City Taxis has joined forces with Veezu, the data-driven tech-enabled mobility platform to the private hire sector. The acquisition is an opportunity for City to offer an improved private hire experience for driver-partners and their passengers. Launched in 2013, Veezu invest heavily in technology and infrastructure to ensure regional brands like City Taxis remain at the heart of the community, without needing to sacrifice anything in terms of the passenger experience. Arnie Singh, Managing Director of City Taxis, said: “City Taxis has grown from a small family-run business with 34 cars to a business with access to more than 2,000 driver-partners. We help move millions of people each year, and I am humbled to have played a vital role in this growth. “I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey so far, from staff and driver-partners to businesses and riders. “We are incredibly enthusiastic about what joining Veezu means for City Taxis moving forward. I am confident that joining a larger business with a hyper-local focus will help to keep local taxi companies in demand without compromising on technology or service levels.” Nathan Bowles, CEO of Veezu, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Arnie and City Taxis into the Veezu Group. City Taxis is a high-quality business in Sheffield and the surrounding areas and we’re looking forward to continuing to provide #smarterlocalrides to the community. I’m really pleased that Arnie will join our management team at Veezu, playing a pivotal role in the next growth stage of our business.”

The headline NatWest Yorkshire & Humber PMI® Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – was little-changed in January, falling fractionally from 48.7 in December to 48.6. Overall, this signalled a fourth successive monthly reduction in private sector business activity, although the pace of decline was once again marginal, suggesting the downturn in Yorkshire & Humber’s private sector has been shallow thus far. The level of incoming new work placed with private sector companies in Yorkshire & Humber fell at the start of the year. Economic weakness reportedly contributed to the slump in demand. That said, the decline was moderate and the weakest seen over the current four-month sequence of contraction. The Future Activity Index rose to an eight-month high during January, posting further above the 50.0 mark to signal a strengthening of optimism among Yorkshire & Humber firms. In addition, the region posted the second-strongest level of confidence when compared against the other eleven monitored parts of the UK. According to survey respondents, new product launches and the acquisition of new customers were cited as reasons to be upbeat towards the 12-month outlook. Following a marginal decline at the end of 2022, the latest survey data highlighted a return to growth in private sector staffing levels across Yorkshire & Humber. Where an increase in jobs was reported, this was linked to expansion efforts. The Yorkshire & Humber trend contrasted with that seen for the UK as a whole, which showed stagnant employment levels in January. Only Northern Ireland and the West Midlands posted faster jobs growth than Yorkshire & Humber. The seasonally adjusted Outstanding Business Index posted below the 50.0 no-change mark in January for a second month in a row, signalling a sustained reduction in backlogs of work at private sector firms in Yorkshire & Humber. The decrease was moderate and slightly softer than seen previously. Where a reduction in capacity pressures was reported, this was often linked with weak demand. Private sector companies in Yorkshire & Humber continued to face intense cost pressures in January, with input prices rising sharply and at a pace that remained well above its long-term average. Increases in costs were primarily linked with greater salary and energy expenses, although some firms remarked on supplier price hikes. However, the rate of inflation eased to a 21-month low. Prices charged for goods and services provided by private sector companies in Yorkshire & Humber rose sharply in January. The rate of increase edged up slightly and was the strongest in three months. According to panellists, fees were lifted in line with increases in costs. Malcolm Buchanan, chair of NatWest North Regional Board, said: “Yorkshire & Humber business activity continued to fall in January, extending the region’s contraction that began last October. The region’s economy is being pulled lower by challenging demand conditions, with firms commenting on generally subdued order intakes as clients retrench. “That said, overall activity levels have fallen only marginally in each month of the current downturn, despite the survey data showing stronger declines in new order intakes over the same period. Backlogs of work have helped bridge the gap, with firms working through their incomplete business. “Nevertheless, there are encouraging signs. An improvement in business confidence was accompanied by a return to employment growth. Meanwhile, easing cost pressures adds to evidence that inflation may have peaked.”

Back for its fourth instalment, Business Lincolnshire has now confirmed the return of its flagship #GoDigital conference next month. Hosted at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln, this year’s #GoDigital conference is set to take place on Wednesday 8th March. Open to businesses of all shapes, sizes, and sectors, this annual conference aims to showcase the latest technological developments and trends within the digital sphere, offering the most up-to-date guidance on how Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland businesses can begin to embed digital into their everyday strategies. This year’s event is themed around the topic of ‘customer of the future’, explaining the digital trends shaping tomorrow’s customers and providing actionable steps which businesses can take to get ahead of the curve and secure their business’s long-term viability. Delivered through a blend of keynote speeches, case studies, panel discussions and workshop sessions led by engaging experts within the digital field, this half-day event looks to the future, forecasting how the digital world will begin to influence the physical one in years to come. Councillor Colin Davie said: “The #GoDigital conference acts as one of our most versatile event offerings here at the Growth Hub, and can provide valuable advice to many businesses, regardless of their sector. Digitalisation is the future, which is why it’s so crucial that businesses begin to treat it as a priority before they fall behind.” This year’s conference will be hosted by Katrina Pierce, who is widely recognised as the voice of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Lincolnshire. She said: “I am a passionate advocate for SMEs and hope that this conference will help Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland SMEs address their skill gaps. This conference intends to shed light on how digital technologies are impacting consumer decisions, providing local business owners with the information and tools they may need to future-proof their business in an ever-evolving digital climate.” To find out more about Business Lincolnshire’s upcoming #GoDigital Conference, please click here.