Aon appoints new head of corporate office in Leeds and Sheffield
Student accommodation developer sells nine properties for £212m
Unite Students, the owner, manager and developer of student accommodation, has sold a portfolio of nine properties, comprising 3,656 beds for £212 million, to an affiliate of Lone Star Funds.
The disposal portfolio includes assets in Aberdeen, Leicester, Leeds, Nottingham and Sheffield. It includes The Tannery and Clarence Dock Village in Leeds and The Anvil in Sheffield.
The disposal is part of the group’s strategy to increase alignment to high and mid-ranked universities and those properties with the strongest prospects for sustainable long-term rental growth.
Contracts have been exchanged with completion due in August 2025.
Since 2022, the group has now sold 12,000 beds, recycling over £700 million into its strongest markets and new investment opportunities.
Joe Lister, Unite Students chief executive, said: “These disposals increase the alignment of our portfolio to the strongest university cities and continues our disciplined approach to recycling capital.
“Purpose-built student accommodation continues to attract institutional capital as the growing UK 18-year-old population and improving trends in international recruitment underpin demand for high-quality student accommodation.”
Castleford firm snaps up electrical compliance and safety testing provider
SMEs driving green growth but face barriers to scale
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.
Sheffield Hallam campus opening pushed to autumn despite build completion
Sheffield Hallam University has confirmed that its new city centre campus, part of a major regeneration project off Howard Street, will not open until autumn 2025, despite construction works now being complete. Originally slated for completion in late 2024, with teaching expected to begin in January 2025, the launch has been pushed back to align with the university’s new London campus opening.
The development, located on the former Science Park site, forms part of a broader urban gateway transformation for Sheffield. The project includes three interconnected buildings—Rivelin, Loxley and Porter, organised around a new public green space designed to support both academic activity and community use.
The Rivelin Building will house the College of Social Sciences and Arts, with facilities for subjects such as architecture, psychology and law. Loxley will serve as a dual-use space, accommodating the Institute of Technology alongside retail and food outlets. Porter will become the home of the Sheffield Business School, featuring facilities such as a simulated trading floor and a business lounge.
While the physical build is now finished, operational fit-out and readiness are still ongoing. The delay means that the new infrastructure will now be fully brought online for the 2025/26 academic year.
Side-hustle support programme targets UK’s next wave of entrepreneurs
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.
Military skills event to spotlight veteran talent for employers
Businesses across Lincolnshire are being invited to a dedicated event designed to connect them with skilled military veterans and explore opportunities for collaboration, recruitment, and procurement.
Set for 25 June at the Officer’s Mess in Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham, the Mission Business event will feature presentations by veteran business owners, talks by serving personnel, and insights on how military skills translate to the civilian workforce.
Organised by South Kesteven District Council in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and Business Unfinished consultancy, the event targets employers interested in leveraging military-trained talent. Attendees will learn how hiring reservists can bring training benefits worth up to £10,000, as well as how to access defence sector contracts through the Greater Lincolnshire Defence and Security Cluster (GLRDSC).
The event aligns with the council’s ongoing commitment to veteran employment, demonstrated by its MoD gold award under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and its current employment of former service members in roles such as waste collection and grounds maintenance.
Yorkshire Water fined £350,000 after sewage pumping station pollutes watercourse
Yorkshire Water has been fined £350,000 after one of its sewage pumping stations polluted a York watercourse.
£1.5bn transport boost to modernise South Yorkshire’s fleet
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.
Creative content agency snaps up retail specialist
