Yet again for 2024, we’re bringing back our popular festive spotlight — featuring regional businesspeople from across the north. We’ll be quizzing a notable name with 10 quickfire questions.

Tristone Capital – the buy-and-build-and-hold investment group – has launched a charitable foundation, with a percentage of future deal value being invested into its Tristone Community Fund. The Tristone foundation will support local communities by promoting health and wellbeing, education and employment, while helping to create safer and thriving neighbourhoods.

Leeds’ annual Digital Festival has achieved record numbers, with more than 200 events attracting an audience of over 33 million through social media, national press, and regional outlets.

The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism in prospects for the UK economy, fell to -65 in November 2024 from -52 in October and for the fourth month running.

Yet again for 2024, we’re bringing back our popular festive spotlight — featuring regional businesspeople from across the north. We’ll be quizzing a notable name with 10 quickfire questions.

Dr. Martens: Weak Demand and Reduced Shelf Space with Wholesalers; Refocusing Needed from Trend-Driven Designs to Iconic Products; Low Awarenessin the US Market. Pets at Home: Normalization of Pet Population After COVID; PromisingVet Growth Strategy; Rising Minimum and Living Wages to Squeeze Margins

Record demand and the UK’s ageing population continues to squeeze health and social care services in the UK as they both face significant capacity issues. According to NHS England data released in February 2024, there were between 13,000 and 14,200 patients in UK hospitals each day who did not meet requirements to stay.

Progeny, which is headquartered in Leeds, has become an International Professional Partner Firm (IPPF) with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). This is a voluntary commitment to maintaining and enhancing professional standards and adopting the CII’s Code of Ethics.

Data released today reveals higher and degree apprenticeships are critical for skills supply, amid worries that reduced funding for these qualifications could harm growth. Higher Apprenticeship (including Degree Apprenticeship) starts rose by 8.2% in 2023/24, as employers turn to these qualifications to gain and develop the higher skills needed to drive their performance.

Allow universities to charge above the current fee and loan limit if they themselves lend the difference to students via income-contingent loans. This aligns interests and incentivises effective education. Abolish course content regulations and give academics the freedom to innovate, delivering courses with strong employability outcomes. Radically reforming UK universities can benefit students, institutions, and taxpayers, making Britain a global leader in higher education, says new IEA research.

Commenting on the recent decision of Vauxhall to close their Luton van production plant with the loss of 1,100 jobs, Energy Analyst Andy Mayer at the free market Institute of Economic Affairs said: “Policies need to change.

Sentiment amongst retailers about their business situation over the next three months fell at the fastest pace for two years in November, according to the CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey. Retail sales volumes declined moderately in the year to November, with retailers judging sales to be “poor” for the time of year, to a similar extent as the previous month.

The British Chambers of Commerce has used an evidence session on the Employment Rights Bill to highlight businesses’ serious concerns about the legislation and the speed and detail of consultation.

The Start Up Loans programme has delivered £100m worth of loans to businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber. More than 10,000 loans have been secured by businesses in the region. Entrepreneurs in Sheffield benefitted from over £10m of the funding.

HACS Construction is undertaking a major redevelopment of offices in Harrogate on behalf of premium office space provider WorkWell. The Copthall Bridge offices on Station Road will see 38,000 sq ft reimagined and redeveloped into a premium office environment for established SMEs and owner-operated businesses looking for one to 40 desks.

Majority of UK business leaders back government policy to end North Sea oil and gas licensing. Long-term economic benefits of green transition widely recognised by UK business sector. Business leaders are confident in the UK’s ability to phase out fossil fuels by 2050 according to new sentiment analysis commissioned by Uplift.

Northern Gritstone, the investment company focused on science and technology businesses in the North of England and chaired by Lord Jim O’Neill, has announced a combined £4 million seed round investment into Exciting Instruments with co-investors Empirical Ventures, who led on scientific due diligence, NPIF II – Praetura Equity Finance (managed by Praetura Ventures as part of the Northern Power…

EY has appointed Will Rix, a corporate finance professional with over 10 years of experience in the Northern market, as a Partner and the firm’s new Head of Capital and Debt Advisory for the North of England.

JD Sports: Greater Margin Volatility from Nike's Struggles as OtherBrands Gain Shelf Space; Challenges in Translating UK Success toInternational Markets. Imperial Brands: Struggle to build strong brands in NGP market; Regulator challenges in increasing taxes and flavour restrictions

Expecting the unexpected is a vital part of risk management for businesses, large and small.  Former US President Dwight Eisenhower said, "Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” Another American luminary, Benjamin Franklin, is reputed to have said, ‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.’ Big corporations spend huge amounts on business continuity plans, but it can be a challenge…

Ideal Heating has received significant Government funding to accelerate production of heat pumps in the UK. The funding will enable increased production capacity of monobloc heat pump units and controls at the UK heating industry market leader’s site in Hull as well as hot water cylinders at the Gledhill manufacturing facility in Blackpool.