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Steel Tariffs Threaten Northern Manufacturing Supply Chains
Helen Kitchen
Deputy Business Editor
Footprint, one of the UK's oldest hand tool manufacturers
A sweeping overhaul of the UK’s steel import rules takes effect today, halving tariff-free quotas and doubling duties on excess imports to 50 per cent.
P.ublished 1st July 2026
IoD: Confidence Declines As Operating Conditions Worsen
The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism over prospects for the UK economy, dropped to -61 in June 2026 from -53 in May, signalling a deterioration in economic sentiment. This was matched by a marked fall in confidence in respondents’ own organisations, down to +7 from +23 in May.
P.ublished 1st July 2026
Small Businesses Say Cost Of Living Threatens Growth
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
New figures from Novuna Business Finance reveal that nine in ten small businesses (90%) say that aspects of the increase in cost of living are threatening their growth plans for 2026.
P.ublished 1st July 2026
Magtec Brings London’s Most Famous Bus Into The Electric Age
MST Electric Routemaster
Magtec, a UK designer and manufacturer of electric vehicle drive systems, has completed the world's first electric repower of an iconic London Routemaster bus for sightseeing operator Golden Tours.
P.ublished 30th June 2026
UK Businesses Fear Economic Uncertainty Most
UK businesses have been hit hard by economic issues and remain worried and pessimistic about the future of UK plc, according to new research from international accountancy and business advisory group Azets. The findings of the Q2 2026 Azets Barometer showed that economic uncertainty was the biggest concern over the next year for nearly 70% (69%) of respondents.
P.ublished 30th June 2026
North West Business Confidence Falls In June
Business confidence in the North West fell 11 points to 43% in June. Firms' optimism in their own trading outlook fell 13 points to 54%, while optimism in the economy dipped nine points to 33%. Overall UK business confidence fell three points in June to 44%.
P.ublished 30th June 2026
Private Sector Growth Expectations Weaken
Firms across the private sector expect activity to fall in the three months to September (weighted balance of -28%), according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator.   Expectations are marginally weaker than May and extend a period of negative predictions for growth that began in late 2024.
P.ublished 29th June 2026
Opinion
Why Climate Risk Is Rising In 2026
The evidence is difficult to ignore. 2023, 2024, and 2025 were the three hottest years on record, and the UK's Met Office expects 2026 to rank among the warmest years ever observed, with global temperatures projected to remain around 1.46°C above pre-industrial levels. The cause: increased pressure on our natural systems which result in aggravated changes in climate regulation.
P.ublished 27th June 2026
Can A Northern Prime Minister Deliver Growth Beyond London?
Image by kalhh from Pixabay
Andy Burnham's landslide victory in Makerfield, followed by Keir Starmer's resignation, has accelerated speculation about his path to Number 10. If he gets there, Britain will have something it has not seen for a generation: a Prime Minister whose political identity has been shaped by the North of England rather than Westminster. For entrepreneurs, that matters.
P.ublished 27th June 2026
Market Analysis: H&M
Market Analysis text across a b&w screen of economic data
H&M: More meaningful recovery possible in 2027; Bringing production closer to key markets should improve flexibility.
P.ublished 27th June 2026
Leeds Property Professional Crowned Crypt Factor 2026 Winner
Richard Bamford performing at Crypt Factor 2026
This year’s Crypt Factor singing competition was won by Richard Bamford, who performed Dakota by Stereophonics in front of almost 1,000 members of the North of England’s property community at Elland Road. The event is expected to raise around £100,000 for Leeds charities St George's Crypt and Yorkshire Property Charitable Trust.
P.ublished 27th June 2026
Yorkshire Dales Charity Launches Eight Green Apprenticeships For Young People
The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) has opened applications for eight paid apprenticeships in countryside management to help young people enter the environmental sector. The 18-month programme combines practical training with academic study.
P.ublished 27th June 2026
Croda Unveils Integrated Guangzhou Facility To Anchor Asian Consumer Care Growth
Croda International Plc has announced the official commissioning of its new integrated facility in Guangzhou, China. The strategic investment brings together the dual capabilities of Croda Beauty Actives and Iberchem Fragrances, establishing a powerful regional hub designed to accelerate growth in one of the world’s most dynamic beauty and consumer markets.
P.ublished 27th June 2026
York Firm Pitches To Indian Buyers At Downing Street Event
A Yorkshire-based manufacturer of water-saving valves has joined a delegation of small British businesses in London to pitch directly to international buyers and attend a reception at 11 Downing Street. SealStop, based in Pocklington, was among 40 small firms selected for the Great British Pitch India initiative.
P.ublished 27th June 2026
Northern Talent Tracker: This Week's Key Appointments
Professional services group Gateley has announced seven promotions within its Leeds office, forming part of a wider round of 69 promotions across its UK and international offices. Construction lawyer Samantha Fozzard has been promoted to legal director, specialising in high-value building safety disputes for housebuilders, developers, and contractors.
P.ublished 26th June 2026
Retail Sales Slump Deepens In June
Retail sales volumes were judged to be below seasonal norms in June, to the greatest extent in over two years, according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey. Furthermore, retail sales volumes fell at a sharper rate in the year to June.
P.ublished 26th June 2026
Haribo UK Officially Opens £35m Castleford Expansion
Yvette Cooper, MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley cuts the ribbon at the official opening
HARIBO UK has officially opened a new purpose-built warehouse in West Yorkshire, marking a significant milestone in the business’s continued investment in the region.
P.ublished 26th June 2026
Conveyancing Index Relaunched With New Focus On AI Adoption
Helen Kitchen
Deputy Business Editor
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
A biennial benchmarking tool has been relaunched to measure the digital capabilities of conveyancing firms across England and Wales, with a new focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The 2026 Digital Conveyancing Maturity Index (DCMI), developed by legal technology specialist InfoTrack UK, has been updated to track how legal practices adopt and govern AI technologies.
P.ublished 25th June 2026
Opinion
How Cumbria’s Hospitality Businesses Are Adapting And Finding New Opportunities For Growth
Scott McKerracher, Head of Commercial at The Cumberland
Cumbria’s hospitality sector has always been one of the region’s biggest strengths. From guest houses and boutique hotels to pubs, restaurants and holiday lets, these businesses are not only a huge part of the local economy, they are also what make the county such a special place to visit.
P.ublished 25th June 2026
Portakabin Awarded Contract For State-Of-The-Art International HQ
The new headquarters for The Workdry Group in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire.
Portakabin has been awarded a major multi-million pound contract to design and deliver a new headquarters for The Workdry Group in Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire. The new project will see the delivery of a flagship, three-storey office building at The Workdry Group’s Headquarters site, constructed using sixty-six bespoke modules.
P.ublished 25th June 2026
UK Foreign Direct Investment Falls To Lowest In A Decade
Foreign direct investment (FDI) projects landing in the UK fell by 26 per cent year-on-year to 1,020 in the 2025/26 financial year, according to new figures from the Department for Business and Trade. The total represents the lowest volume of inward investment in over a decade and a 54 per cent contraction compared with 10 years ago.
P.ublished 25th June 2026
Yorkshire Manufacturers Invest £900,000 In Digital Tech Backed By Made Smarter
From pizza dough and textiles to furniture and machinery, makers are investing in growth and jobs
P.ublished 24th June 2026
Premier Modular Closes £360 Million Refinancing To Support Continued Growth
Premier Modular, provider of high-quality modular buildings for social infrastructure, backed by Cabot Square Capital and MML Capital Partners through their Keystone infrastructure-focused fund, has successfully closed a £360 million refinancing package comprising a term loan, capex facility and revolving credit facility.
P.ublished 24th June 2026
Manufacturing Order Books Sink To A Six-Year Low
The UK’s manufacturing sector saw a widespread fall in output volumes in the three months to June, with the balance for reported output declining to its weakest since 2020 – according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS). Manufacturers expect output volumes to fall again in the three months to September.
P.ublished 24th June 2026
BDO Offers 100+ Student Places In The North West This Summer
Angela Cross
BDO will offer more than 100 places to young people based in the North West this summer as part of an expanded UK-wide Insight Days programme designed to improve access to careers in accountancy.
P.ublished 24th June 2026
Brexit at 10: Business Leaders Urge Stronger EU Ties
Helen Kitchen
Deputy Business Editor
Image by DANIEL DIAZ from Pixabay
Ten years on from the UK’s referendum to leave the European Union, new research indicates that Brexit remains a persistent barrier to growth for small businesses, while larger firms are increasingly calling for closer alignment with the EU.
P.ublished 23rd June 2026
Reaction To Prime Minister’s Resignation
Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said: “Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer championed UK business at home and abroad and on both a personal and professional note, we are grateful for his service and all he has delivered for the UK. “His leadership on the international stage is truly admirable, and we are grateful for all he has done to ensure the UK was open to the world.
P.ublished 23rd June 2026
Conference Cumbria 2026 Announces Steve Randles To Join Expert Business Panel
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce Steve Randles, Head of Delivery at Brathay Trust, as the first confirmed panellist for Conference Cumbria 2026, bringing more than 25 years of leadership and education experience to this year’s event.
P.ublished 23rd June 2026
ShoeStation Direct Acquisition Adds £10m Of Revenue To CTS Group
Yorkshire-based Corporate Trade Supplies (CTS) UK has completed the acquisition of ShoeStation Direct, adding £10 million of revenue to the group and taking it to a projected £70m turnover by the end of the year. The acquisition follows a record period of expansion for CTS Group and a series of strategic acquisitions across the workwear, packaging and wider supply chain sectors.
P.ublished 23rd June 2026
10 In 10 Duncan Bowman
Duncan Bowman, director at Falcon Fox Construction, is the latest regional business professional in the hot seat as we give him just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions. What does a typical working day for you involve? My day starts with a coffee and I check through emails before heading to various meetings with contractors and clients.
P.ublished 22nd June 2026
Views sought for Armstrong Watson’s 2026 Family, Privately Owned and Owner-Managed Business Survey
Family, privately owned and owner-managed businesses are being urged to share their views as Armstrong Watson looks to build a fresh picture of the opportunities, challenges and priorities shaping this vital part of the economy.
P.ublished 22nd June 2026
Temporary VAT Reduction May Lead To ‘Summer Of Disruption For Businesses’
The temporary VAT reduction for children’s meals, admissions and family attractions could lead to a summer of disruption for businesses, says accountancy firm Azets. Aimed at families, it is being introduced by the government as part of a wider initiative to support household spending during the summer holiday period.
P.ublished 22nd June 2026
Changed Studios Opens 90s-Inspired Barbershop In Blackley Following Start Up Loan Support
Brothers, Michael, Moses and Matthew Giwa
Blackley-based Changed Studios has secured a £20,000 Start Up Loan through GC Business Finance (GCBF) to launch a new barbershop. Founded by a local trio of brothers, Michael, Moses and Matthew Giwa, Changed Studios is the result of a lifelong ambition to build something of their own.
P.ublished 22nd June 2026
North West Businesses Show Resilience In Response To Global Uncertainty
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
North West businesses are showing resilience in response to global uncertainty, with 73% saying they are confident in their ability to withstand economic shocks, according to new findings from the Lloyds Business Barometer.
P.ublished 22nd June 2026
A Decade On From Referendum: Brexit Impact Worse Than Expected For Nearly A Quarter Of North West Mid-Sized Companies
Image by DANIEL DIAZ from Pixabay
A decade on since the UK voted to leave the EU, a survey of regional mid-sized businesses paints a mixed picture of Brexit’s impact on their operations, according to accountancy and advisory firm BDO LLP.
P.ublished 22nd June 2026
Countdown Is On For Crypt Factor 2026
Judging panel (l-r) Garry Howes, Dawn Allen and Craig Burrow
With under a week to go until this year’s Crypt Factor, 16 budding performers are now preparing to swap their day jobs at companies in the property and construction sectors, to sing on stage at Elland Road in Leeds in front of almost 1,000 of their industry peers.
P.ublished 20th June 2026
Beyond Bullet Points: The Art Of Effective Presentations
In boardrooms and conference halls across the UK and beyond, the phrase 'death by PowerPoint' has become shorthand for a common and excruciating experience, the dull, overwhelming, and often tedious business presentation.
P.ublished 20th June 2026
Rising Costs Threaten Deindustrialisation And Delay Net Zero Progress
Rising economic pressures are undermining confidence in corporate sustainability plans, with 79 per cent of workers reporting that increased costs are forcing businesses to delay or scale back carbon reduction measures.
P.ublished 19th June 2026
Harrogate Convention Centre Wins Major Industry Award
Harrogate Convention Centre (HCC) has been named “Venue of the Year (Less than 20,000 sqm)” at the AEO Excellence Awards, often referred to as the “Oscars of the events industry”, marking a significant milestone for the North Yorkshire venue.
P.ublished 19th June 2026
FinTech North Comes Home To Leeds For 10-Year Anniversary Conference
FinTech North will return to Leeds – the city where it first launched - later this month to celebrate its 10-year anniversary.
P.ublished 19th June 2026
Northern Talent Tracker: This Week's Key Appointments
Helen Kitchen
Deputy Business Editor
Andrew Gent
Andrew Gent, founder of Leeds property consultancy GV&Co, is stepping down as director after 23 years. Having spent four decades in the industrial and logistics sector, Gent will transition into an advisory role focusing on long-standing client relationships.
P.ublished 19th June 2026
Latest Data Shows Employer Demand For Workers Remains Low
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
ONS data continues to suggest the jobs market held steady in Spring, with the unemployment rate falling again to 4.9% from 5.2% over the latest three months.The employment rate was very slightly down to 75.0 % from 75.1% Redundancies fell by 13,000 to 113,000 in the latest three-month period.
P.ublished 18th June 2026
Boosting North Sea Investment Could Help To Eliminate Fuel Poverty And Add £60bn To The UK Economy
Image by Zulfugar Karimov from Pixabay
David Whitehouse chief executive of Offshore Energies UK has presented evidence to the Energy Security and Net Zero select committee showing that rapid implementation of the Treasury’s proposed Oil and Gas Price Mechanism (OGPM) would radically boost revenue from the North Sea oil and gas industry.
P.ublished 18th June 2026
NEL Secures Additional £21.5 Million To Back Business Growth Across The North
Paul Scott, CEO of NEL
NEL Fund Managers has secured an additional £21.5 million to invest in businesses across the North of England, expanding its support for ambitious firms seeking capital to grow, create jobs and strengthen regional supply chains.
P.ublished 17th June 2026
Property & construction
Food Manufacturer Greencore Moves Into Broad Gate In Leeds
Food manufacturer Greencore has signed a 15-year lease at Broad Gate with a 10-year break. Broad Gate, a 300,000 sq ft mixed-use development, comprises Grade A office space and a suite of penthouse offices, together with four prime retail units.
P.ublished 17th June 2026
Major Retailer Selects Quantum Specialist Sitehop To Secure Payment Data
A major retailer is trialling Sitehop's technology to secure its payment infrastructure and protect against the future threat from quantum computing.
P.ublished 17th June 2026
Property & construction
National Railway Museum Awards Contract For Construction Of Central Hall Building
The National Railway Museum in York has signed a contract with Graham Construction Ltd to begin main construction work on building Central Hall, a landmark new museum building that will transform visitor experience.
P.ublished 17th June 2026
Platinum Live Named Media Partner For Conference Cumbria 2026
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has appointed creative communications agency Platinum Live as the official media partner for Conference Cumbria 2026. The event, a key date in the regional business calendar, will be held on Thursday 1 October 2026 at the Pencil Factory in Keswick. This year’s conference, themed “Be Bold. Be Courageous,” seeks to attract up to 350 delegates from across the UK.
P.ublished 16th June 2026
The Entrepreneur Festival Launches To Unlock The UK's Next Wave Of Economic Growth
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
A new national platform bringing together founders, providers, investors and policymakers to drive real business outcomes, not just conversations.
P.ublished 16th June 2026
Carlisle Developer Celebrates Full House At 32-Home Development
A family-owned property developer has expanded its residential portfolio by almost 50% after welcoming its last tenant to its new 32-apartment scheme in Carlisle. Established in 2008, Harrison Homes develops and then manages rental properties across the city.
P.ublished 16th June 2026
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