Drax Group Trading update – strong performance, disciplined capital allocation
Highlights Strong performance – Flexible Generation(1), Pellet Production and Biomass Generation Progressing target for >£500 million EBITDA post 2027 from FlexGen(1) and Pellet Production UK energy system operator confirms large-scale biomass required for 2030 clean power system Launch of Elimini – US-based developer of 24/7 renewable power and carbon removals Up to £300 million two-year…
Schofield Sweeney advises leading food and beverage supplier on acquisition
Kiril Mischeff, one of the UK’s leading food and ingredient suppliers to the food and beverage manufacturing, food service and retail sectors, has acquired Annessa Imports Limited. For over 90 years, Kiril Mischeff, a privately owned business, has been working closely with partners worldwide to source and supply first-class products and ingredients. Annessa Imports sources…
Trinity Leeds announces pioneering new SignLive service ahead of Purple Tuesday
Trinity Leeds is the first shopping centre in the UK to team up with a pioneering new service to help support the deaf community and improve their experience. SignLive is now available at Guest Services and more than 40 brands at the centre, and provides access to live British Sign Language interpreters quickly and easily…
NESO Clean Power 2030 report reaction from Will Gardiner, CEO – role of biomass and hydro and BECCS in delivering Government’s 2030 targets
Commenting on the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) report Clean Power 2030 Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said: “NESO couldn’t be any clearer, our power stations and plans to invest billions in renewable flexible electricity and carbon removals have a critical role to play in delivering the Government’s clean power target and wider climate goals. Drax…
Final phase of construction project brings rooftop reading space to the Leeds Library
The final phase of capital works project The Next Chapter is underway at The Leeds Library. In the biggest expansion in its 255-year-history, completion of the project will make the library accessible for the first time, unite its collection and archive, and create a new event space and a rooftop reading terrace. The library acquired…
Yorkshire garden centre group’s fundraising acknowledged at Recognition Awards Evening
A Bradford headquartered garden centre group was commended recently for raising over £24,000 for a leading regional charity. Yorkshire Garden Centres was presented with a Corporate Supporter of the Year award following its year of fundraising for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Yorkshire Garden Centres’ Group People and Culture Manager, Steph Harrison and People and Culture…
PGMOL builds on positive strides in diversity with Leeds Beckett collaboration
Experts at Leeds Beckett University have teamed up with Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) to develop world-leading diversity programmes. The new collaboration will support PGMOL’s ongoing commitment to enhancing diversity across English football, ensuring that match officials are more representative of the UK’s population. Leeds Beckett’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Sport expertise…
Corbett joins the Bulls
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce the signing of exciting young hooker Mason Corbett from Leeds Rhinos on a one year deal. The 18-year-old featured at both Academy and Reserve grade for the Super League outfit in 2024, making 18 appearances and scoring two tries. A former East Leeds junior, Mason also enjoyed minutes at…
Success in the frame for dispensing-optician training after spec-tacular results
The Ophthalmic department at Bradford College is focussed on the future after relocating to the newly renovated Garden Mills building on Thornton Road. The cutting-edge five-storey building is now the home for flexible digital, science, and allied health programmes for higher-level students. Training includes ophthalmic courses for students aiming to register as qualified Dispensing Opticians…
Richard Hawley, Asian Dub Foundation, Bassline DJs and brass bands are all part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture (Bradford 2025), is set to electrify audiences next year with a packed music programme, featuring a blend of world-class talent and local legends. Tickets for the first wave of performances, including must-see events like The Big Brass Blowout and Bassline Symphony will go on sale this Thursday 7 November….
Bradford College celebrates renewed partnership with Bradford City AFC
Bradford College is extending its partnership with Bradford City AFC for a fourth consecutive year. The renewal sees the College remain one of City’s main partners, as well as being their official digital partner. Bradford College branding will continue to feature on the Bantams’ digital output, through both imagery and video content, as well as…
Iconic Leeds artist returns to The Merrion Centre
The Return of Burley Banksy: Leeds’ Iconic Artist Brings Back Pop Up Store to the Merrion Centre Urban Art Returns to the Merrion Centre with city centre Burley Banksy Pop Up Studio Leeds – November 2023 – Following the success of last year’s pop-up art studio, Leeds-based artist Andy McVeigh, known as Burley Banksy, is…
‘Leeds’ Biggest Christmas tree’ unveiled as Trinity Leeds shines bright with stunning new festive decorations
Trinity Leeds is lighting up the city centre in spectacular style with an impressive 12-metre tree – believed to be the biggest Christmas tree in Leeds. The elegant new Christmas tree features nearly 100 bespoke light tubes and dazzling star toppers and has taken centre stage beneath Trinity Leeds’ main atrium. The contemporary installation…
South Leeds adventure play attraction reaches the final of a regional tourism award
The team at a South Leeds adventure play attraction is celebrating after being shortlisted for a Yorkshire tourism award. Mission Out, based at Tingley Garden Centre, has reached the final of the Kids First award in the Yorkshire Post Tourism Awards. Tingley Garden Centre is part of the Yorkshire Garden Centres family. Group Play Manager,…
Bulls have found their guy!
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce the signing of towering outside back Guy Armitage from Toulouse Olympique on an initial one-year deal! The 32-year-old has been a prolific try scorer for the French outfit in recent years, scoring 41 tries in 56 appearances and we’d like to thank the Bradford Bulls Squad Booster Association for…
Brian Noble appointed Bradford Bulls Head Coach
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce the appointment of Brian Noble as the club’s Head Coach for the 2025 season. Noble will take to the reins as Head Coach for a second time following a trophy-laden spell in the early 2000s – and he will be supported by First Team Coach Lee Greenwood who has…
National Insurance rise could endanger government’s housebuilding plans
The chief executive of Bradford-based Manningham Housing Association has welcomed confirmation of additional funding for affordable homes in today’s Budget but expressed concerns at the additional costs imposed on the housing sector through the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions. In a statement, Lee Bloomfield said: “The Chancellor’s confirmation of £500 million of new funding…
Production Begins at Newest Airedale by Modine™ UK Manufacturing Plant, Serving the Data Center Industry
The new site in Bradford celebrated the completion of the first computer room air handlers Airedale by ModineTM, the Leeds-headquartered critical cooling specialists, today celebrated the opening of a new 14.6 acre production facility in Bradford, UK, in response to increasing demand from global data center customers. Production of the first units began two months…
Brendan Sheridan joins the Bulls
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce Brendan Sheridan has joined the club as one of our Pathways Assistant Coaches. Sheridan has served as an assistant coach for Oldham RLFC since 2019 and was crucial in the side securing promotion last season. As well as his role at Oldham, Brendan has also coached Ireland’s Under-16 team….
Celebrating three years of transformative social action in York
A landmark anniversary is being celebrated this month, marking three years of social action work that has transformed lives across York, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, a generous anonymous donor gave £1 million to city centre church St Michael le Belfrey (The Belfrey) to establish the Post Pandemic Fund (PPF) and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…