New CBI and Oliver Wyman report identifies an emerging AI ‘execution divide’ and calls for a national partnership to make AI work for Britain.

John N Dunn Group has delivered the mechanical and electrical (M&E) installation for Advance Northumberland at a 13-bungalow, dementia-friendly housing development, in Lyndon Walk, Blyth. The scheme was shortlisted in the 2026 Northern Housing Awards.

A fast-growing tool manufacturing and reconditioning business is set to double its turnover following a strategic six-figure investment from NPIF II – NEL Debt Finance, managed by NEL Fund Managers as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II).

Charity services are being squeezed by a combination of rising demand and funding pressure which is driving staff out of the sector, warns a new study from Rathbones, a UK charity wealth manager. The survey of senior executives at charities with a collective £5 billion of equity investments found almost all (96%) have introduced restrictions on their services in response to funding pressures.

Leaders behind a firm which plans to build a major new aircraft conversion campus at Teesside International Airport have visited the region after signing a landmark agreement. Alfor Aviation will create 250 permanent high-skilled jobs at the new facility after a 50-year agreement was secured during the recent Farnborough International Airshow.

Aviva has reported a strong start to 2026, with operating profit climbing 24% to £1.3 billion for the first half of the year. The insurer, which provides cover to over 25 million customers globally, attributed the growth to its diversified business model and successful integration of the recently acquired Direct Line Insurance Group.

Handrail Creations, a specialist in bespoke handrails and balustrades, has invested in a wireless, AI-driven 3D scanner to support its growing project portfolio across the United Kingdom. The Bolton-based firm currently manages approximately 160 live projects.

Wykeland Group has appointed Amy Whittaker as the new Centre Manager at the Flemingate shopping and leisure destination in Beverley, East Yorkshire. Amy brings nearly 20 years of experience in retail management, having previously served as Centre Director at The Potteries Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, alongside management roles at the Trafford Centre and Merry Hill.

As thousands of students across the North collect their A-level and BTEC results, many will be weighing up what comes next. University remains the traditional route for some, while others will consider apprenticeships, employment or further training.

Leeds-based Zebra Print Group has pledged its support to a Yorkshire martial arts team as it prepares to represent the region on the world stage. The family-run print firm has committed to sponsoring Team ACMAC as seven of its competitors prepare to travel to Cádiz, Spain, for the 2026 World Championships.

UK manufacturers could secure a clean energy dividend worth more than £2 billion by 2035 by phasing out gas usage and scaling up proven energy technologies, according to independent economic modelling published by energy supplier E.ON.

BLOC STUDIO, a health and fitness venture founded by Yorkshire entrepreneurs Hannah Campbell and Katie Reisch, has opened its second site in Leeds as part of a wider commercial expansion. The new venue launched on 4 August on Street Lane in Roundhay, a commercial and residential hub in northern Leeds.

New research from Leeds Beckett University has found that more than three-quarters (77%) of senior employers believe recruiting university graduates will be essential to their future workforce, while 87% say graduates are helping their organisations tackle skills shortages.

Business leaders are entering a new era of measured growth, according to the inaugural Nexia Global Growth Insights Survey 2026.

Being a paralegal is a great career option with lots of opportunities for fulfilling and interesting roles both in the UK and abroad; paralegals work in law firms, large corporates, fashion houses, football clubs, gaming and tech companies, local government, criminal law, police stations, immigration, wills and probate, sports and music – to name just a few. But what will you earn?

Hull-based holiday home manufacturer Willerby has played a key role in a project to enhance the wellbeing of personnel at one of Europe’s largest naval bases.

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has put a powerful idea at the centre of the national conversation; that growth - good growth - is built locally, and that support for business works best when it is delivered close to the firms it serves.

Write for You Ghostwriting and PR has partnered with Leeds’ magic‑themed attraction, The Potions Cauldron. The firm will highlight the venue’s unique, immersive wizard‑style environment, which can be enjoyed across its three very different settings. Magic Emporium: The Potions Cauldron offers its own range of potions and Marvel drinks, plus a range of gifts and Harry Potter treats.

UK real estate markets have proven to be resilient through the first half of 2026 despite a more challenging economic and geopolitical backdrop, according to CBRE's 2026 UK Real Estate Market Outlook Mid-Year Review.

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has been named as one of five finalists for the UK Chamber of the Year award during the year in which it celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Chamber has been shortlisted alongside Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

Nearly 4.8 million private-sector microbusinesses could be affected by the next Simpler Recycling deadline, but many may not be prepared.