West Yorkshire’s recent creative and cultural celebrations have contributed to record visitor numbers, new figures reveal.
Mayor Tracy Brabin has welcomed research which shows that West Yorkshire welcomed 73 million visitors in 2024, a 3% increase on the previous year, with spending in the local economy rising by 7.8% to £6.26 billion. The tourism and hospitality sector now supports 54,000 jobs for local people, up by 2.6%.
This growth has been attributed to successful ‘year of culture’ events hosted across the region ahead of Bradford UK City of Culture 2025, taking place this year.
Kirklees and Leeds set the scene in 2023 by rolling out diverse programmes of performances, exhibitions and community-led projects, before handing the baton to Calderdale and Wakefield to showcase even more of the region’s creative spirit in 2024.
With Bradford’s year in the spotlight now in full swing, the momentum is expected to boost West Yorkshire’s visitor economy further in 2025.
Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “It’s fantastic that more people are visiting the region and seeing everything we have to offer.
“And these record figures clearly show that culture isn’t just nice to have – it helps us create good jobs, vibrant places and economic growth.
“That’s why we’re investing in culture, heritage and sport, and putting West Yorkshire on the map as the place to be.
“Building on this legacy with even more investment and opportunities will attract more people to a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
Cllr James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council and Chair of West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Economy Committee, said: “It’s truly inspiring to see the combined and sustained efforts of cities across the region to put culture at the heart of life in West Yorkshire bearing fruit in such impressive fashion.
“We have long championed the huge social, economic and reputational value of culture and the arts and the unique power they have to unite and galvanize cities and communities to be their best.
“These figures demonstrate that by putting our faith in culture, we can drive economic growth, inward investment and job creation, all while putting our cities on the map and making them incredible, exciting places to live, work and visit.”
The new research was carried out by Global Tourism Solutions UK, using the industry recognised STEAM Economic Impact of Tourism Model.
It was commissioned by West Yorkshire’s Local Visitor Economy Partnership – a strategic partnership between the region’s five local authorities, chaired by Mayor Tracy Brabin, to support the tourism sector across West Yorkshire. The partnership proactively develops tourism product and experiences, and markets West Yorkshire as a visitor destination to attract new visitors.
Belinda Eldridge, Head of Destination Marketing and International Relations and West Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership Lead, said: “These results reflect the growing appeal of West Yorkshire as a must-visit destination.
“Through strategic marketing, international outreach, and a strong partnership approach, we’re attracting more visitors, encouraging longer stays, and showcasing the very best of what our region has to offer.
“This momentum is vital for sustaining a thriving visitor economy that benefits communities across West Yorkshire.”
Lincolnshire food and drink gift company secures £500k investment
Luxury food and drink gift company, IMP & MAKER, has secured a £500,000 investment in a deal that values the business at £2m.
The funding comes from an unnamed angel investor in exchange for a minority stake in the growing Lincolnshire-based business.
Sarah Louise Fairburn, who founded IMP & MAKER in 2020, hailed the investment as ‘game-changing’.
She said: “It’s a real validation in what we’re building at IMP & MAKER and me personally. The investor was impressed by the strength of our brand, the quality of our products, and the breadth and range of our customer base. They saw the amazing growth potential in eCommerce and B2B that will see us grow to over £2m this year.
“He shares our vision to disrupt the food and drink gift sector with our beautifully packaged and personalised gifts that our customers remember and savour – all underpinned by the best technology.”
The majority of IMP & MAKER’s business comes through its eCommerce platform, a growing list of corporate clients and its existing relationships with retailers like Costco and Not On The High Street.
The investment will be used to scale the business and repay £200,000 in funding from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (MEIF II) and the Regional Growth Fund.
Fairburn, a single mum-of-four, said: “We’re debt-free and set for growth. Most startups have difficulty obtaining investment, especially in the eCommerce space, which requires large levels of money to gain brand recognition
“We’ve now got the right infrastructure and team in place to take IMP & MAKER to the next level and we’ve significantly increased our margins and reduced our customer acquisition costs.
“We’re on track to make our first profit this year and the £500,000 investment will enable us to take full advantage of the busy Christmas and New Year period. Thank you to our valued advisors – Franklins – in assisting with this investment and Collin Franklin for his continued belief and vision.”
IMP & MAKER employs eight people at its head office in Lincolnshire.
Fairburn previously worked at Fairburn’s Eggs, helping to grow the company’s turnover from £12m to more than £100m. She helped establish the firm as one of the UK’s largest independent egg packers, winning contracts with several major supermarkets, including Asda, Sainsbury’s and Iceland.
Asda invests in Yorkshire stores as part of £7.2m refurbishment plan
Asda is investing £7.2m in a store renovation programme across key locations in Yorkshire. The Leeds-based supermarket chain will refurbish stores in Kingswood, Harrogate, York, Pudsey, and Keighley by the end of 2025, as part of its broader strategy to improve the customer experience.
The refurbishments will include a revamped shop floor layout for easier navigation, new lighting, and neon signage aimed at modernising the stores. Additionally, Asda plans to allocate £4.6m to update two other stores in Grimsby and Stockton.
The project is set to begin in September, with each store’s refurbishment taking around seven weeks. The chain assured that stores will remain open throughout the work.
This follows the success of a £2m renovation at Asda’s Pilsworth store in Bury, completed earlier this year. The company intends to expand the renovation programme to more UK locations in 2026.
FinTech growth fuels £5bn boost to the North of England’s economy
The FinTech sector in the North of England is now adding £5 billion to the regional economy each year, with nearly 400 firms employing close to 20,000 people. This contribution is growing, as the workforce across FinTech and related sectors swells to almost 70,000.
The North, which accounts for over 20% of the UK’s population and generates £344 billion in economic output, has long been recognised for its importance in driving national economic growth. The region’s educational infrastructure, with 42 universities and over a million students, further supports its rising prominence in FinTech.
New recommendations aim to accelerate sector growth, such as a dedicated FinTech Accelerator, Investment Fund, and Reskilling Programme. The report also highlights the concentrated FinTech clusters in cities like Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool, where Payments, Banking, and WealthTech dominate.
Despite a strong economic footprint, the report points to gaps in diversity, noting the low percentage of female founders. Nevertheless, with continued investment and support, the sector is poised to play an even greater role in the UK’s broader financial technology landscape.
This data underscores the North’s growing influence as a key player in global FinTech.
Small businesses adopt technology and eco-friendly measures to reduce costs
Small business owners are increasingly turning to technology and sustainable practices to tackle operational challenges and reduce costs, according to recent research from Smart Energy GB.
The study reveals that over 84% of small business owners are confident in using new digital tools, with a significant focus on automating time-consuming tasks. Key areas for automation include accounting, invoicing, customer communication, marketing, and tracking energy costs.
Financial pressures are also a concern, with 22% of respondents identifying energy costs as a significant burden. Despite this, only 24% feel completely in control of their cash flow and financial planning.
Sustainability is also a growing consideration for small businesses. The research shows that 84% of owners see sustainability as an important factor in their decision-making. Many are now considering eco-friendly technology, with 73% more likely to invest in sustainable tech if it offers a cost benefit. Additionally, 31% of respondents say they are responding to customer demand for more sustainable practices.
Efforts to reduce environmental impact include waste reduction (30%), energy-saving initiatives (25%), and upgrading to more energy-efficient technology (22%). For many, these measures are seen as both environmentally responsible and beneficial for long-term business sustainability.
Coastal flood defences at risk of failure unless significant investment is made
Flood defences along Lincolnshire’s coast are expected to become ineffective by 2040 without substantial funding, according to the Environment Agency (EA). A failure of the coastal defences could result in flooding in areas such as Mablethorpe, with floodwaters reaching around 1.3 metres, and Ingoldmells, with up to 1.6 metres of water.
The flood defences, stretching 30 miles from Saltfleet to Gibraltar Point, are under pressure, with nearly 90% predicted to fail in the next two decades. The region, which lies below sea level, relies heavily on these defences to protect over 20,000 homes and 38,000 static caravans. Without immediate action, the area’s flood protection could be compromised.
The Environment Agency has estimated that replacing the existing flood defences will require billions of pounds. Additionally, ongoing maintenance costs, such as the replenishment of sand along the coastline, are currently between £10 million and £15 million annually.
To address this growing issue, a masterplan is set to be developed by 2028, with the aim of securing funding and contracts by 2036. Local councillors have highlighted the urgent need for investment to prevent economic decline in local holiday resorts. If adequate funding is not secured, a “managed retreat” approach may need to be considered, potentially leading to long-term consequences for the region’s infrastructure and economy.
Pets at Home revises profit forecast as market remains challenging
Pets at Home has lowered its profit expectations for the current financial year, citing weaker-than-expected retail performance. The company now anticipates annual profits to be between £110 million and £120 million, a significant reduction from last year’s £133 million and the previous forecast of £115 million to £125 million.
The retailer reported a 3% decline in like-for-like sales over the 16 weeks to July 17, marking its third consecutive quarter of negative growth. This drop comes as the overall pet retail market struggles, with growth projected to be just 1%, down from an earlier estimate of 2%.
The company has attributed its revised outlook to subdued market conditions and an uncertain consumer environment, which have affected its trading performance. Despite efforts to control costs, including tight cost management measures, the retailer has faced additional challenges, such as a £20 million increase in wage-related expenses.
However, Pets at Home noted that its Vet Group segment has been performing well, with like-for-like revenue growth of 7.8%. Additionally, the company has seen a rise in its Pets Club membership, which now totals 8.1 million customers, contributing 14.5% of its revenue from subscriptions.
Plans for new housing development at Red Hall Nursery site approved in Leeds
Leeds City Council has approved plans for a new residential development on the former Red Hall Nursery site in Shadwell, Leeds, marking a significant step in the ongoing East Leeds Extension project. The development will include over 350 homes, to be built by Redrow Homes on the 29-hectare site.
The plans encompass 352 homes, with a mix of housing types and the refurbishment of key historical structures, such as the Grade II-listed Red Hall House. The project also includes the creation of green spaces, communal areas, an orchard, and a civic space for public use. The development will make use of the existing Gate House, with some outbuildings being converted into garages and storage areas.
This approval follows Redrow’s acquisition of the site in 2021. The former nursery was the city’s main horticultural production site until 2017, after which operations were moved to the Arium in Whinmoor. The new development is part of the larger East Leeds Extension, which has the capacity for around 5,000 new homes, designed to support the region’s growing residential needs.
Despite some objections regarding potential traffic congestion and concerns over preserving the historic elements of the site, the council has granted planning permission, with conditions attached.
Civil engineering company doubles space at Leeds office building
Civil engineering company JN Bentley has doubled its office space at 1 Whitehall Riverside in Leeds city centre.
Part of the Mott MacDonald Group, JN Bentley is taking over the whole of the 17,124 sq ft fifth floor in the office building.
The Skipton-based company originally moved its Leeds city centre operations from Bank House to 1 Whitehall Riverside in October 2023.
1 Whitehall Riverside is now home to employees from JN Bentley and colleagues from Mott MacDonald and JBA Consulting working within the company’s design-and-build businesses – Mott MacDonald Bentley (MMB) and JBA Bentley.
With a contemporary open-plan design, the office promotes collaborative working with purpose-built co-working areas, focus rooms and meeting rooms fitted with state-of-the-art technology.
Jonny Burton, director, JN Bentley, said: “We are delighted to be doubling our operational space at our city centre Leeds office.
“Record levels of investment in the UK water sector, coupled with buoyant frameworks across our other environmental and industrial markets, means our teams are growing. We need this additional space to facilitate even better collaboration that will help deliver the outcomes our clients and their customers need.
“The office will be home to our colleagues delivering projects on our important frameworks with the likes of Yorkshire Water, Canal & River Trust, the Environment Agency, and Associated British Ports.”
Eamon Fox, head of the Leeds office of Knight Frank, who advised JN Bentley, added: “1 Whitehall Riverside is owned by NFU Mutual, we have continually collaborated with JN Bentley over the years, and it’s wonderful to see the continued growth of the firm.
“Office expansion, when done strategically, can significantly contribute to business success by enhancing employee morale, promoting collaboration, improving client perception, and facilitating future growth, we wish the team further success.”
Demolition of derelict Crimea Tavern building begins in Castleford
Demolition of the Crimea Tavern building in Castleford is now underway as part of plans to transform the riverside.
With demolition work expected to be completed in August, once the building is cleared, the site will be landscaped to create a new greenspace by the river.
Cllr Denise Jeffery, leader of Wakefield Council, said: “The Crimea has been derelict for far too long. So, it’s welcome news that demolition work is starting as a first step in our ambition to open up this part of Castleford’s historic riverside.
“The area is going to become a greenspace that everyone can enjoy. By making the most of Castleford’s great location on the River Aire we can make our town an even better place to live, work and visit.”
The Council has secured £23.9m of funding from the UK Government’s Towns Fund for Castleford. This external grant funding will be used to deliver a series of projects – Castleford Riverside, improvements to property on Sagar Street, Heart of Castleford and Castleford Connections.
Cllr Jack Hemingway, deputy leader and cabinet member for regeneration and economic growth, said: “This project will make the riverside more accessible for more people. We want everyone to enjoy spending time in this part of the town. In turn that will help local businesses across our town centre to thrive.”
