University launches new festival to support, connect and celebrate York’s business community
York Business Festival to feature a week of events and speakers plus the prestigious York Press Business Awards 2024 York St John University is delighted to announce the inaugural York Business Festival. This week-long festival is organised by the University’s York Business School in partnership with York Press, and is supported by City of York…
Airport boss shortlisted for prestigious global aviation award
A leader who has overseen rising passenger numbers and a raft of new developments at Teesside Airport has been shortlisted for a top global award. Managing Director Phil Forster has reached the final shortlist of the 2024 Airport Leader for the Future Award at The Airport Honour Awards. Run by the International Airport Review, the…
Schofield Sweeney’s ‘Class of 2024’ qualify
Sunday Times Best Places to Work firm, Schofield Sweeney, announce that this year’s cohort of trainee solicitors and solicitor apprentices have successfully completed their training and have chosen to continue their legal careers with the firm, which is a 100% retention rate. Neil Towse, HR director said, “Their dedication, hard work, and talent have earned…
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…
Bulls appoint Nathan Graham as a pathways Assistant Coach
Bradford Bulls are thrilled to welcome former player Nathan Graham back to the club, this time in a coaching capacity as he takes on the role of Pathways Assistant Coach. The 52-year-old featured for the Bulls in a 16-year long playing career that also saw him represent Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone Rovers, York Knights and Batley…
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…
Baby Week comes to York
Baby Week is coming to York for the first time this November (14-20 November). The national initiative celebrates services working with young families and raises awareness of the importance of early childhood. As a host city, York will celebrate the work of local maternity and early years services, helping to give every baby the best…
Rick Witter’s namesake gritter unveiled!
City of York Council is introducing its new fleet of gritters ahead of the winter season, with one named as Rick Gritter (after Rick Witter, Shed Seven). The lead singer from the local band Shed Seven has been chosen in recognition of their achievements in the last year. Cllr Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of City of York…
Re-form Landscape Architects sponsor ambitious adventurer on her 24,000 mile journey
Chamber member re-form Landscape Architects are supporting a home-grown adventurer as she embarks on one her most ambitious challenges to date… – We are in awe of people who use the natural environment to push themselves to their absolute physical and mental limits, and that’s why we’re proud to be sponsoring an incredible North Yorkshire-based…
Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards 2024
Some evenings unfold just like a blockbuster movie, and the St. James’ Place: Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards (YCCA) is the perfect example. This year’s event on October 18th had all the ingredients: emotion, drama, joy, and most importantly, empathy. As Head Sponsor for the second year in a row, we proudly donated £10,000 to…
Bradford garden centre group reaches final in three categories of a regional business award
The team at a Bradford-based garden centre group is celebrating after reaching the final of three regional business awards. Yorkshire Garden Centres, owner of Tong, Tingley, Bingley and Otley Garden Centres, plus Dean’s York and Scarborough, has been shortlisted in the Sustainability, the Large Business and the Rob Burrow Outstanding Contribution to Charity categories of…
York taxi passengers to get safer, greener rides
New requirements for York taxis and private hire vehicles are set to make them among the safest in the UK as a new policy incorporates national guidance, making them even safer, with fewer emissions and offering greater choice, especially for disabled passengers. An extensive consultation carried out this summer has helped shape a new Taxi…
JHS distribute Donner musical instruments in the UK and Republic of Ireland
Renowned for affordable, reliable instruments, Chinese musical instrument manufacturer Donner, have earned a reputation in the music industry for producing quality built portable keyboards, digital pianos, electronic drum kits and fretted instruments often with advanced and innovative designs. New additions to the JHS catalogue include the popular Hush series of ultra-compact electric travel guitars. Designed…
City Campus ‘open for teaching’ communications
Leeds Trinity University City Campus opens its doors for teaching Leeds Trinity University has welcomed its first students to begin teaching at its new Leeds City Campus. Postgraduate students were first to step into the City Campus, based at 1 Trevelyan Square, on Wednesday 16 October. Foundation Year and undergraduate students will continue their programmes…
Aire Valley environment project launches company’s net zero pledge
North Yorkshire-based business, Airedale Group, has launched its journey towards net zero by 2045 with a major new project to support its local environment. The chemical specialist has pledged 200 hours of volunteer time to help the Aire Rivers Trust in its work to improve the Aire Valley rivers, reducing flooding and encouraging nature in…
Andrew Jackson announces newly qualified and trainee promotions
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce the promotion of seven members of its team. Hayley Neal and Ailish Ward have successfully completed their training contracts and qualified as solicitors. They will continue to assist the property team across a broad range of commercial property transactions, with Ailish utilising her experience…
Queen Street to close for 5 nights in November
City of York Council has published information to support residents and visitors as a key road near York Station closes over 5 nights in November. As an essential part of works to transform the area to the front of York Station, the new Queen Street diversion road will be closed for five consecutive weeknights. The…
Azets responds to September 2024 company insolvency statistics
Richard Oddy, a restructuring and insolvency partner in Yorkshire for Azets, the UK top 10 accountancy and advisory firm, comments on the September 2024 company insolvency statistics for England and Wales: “There were 1,973 registered company insolvencies in England and Wales last month [September], slightly up by 2% on August but down 7% compared to…
City of York Council named most productive council in country
City of York Council has topped a new list of the most productive English councils, meaning that we achieve the highest value for residents per pound of council spending. Independent consultancy, IMPOWER, analysed 149 councils across eight core areas using their index. These are the areas where councils spend the most money and include: housing…
Innovative start-up cooks up a storm with council support
City of York Council has supported a pioneering food delivery business to get established in York, with the company now looking to launch in cities across the UK. School Kitchen works in partnership with schools, taking over their kitchen facilities during the evenings and over the weekends. From their bases in schools, they run home delivery…
Report reveals UKREiiF hits £5m social value milestone
The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) has announced that £5 million in social value has been created by its events in just three years, with the findings detailed in a report by economists at social value organisation Loop. Intended to connect people, places and businesses to accelerate and unlock sustainable, inclusive, and transformation…
The future of philanthropy: The Grammar School at Leeds announces new partnership with Leeds Community Foundation
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has announced a new partnership with Leeds Community Foundation, the region’s largest independent grant-maker. GSAL has supported Leeds Community Foundation’s core work as members since 2013, but this new partnership signals a new and exciting way of working together. GSAL students will engage in fundraising and volunteering to support…
New Non-Executive Director appointed at Yorkshire Building Society
Yorkshire Building Society has confirmed Janet Pope will join its Board as Non-Executive Director on 29 October. With more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, Janet currently sits on the Board of the debt charity StepChange and is Chair of the Charities Aid Foundation Bank. She recently retired from Lloyds Banking Group, where she…
‘Very good’ status cements push to become UK’s most accessible airport
A renewed push to make Teesside the country’s most accessible airport has been launched following a glowing report from the UK’s aviation regulator. Teesside received the top “Very Good” rating from the Civil Aviation Authority this year in its annual accessibility report. And now airport chiefs have vowed to build on this to become the…
Renovated campus facilities officially open after major refurb
An impressive £750k refurbishment project has transformed Leeds College of Building’s North Street Campus following an eight-week renovation programme. Award-winning fit-out specialists Lodestone Projects managed the extensive summer works that rejuvenated the site and created contemporary and accessible facilities for construction students. Building work took place over four floors, incorporating the transformation of the former…
Accu announces strategic partnership with Huddersfield Town Football Club as official engineering partner for the 2024/2025 season
Accu, a leading Huddersfield-based supplier of high-precision engineering components, is delighted to announce its partnership with Huddersfield Town Football Club, as the Official Engineering Partner for the 2024/25 season. This strategic collaboration is designed to strengthen Accu’s involvement within the local area and elevate the company’s purpose on an international stage. Founded with a vision…
Autism Plus expands social enterprise with new Knaresborough site
Empowering Young Adults with Autism and Learning Disabilities through Artisan Chocolate Production and Meaningful Activities Autism Plus has opened a new site in Knaresborough, bringing together its North Yorkshire social enterprises under one roof. This new facility represents a major step forward in providing meaningful training and employment opportunities for young adults with autism and…
River Island announces Trinity Leeds store upgrade
River Island announces the re-opening of its Trinity Leeds store on Saturday 12th October. The latest of River Island’s fleet to be part of its optimisation plan, the upgraded store will offer 14,000 square feet of design-led fashion set across three floors, promising a fully integrated shopping experience; combining physical and digital, with interactive fitting…
Over £1million extra support secured for York residents
Financial support to help residents cope with the cost of living crisis is being extended until the end of end of March 2025. The Council has been allocated £1,037,906 for the next six months and residents are urged to make sure they claim all benefits that they are eligible for. This Household Support Funding (HSF)…
York’s role in leading climate action for the region: residents invited to get involved
York is at the forefront of regional efforts to tackle the climate crisis as part of the newly launched Yorkshire and Humber Climate Action Plan 2024. Following significant engagement across the region, the comprehensive plan has gained unanimous support from all 15 local authorities. York’s leader, Councillor Claire Douglas, is a key voice in driving…
It’s Not Love digital resources launched to support professionals working with children
A new package of digital resources has been developed by York St John University and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to help support teachers and professionals working with children and young people in secondary school to explore healthy and unhealthy friendships and relationships. The resources are a mixture of…
Housing champion Carolina tops the charts
Carolina Padovezi de Oliveira, Manningham Housing Association’s high-flying Corporate Project Manager, has been named as one of Housing Today’s Top 30 Housing Champions. Originally from Brazil, Carolina joined the BME organisation – which manages more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 residents in Bradford and Keighley – as an Administrative Assistant in 2019, before rising…
Major milestone achieved in £5m H2Boost project with opening of biohydrogen production facility
The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) and its consortium partners have successfully launched a demonstration-scale biohydrogen production and carbon capture facility at The Maltings, a food waste processing facility near Selby, North Yorkshire. This facility is part of the H2Boost project, which secured £5 million in Phase 2 funding last year through the Department for Energy…
West Yorkshire Combined Authority announced as UKREiiF official destination partner
The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) has announced that West Yorkshire Combined Authority is the official Destination Partner for the annual event taking place between 20th-22nd May 2025, in Leeds. As the Destination Partner, West Yorkshire Combined Authority will take a prominent role at UKREiiF, with a strategically positioned pavilion at the…
Bradford College completes £6.9m mill transformation project
A multimillion-pound renovation project at Bradford College has transformed a derelict mill into a flexible digital, science, and allied health training facility for higher-level students. Garden Mills on Thornton Road opened its doors to staff and students this week after months of construction work on the 1900s five-storey building. The development results from £5.8 million…
Otley pet store to open its first concession at a Bradford Garden Centre
The latest concession to open at a Bradford garden centre is an established family pet and animal supplies business. The Blue Barn opened its first site outside its Pool in Wharfedale headquarters at Tong Garden Centre on 26th September. The 1500 sq ft concession stocks a wide range of pet supplies and animal feed covering…
EPG’s Phil Williams a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators
Having spent his entire career as an engineer with a passion for sustainable water management, dedicating time and energy contributing to industry guidance and best practice, Phil Williams, director at The Environmental Protection Group had his efforts recognised when he was awarded the honour of becoming a ‘Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators’…
Record student footfall at The Merrion Centre
Merrion experiences surge in student visitors For the second year in a row, The Merrion Centre has seen an exceptional surge in student footfall, with more than 415,000 visitors flocking through its doors during the start of the new term. This represents a growth of more than 36% year-on-year (YOY), an achievement the Centre attributes…
Veteran Cargo Chief who made Liege a freight giant offers boost to Teesside
A veteran cargo expert who turned Liege into a magnet for global freight will be at the heart of boosting Teesside Airport’s facility. Steven Verhasselt spent 20 years turning Liege Airport from a small regional airport into a cargo juggernaut, handling two-thirds of all European Air Freight. Now the 52-year-old will be helping to steer…
Machines to be removed as most of council parking goes cashless
In the coming weeks a number of parking machines will be removed as the council moves to cashless parking. In February it was agreed at a decision session that the majority of the council’s car parking would go cashless as the council looked to save money by removing the costs of maintaining machines and also…
Bradford gift card launches new design and collaboration with Bradford 2025
Bradford BID is proud to announce the launch of the new look Bradford City Centre Gift Card, marking an exciting milestone as it celebrates reaching £150,000 in gift card sales. In addition to the new design, the Bradford Gift Card will soon be available for purchase through the Bradford 2025 ticket + info point, following…
AAB moves into North West England with the acquisition of Barlow Andrews
Leading professional services firm, AAB, has strengthened its position in the north of England with the acquisition of Bolton-based Barlow Andrews and its sister entity Beech Business Services. Established for over 100 years and currently employing 70 people, Barlow Andrews and Beech Business Services collectively provide audit & accounts, tax, payroll, outsourcing and business advisory…
Night-time road closures planned as Station Gateway project progresses
As work on the Station Gateway project progresses to the next stage, the council is providing an update on upcoming works in the area in October and November. To help them plan ahead, the council is forewarning residents, businesses and commuters that – as part of work to transform the entrance to York Station – contractors…
New energy efficiency grants for homes not heated by mains gas
Eligible households not heated by mains gas in York are being given free energy-efficiency boosts by the Council for greater comfort, lower bills and less carbon output. During this month of environmental action in York (14 September-12 October), residents are being urged to check their eligibility and grab a grant for measures suitable for their…
Andrew Jackson facilitates Casper River’s first barge purchase
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP announces that it has recently assisted newco Casper River and Canal Transport (“Casper River”), a subsidiary of Casper Chartering Limited, on its purchase of Off-Roader from MMS Offshore Renewables Services Limited (MMS). Off-Roader is the first vessel in Casper River’s fleet and offers an economic and environmentally friendly…
UKREiiF wins Raising the Bar Award
The UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) has picked up an award at the Raising the Bar Awards 2024, hosted by the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce. The Raising the Bar Awards honours the most ethical and socially responsible businesses across West and North Yorkshire, recognising their dedication to supporting their…
Blue Badge holders notified of arrangements for York’s Christmas Market
Blue Badge holders are being notified that the two routes into York city centre will temporarily close from 10:30am-7pm daily during the Christmas market period of 14 November to 22 December. This will be the first such closure since the routes reopened, and access will remain open 7pm-10:30am daily. It was agreed when these routes…
Yorkshire Building Society partnership with Citizens Advice wins gold in Customer Service Awards
An innovative partnership between Yorkshire Building Society and Citizens Advice has been crowned the Gold Winner of the Customer Service Improvement Award at the Collaboration Network Awards 2024. According to the organisers, the award recognised the organisation that has done the most to improve customer service in their operation, whether that be a specific initiative…