Leeds has emerged as the leading city for large corporates outside London, surpassing other regions in the UK. With 203 corporate firms, the city outpaces its competitors and boasts a workforce of over 400,000 employees, generating a combined turnover of £72bn.

The wider Yorkshire and Humber region, encompassing Sheffield and North Yorkshire, also ranks high on the list, with a collective workforce of over 528,000 people and a total turnover exceeding £100 billion. The HSBC UK Corporate Tracker reveals that these areas are pivotal for large businesses, contributing to the region’s economic strength.

Leeds is a significant player in the financial services sector, housing major banks, accountancy firms, and insurance providers. This sector leads the corporate landscape in the city, followed by professional, scientific, and technical industries.

The report highlights that foreign-owned businesses make up 18% of large corporates in Leeds, lower than the national average of 24%. This presents an opportunity for the city to attract more international investment, suggesting that UK businesses should look beyond domestic borders for growth opportunities.

More than 100 tanker drivers are now unemployed following the insolvency of Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery and its main delivery contractor, Axis Logistics. The Prax Group, which acquired the refinery from Total in 2021, was unable to overcome significant financial losses amounting to £75 million between its takeover and February 2024. Axis Logistics, which employed 137 staff, entered administration alongside its parent company in late June.

The majority of Axis employees were made redundant, with only a handful retained temporarily to manage the company’s closure. The union representing most of the affected drivers expressed surprise and disappointment over the news. Efforts to recover funds from the company will include selling off assets like the tankers used in deliveries.

Prax’s financial instability also contributed to operational difficulties at Axis, with the business unable to recover. Meanwhile, the Official Receiver has ensured that the refinery’s operations remain secure despite the collapse.

Huddersfield Business School is launching the tenth round of its highly regarded Help to Grow management programme. This 12-week course is designed for managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to improve their leadership skills and drive business growth.

The programme includes 12 interactive sessions and 10 hours of business mentoring, delivered by industry experts. Participants will engage in a mix of online and face-to-face workshops, dedicating three to five hours per week to refine their business strategies and develop key skills.

Launched in April 2022, the Help to Grow programme has already supported 150 local businesses across various sectors, including retail, construction, manufacturing, and the creative industries. Funding for two more cohorts has been secured, enabling the University to offer the programme to an additional 30 businesses in September 2025 and another 30 in January 2026.

The initiative has seen strong participation from Kirklees businesses, with the programme’s alumni network serving as a valuable resource for ongoing collaboration and development. The scheme continues to provide critical support to businesses seeking to foster growth and innovation.

The UK Government has introduced a significant amendment to the Employment Rights Bill, aiming to prevent businesses from using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to silence victims of harassment or discrimination. The amendment, which is currently under discussion in the House of Lords, would render NDAs void in these circumstances, allowing affected employees to speak out freely.

This measure forms part of Labour’s broader strategy to strengthen workers’ rights and follows growing pressure from campaigners, as well as calls from within the political sphere for change. The shift addresses the widespread misuse of NDAs, which have been used to silence victims in high-profile cases such as that of disgraced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

The amendment has garnered significant support, with many noting that it provides victims with the opportunity to seek justice without fear of legal repercussions. Labour ministers, including Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, have stressed the importance of this change in giving workers the confidence to report misconduct and create safer work environments.

The House of Lords is set to debate these changes on July 14, after which MPs will need to give their approval before it can become law. The move signals a significant step forward in the fight to ensure more transparency and accountability in workplaces across the UK.