The UK’s new car market saw a modest uptick in May, with registrations rising 1.6% year-on-year to 150,070 units, marking the best May performance since 2021. However, volumes remain 18.3% below pre-pandemic levels, highlighting persistent economic fragility.

Fleet and business buyers drove the recovery, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the market. Fleet registrations rose 3.7%, while business volumes surged 14.4%. In contrast, private sales declined for the second consecutive month, down 2.3%, underscoring a cautious consumer outlook.

Demand for electrified vehicles climbed sharply. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations increased by 25.8% year-over-year, accounting for 21.8% of the market. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) grew 50.8%, while hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) increased by 6.8%. Combined, electrified models captured 47.3% of new car sales. However, BEVs remain below the regulatory target, with a year-to-date market share of 20.9%, which is short of the mandated 28%.

Manufacturers continue to rely heavily on discounting and incentives, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), to sustain momentum. This reliance, coupled with existing cost pressures, raises concerns about long-term profitability and investment in product development.

The breadth of electrified offerings has expanded, with over 135 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) now available. Despite this, calls for stronger government support, through VAT cuts and tax reforms, are growing louder as the industry pushes toward net-zero targets.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is establishing a new digital hub in Leeds to enhance its regulatory capabilities in digital health, AI-driven technologies, and healthcare software.

The facility, set to open in Wellington Place, will serve as a centre for software development, data science, and digital operations. It will also serve as a regional base for NHS England’s digital team, reinforcing the city’s growing role in health technology innovation.

The decision to locate the hub in Leeds reflects the city’s strong talent pipeline, with over 44,000 tech professionals and around 11,000 students enrolled in tech-related degrees. MHRA plans to recruit around 30 permanent, high-skill roles in the first phase, with potential for further expansion.

The move signals a broader strategy to decentralise regulatory expertise and strengthen collaboration across the North of England’s health and technology sectors. It comes amid rapid growth in AI and digital tools, which are reshaping NHS delivery and the wider healthcare ecosystem.

The new hub aligns with ongoing public and private investment in Yorkshire’s digital health infrastructure and is expected to create job opportunities and support innovation within the region’s tech economy.

The University of Lincoln has secured £1.5 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to establish the Lincolnshire Institute of Dental and Oral Health (LIDOH), aiming to address the region’s critical shortage of NHS dental professionals.

The funding will support the launch of a new BSc in Dental Hygiene and Therapy, as well as a foundation course designed to help dental nurses and healthcare workers upskill without leaving the county. Redevelopment of university facilities is also planned to include new clinical teaching spaces equipped with advanced simulation and digital tools.

Lincolnshire consistently ranks among the areas in the UK with the worst NHS dental access, with implications for broader public health and local workforce sustainability. The LIDOH initiative is positioned to develop a locally trained dental workforce that meets community needs and reduces reliance on external recruitment.

This new institute builds on the university’s previous investments in healthcare education and regional workforce development, including the Lincoln Medical School and the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health, both of which aim to improve healthcare access and outcomes across Greater Lincolnshire.

The initiative aligns with broader regional efforts to address skills gaps and expand local career pathways in the health services sector.

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) is seeking two new non-executive directors (NEDs) to join its board as it continues to refine strategic oversight and strengthen governance across its operations. The Trust provides healthcare services to over 440,000 people across South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire, and surrounding areas through its three main sites: Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Bassetlaw Hospital, and Montagu Hospital in Mexborough.

The NED roles are designed to bring external experience and objective scrutiny to board-level decision-making, with a focus on financial sustainability, long-term planning, and performance monitoring. While the roles are not operational, they are central to shaping the Trust’s strategy and ensuring service quality and accountability.

DBTH is particularly interested in candidates with experience in local government, higher education, digital transformation, finance, or clinical practice. Familiarity with partnership working across NHS systems and local authorities is also valued, especially given the growing importance of integrated care models.

Each NED will commit to a minimum of five days per month. The Trust has expressed a preference for candidates who can bring fresh perspectives and support its goals of inclusion and innovation. Applications are open now for those interested in playing a strategic role in regional healthcare delivery.

A new report from the government-backed Willow Review has found that UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are embracing sustainability are already seeing measurable business benefits, including cost savings, new customer acquisition, and improved customer loyalty. However, the report warns that persistent barriers are hindering wider adoption, thereby threatening the UK’s green growth potential.

With SMEs representing 99% of UK businesses and accounting for around half of all business-related carbon emissions, their role in achieving national climate targets is crucial. The Review surveyed 425 small businesses and found that 67% of those implementing sustainability practices reduced operational costs, 52% gained new customers, and 33% improved customer loyalty. Many reported using sustainable materials, cutting waste, limiting travel, and sourcing from greener supply chains.

Despite these advantages, many SMEs struggle to take action due to upfront costs, time constraints, and difficulty accessing financial or advisory support. To address this, the Willow Review issued 14 recommendations across three key areas: simplifying sustainability guidance, expanding access to finance, and creating a more supportive policy environment.

The report calls for clearer signposting to existing funding options, the creation of tailored ‘Green-Up Loans’, and reforms to government schemes like the Growth Guarantee Scheme to support green investments. It also urges integration of sustainability into core services such as the Business Growth Service, alongside incentives for landlords to improve energy efficiency in SME premises.

Small Business Britain and eBay have launched a free six-week digital skills programme designed to help UK side-hustlers formalise and scale their ventures into full-time businesses.

The initiative, called the Side-Hustle Lab, launched on June 4 and will support up to 500 early-stage entrepreneurs. It includes online modules on launching and growing a business, managing time and finances, selling through platforms like eBay, customer service, and sustainability.

The programme responds to a five-year decline in UK small business numbers, which fell from 6 million in 2020 to 5.45 million in 2024. Despite the downturn, new research suggests side-hustling is now the most common entry point into entrepreneurship, accounting for 39% of small business launches. Nearly half of those eventually become full-time operations.

Participants will receive guidance from industry experts and gain access to a peer network of fellow entrepreneurs. The training also focuses on e-commerce, digital marketing, and artificial intelligence, areas of increasing relevance in today’s small business landscape.

The move is part of a broader call for more tailored support for micro-enterprises and emerging founders, particularly those launching businesses alongside other work.

South Yorkshire is set to receive £1.5 billion in government funding to overhaul its public transport system, with a focus on electrification, modernisation, and local control. The investment includes a full replacement of Sheffield’s ageing tram fleet by 2032, and a phased rollout of franchised bus services across the region starting in 2027.

Under the plans, bus services in Sheffield, Doncaster, and Rotherham will move to a franchised model by 2027, with full regional coverage expected by 2029. This shift will give local authorities control over routes, fares, and schedules, mirroring the operational model already in place in Greater Manchester.

A further £530 million of the funding is earmarked for renewing the South Yorkshire tram network, which serves key commuter and residential corridors in Sheffield and Rotherham. The upgrades are intended to support local job creation, improve commuting options, and expand access to the regional labour market.

The announcement is part of a broader £15.6 billion commitment to transport infrastructure across the North and Midlands. It comes ahead of the upcoming government spending review, where further reforms, including changes to the Treasury’s project evaluation framework, are expected to be unveiled.

For transport operators, local authorities, and infrastructure suppliers, the programme opens the door to new procurement, construction, and service opportunities over the next decade.