Engineering construction workforce in Yorkshire and Humber to grow by almost 40%
Atlantic rowers swap oars for golf clubs at £31,500 Yorkshire charity fundraiser
Startup survival rates boost Leeds business outlook
Leeds has emerged as one of the UK’s most resilient cities for new businesses, ranking third nationally for startup survival over five years, according to new research by finance platform Pheabs.
The study found that 48% of startups in Leeds remain operational after five years, which is significantly higher than the national average of 39–41%. The city trails only Newcastle (52%) and Rutland (50%) in the rankings.
Pheabs evaluated key business metrics such as average annual income, business density, and sectoral spread to determine where startups are most likely to succeed. Leeds’ strong performance is attributed to its accessible transport links, moderate setup costs, and a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
With a population exceeding 800,000, Leeds offers scalable potential for SMEs compared to smaller urban centres. Its economic ties across West and South Yorkshire, connecting cities like York, Harrogate, Sheffield, and Bradford, further strengthen the regional business environment.
Other high-performing areas include York (47%), Surrey (44%), Bristol (44%), and Lancashire (41%). The report highlights the broader challenge of SME sustainability across the UK, where only half of startups typically survive past their fifth year, underlining the pressure from rising labour and operational costs.
AI growth zone bid targets £85bn boost for North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire Combined Authority has submitted a proposal to become one of the UK’s five designated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Growth Zones, projecting an £85 billion economic uplift for the region if successful.
The joint bid, backed by North Yorkshire Council, Drax Power Station, the University of York, and other regional partners, positions the area as a hub for AI innovation across key sectors including agriculture, life sciences, clean energy, creative industries, and rail.
Central to the proposal is the creation of a new AI and Clean Energy campus at Drax Power Station, which would explore bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) as a route to carbon-negative power generation. The initiative is also expected to help safeguard 7,000 jobs, with 3,500 of those in northern England.
The submission estimates that North Yorkshire could capture up to 15% of the UK’s projected AI economic growth by 2035, aligning with national ambitions to integrate AI technologies across industries and enhance digital inclusion.
An official announcement on the AI Growth Zones is expected on 11 June as part of the government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Offsite prefabrication specialist gains five times more space with Leeds move
Irwin Mitchell strengthens immigration team with acquisition
Council seeks new housing partner for historic Huddersfield site
Kirklees Council is seeking a new development partner for the Grade II* listed Estate Buildings in Huddersfield, following the withdrawal of the original housing provider, Thirteen Group, which cited sector risks.
The site, located near the George Hotel and railway station, had previously secured £1.25m in government funding to support enabling works for a planned social housing scheme. The withdrawal of Thirteen Group leaves the council exploring alternative options to repurpose the building, which dates back to the late 1800s and features protected interiors, including stained glass, carved fireplaces, and decorative wood panelling.
The council acknowledges that redevelopment will be complex and costly due to the building’s listed status, but intends to use the remaining grant funding to reduce upfront costs and attract a developer. Under the proposed model, a selected partner would enter into a building lease agreement and acquire the freehold upon project completion.
The council estimates that the redevelopment could generate up to £95,000 in annual council tax and reduce ongoing maintenance costs, currently exceeding £29,000 per year.
A cabinet decision is expected on Tuesday. If no viable contract is in place by 31 March 2028, the council risks having to repay the £1.25m grant.
Business decision-makers ‘paralysed’ by volatile risk landscape warns report
Former car park in Halifax transformed into 122 green apartments
Major remediation works complete on 12-acre York gas works site
Permit revoked at Yorkshire waste site after regulatory breaches
The Environment Agency has revoked the environmental permit for Mineral Processing Ltd’s South Elmsall waste site following multiple breaches and a failed appeal against an earlier suspension notice.
The revocation means the company must stop all permitted waste activities and begin removing material from the site. The company has 20 working days to appeal, during which the permit remains active.
This action follows a ruling from the Planning Inspectorate on 3 June, which dismissed the company’s appeal against the Environment Agency’s 2024 suspension notice. The Inspectorate found the site held significantly more waste than permitted, including unauthorised and hazardous materials, and posed multiple pollution risks. These included groundwater and surface water contamination, air pollution from dust and odour, and increased methane levels.
Mineral Processing Ltd is now under investigation for suspected offences committed since the suspension notice was issued. The Agency is also assessing further enforcement actions, including prosecution.
Monitoring efforts are ongoing, including odour tracking and site inspections. The operator has been ordered to submit an Odour Management Plan. The Environment Agency is working in partnership with Wakefield Council and the UK Health Security Agency.
AI and copyright risk collide in UK screen sector
A new British Film Institute (BFI) report has spotlighted pressing legal, ethical, and operational risks posed by the use of generative AI in the UK’s screen sector. The study, conducted in partnership with CoSTAR universities Goldsmiths, Loughborough, and Edinburgh, warns that training AI models using copyrighted scripts without consent could destabilise the industry’s IP-driven economy. With film and TV content forming the backbone of UK screen exports, any devaluation of original content poses a threat to its long-term commercial viability.
The report also highlights the impact of automation on creative jobs, raises concerns about biased data in generative content, and discusses the environmental toll of energy-intensive AI processes. Despite these challenges, the BFI notes that the UK is well-positioned to lead in AI-powered creative technology, with over 13,000 firms in the sector. It highlights initiatives from the BBC and Charismatic consortium (Channel 4 and Aardman-backed) aimed at democratising AI access for content creators.
To ensure resilience and competitiveness, the report recommends a national strategy that includes licensing intellectual property (IP) for AI use, embedding green standards, investing in workforce skills, and supporting independent creators with ethical AI tools. The findings form part of CoSTAR’s broader £75.6m programme to futureproof UK digital entertainment leadership.
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Commercial door and roller shutter system service provider sold
Leeds Beckett earns reaccreditation for SME support
Leeds Beckett University has secured reaccreditation of the Small Business Charter Award, recognising its continued contribution to SME growth, innovation, and leadership development across the region.
First granted in 2016, the accreditation highlights the university’s long-term impact on small business ecosystems through initiatives such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, the Help to Grow: Management programme, and its dedicated Leadership Centre.
The reaccreditation signals Leeds Beckett’s role as a key B2B partner for SME engagement, with a focus on innovation, workforce development, and succession planning. Examples include collaborations with Colchester Machine Tool Solutions on leadership transformation and culture change, as well as Aquatrust on remote monitoring innovation for the water hygiene sector.
The award, valid for five years, places Leeds Beckett among a select group of UK institutions recognised for excellence in SME support, positioning it to scale its role in regional economic development further.
Data centre project raises emissions concerns for UK businesses
A proposed £10 billion AI data centre in Lincolnshire has sparked environmental scrutiny, with projected annual carbon emissions exceeding 850,000 tonnes, five times more than Birmingham Airport. The 15-warehouse facility, planned for a site east of Scunthorpe, is currently under public consultation and would draw 3.7 billion kWh of electricity a year, according to documents reviewed by national media.
The proposal highlights growing concerns among stakeholders over the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure. Researchers have noted that AI’s exponential computing demands far exceed those of traditional IT, resulting in increased energy use and water consumption for cooling. In some regions, data centres have been accused of competing with local communities for essential water supplies.
Industry experts warn that the rapid deployment of AI has outpaced the development of environmental oversight. While AI offers potential efficiencies, the infrastructure behind it remains resource-intensive, raising questions for companies that balance digital transformation with their ESG responsibilities.
The data centre debate comes as the Labour government pledges to position the UK as an “energy superpower” while simultaneously pushing for a 20-fold increase in AI computing capacity. Environmental organisations are closely monitoring developments, with legal challenges likely if climate commitments are not upheld.
Evri ramps up hiring after DHL deal
Evri is set to hire 5,000 additional couriers across the UK as part of a major expansion following its agreement to merge with DHL’s UK ecommerce business. The new hires will boost Evri’s self-employed courier network to 33,000, the highest in its history.
Roughly 1,000 of the new roles will be permanent, with the remainder offering flexible terms to meet heightened demand during the summer and peak delivery seasons. Recruitment will target key regions including Plymouth, Bury, Hastings, Dover, and Scarborough.
The hiring surge comes on the heels of Evri’s recently announced joint venture with DHL, creating one of the UK’s largest parcel and letter delivery companies. The move signals Evri’s entry into the business letter market, where it will now compete with Royal Mail. The merged business expects to handle more than one billion parcels and one billion letters annually.
Evri, formerly Hermes, was acquired by Apollo Global Management last year in a deal valued at approximately £2.7 billion. It has since invested £32 million in improving customer service, though delivery performance remains a priority area for improvement. The firm says its couriers earn an average of £20.90 per hour.
New employment park planned for Scunthorpe growth corridor
A 77-acre business park is set to be developed near junction 3 of the M180 as part of the Lincolnshire Lakes strategic growth zone. The project, named Forge Point, is being led by property developer Hargreaves Land and will form part of a wider mixed-use development that includes thousands of new homes and community infrastructure.
Forge Point is positioned to accommodate up to 959,300 square feet of new commercial space and is expected to offer both freehold and leasehold design-and-build options. It sits adjacent to land earmarked for 550 homes, forming part of a larger 6,000-home target across the Lincolnshire Lakes scheme.
The business park aligns with the area’s Area Action Plan, which supports the integration of high-tech business units, offices, and hospitality facilities to drive long-term economic development.
The site’s proximity to major transport links and a growing residential base is expected to appeal to logistics, advanced manufacturing, and professional services firms seeking scalable space in the North Lincolnshire region.
Wakefield launches trial to reshape UK jobcentres
Wakefield has become the national testbed for a new government employment initiative aimed at overhauling jobcentre services across the UK. The Pathfinder pilot, launched this week, introduces locally tailored employment support in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Wakefield Council.
The trial includes a coaching academy, industry-focused careers events, and a more personalised jobcentre appointment model. It’s designed to move away from a centralised, standardised approach and allow local authorities to shape employment services that better reflect regional needs and employer demand.
The initiative also expands support to a broader audience, not just jobcentre claimants, helping to match local talent with roles in growth sectors such as manufacturing, technology, and the creative industries.
The first careers event under the scheme, held at Wakefield Exchange, targeted the creative sector and brought together local employers and training providers. Additional events focusing on manufacturing and technology are scheduled for the coming months.
According to government data, only 9% of employers currently recruit through jobcentres. The Pathfinder programme aims to bridge this gap by fostering stronger connections between employers, training providers, and job seekers.
If successful, the Wakefield trial will inform a nationwide rollout later this year.