technology honoured

An innovative and dedicated former headteacher has seen his good work in the community recognised with a special honour from the University of Bradford. Peter Steele was headteacher at Princeville Primary School, Bradford, from 1982 to 2006, with embracing new technology and bringing everyone together at the heart of what he achieved during his time…

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Vertically Urban and Microsoft plot growth of AI Partnership

FEED THE WORLD With the world’s population set to rise to around 9.8 billion by 2050, it is thought that global food production must increase by around 70% to ensure food stays on everybody’s table. At the same time, we are already losing traditional farmland at an alarming rate mostly because of pollution and climate…

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C-Kore’s new product, Topside Wireless Modem, improves safety on the back-deck during umbilical installations

C-Kore Systems is launching a new product, their Topside Wireless Modem at GUH’s Subsea Expo Exhibition in Aberdeen. This latest product completes their line of test tools to now offer a complete solution for Umbilical Installation Monitoring. The Topside Wireless Modem improves safety on back-deck operations by reducing the risk to offshore personnel while monitoring…

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