South Yorkshire has been selected as one of five regions to receive targeted investment under the UK Government’s new Defence Industrial Strategy. The plan allocates £250 million over five years through a Defence Growth Deal aimed at boosting regional economies and creating jobs in defence-related sectors.

The region’s expertise in engineering, research, and materials production, including specialist steel for advanced maritime, land, and air systems, was cited as a key factor in its selection. Early estimates suggest rising defence spending could generate demand for up to 50,000 additional jobs across the UK by 2034/35.

The Defence Growth Deals will link businesses, local and national government, and academic institutions to foster innovation, support SMEs, and strengthen industrial capabilities. Similar deals will be established in Plymouth, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The strategy aims to make the UK a competitive location for defence companies while reducing regulatory barriers for domestic firms seeking to pursue export opportunities. It follows the announcement of a deal to supply Norway with five Type 26 frigates, valued at £10 billion and supporting more than 4,000 UK jobs.

Officials highlighted that the initiative is designed to build regional industrial resilience, respond to future defence challenges and expand high-skill employment opportunities in areas including South Yorkshire, where companies can leverage emerging technologies in quantum computing and material sciences.

Noble Live-In Care, the UK’s largest home care provider, has extended its 24-hour live-in services to York and North Yorkshire. The move aims to address local pressures on NHS hospitals caused by delayed discharges.

NHS England data indicates more than 1,300 patients daily across the North East and Yorkshire remain in hospital despite being medically fit, contributing to ambulance delays, cancelled operations, and staff capacity challenges. Noble Live-In Care’s round-the-clock service enables patients to return home safely while freeing hospital beds for urgent cases.

The provider positions live-in care as an alternative to residential homes, citing Care Quality Commission statistics showing nearly one in five care homes in England requires improvement or is failing. Services are tailored to individuals, offering consistent support without the risks associated with overcrowded or under-resourced care facilities.

Noble Live-In Care works alongside healthcare professionals, families, and community services. Its approach integrates home care into NHS assessment pathways and focuses on enabling older adults to remain at home while receiving personalised support.

Tees Valley Labs has relaunched, offering local start-ups and scale-ups structured support to develop and attract investment. The programme provides three distinct pathways: the Stable Incubator, the Forge Accelerator, and the newly introduced Pre-Flight workshops.

The Stable Incubator runs for six months, guiding early-stage businesses from formation through market traction. Since its launch, 20 companies have accessed over £500,000 in funding across two cohorts. The Forge Accelerator is a 12-week programme for companies ready to scale, with previous participants securing significant investment and international deals.

Pre-Flight is a series of two-day workshops aimed at refining value propositions, pitching skills, and market readiness. Sessions are scheduled across the Tees Valley, including Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland, and Hartlepool between 16 and 30 September.

Tees Valley Labs is delivered by innovation consultancy Alt Labs on behalf of the Tees Valley mayor and combined authority. Funding comes through the UK government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The initiative has supported over 30 businesses to date, distributing more than £1.5 million and promoting diversity in entrepreneurship, with three in ten participants in previous rounds being female.

The programme has been credited with helping companies secure clients, attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen the region’s innovation ecosystem. Tees Valley Labs continues to position the area as a hub for technology-driven business growth.

The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: North of England survey showed that recruitment activity in August fell at a softer rate across the region compared to July. The decline in permanent placements remained stronger than that seen for temp billings. After having increased in July, starting pay for both permanent and temporary staff decreased in August. Weaker pay trends coincided with the sharpest upturns in candidate availability since 2020 and a sustained fall in job vacancies. The KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: North of England is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to around 150 recruitment and employment consultancies in the North of England. Softest decline in permanent placements in three months Recruitment consultancies in the North of England signalled a further decrease in permanent staff appointments in August, thereby extending the current period of decline to 26 months. Panellists noted a general drop in hiring activity as some companies were reportedly hesitant to take on new staff. The rate of contraction eased to the weakest since May, but nevertheless remained substantial and was slightly quicker than the national average. August survey data signalled a tenth successive monthly decrease in billings received from the employment of temporary staff in the North of England. Survey respondents linked the latest drop in temp billings to reduced demand for short-term staff, challenging economic conditions and tighter client budgets. Though solid, the pace of contraction was the slowest in three months and broadly in line with the wider UK trend. August marked the tenth month in a row in which vacancies for both permanent and temporary roles had fallen across the North of England. However, in both cases, rates of decline lost momentum in the latest survey period. Nevertheless, demand for both types of worker fell solidly overall. The decrease in permanent job openings across the North of England was slower than those seen across the three other monitored English regions. Meanwhile, short-term vacancies fell at a rate that was slightly softer than the UK average. Rapid rise in permanent staff supply in August The seasonally adjusted Permanent Staff Availability Index rose further above the 50.0 no-change mark in August, to signal a rapid increase in permanent staff supply across the North of England. Moreover, the rate of expansion was the fastest seen since October 2020. It was also the strongest of all four monitored English regions. Where recruiters noted a rise in candidate availability, they generally attributed this to redundancies and fewer job opportunities. August survey data revealed a further rise in the number of people available for temporary roles in the North of England. The rate of growth was the most pronounced since November 2020 and rapid overall. The upturn in permanent candidate numbers was the second-strongest of the four English regions monitored by the survey, behind only London. Restructuring efforts and a general reduction in demand for temporary staff were noted by panellists as driving the latest uptick in labour supply. First fall in starting salaries since March The seasonally adjusted Permanent Salaries Index fell below the crucial 50.0 mark for the first time in five months in August, to signal a fresh reduction in salaries awarded to permanent joiners in the North of England. Though modest, the rate of contraction was the most pronounced since December 2020. At the same time, starting salaries rose at the weakest rate in four-and-a-half years at the national level. Weaker demand for staff and recent increases in payroll costs had dampened salaries, panellist reports showed. Average hourly rates of pay for temporary staff in the North of England decreased for the second time in three months in August, as signalled by the respective seasonally adjusted index posting below the 50.0 mark. The rate of reduction was softer than that recorded in June, however, and only marginal. On a regional basis, only the North and South of England registered lower rates of temp pay, while increases were recorded in London and the Midlands. Commenting on the latest survey results, Phil Murden, Leeds office senior partner at KPMG UK, said: “We’re seeing encouraging signs that the North’s jobs market is beginning to stabilise, with the slowdown in hiring starting to ease. Businesses are still cautious, but employers now have access to the widest talent pool we’ve seen since 2020, posing a real opportunity to strengthen teams and bring in fresh skills. “While starting salaries for permanent roles dipped in August, this reflects a recalibration after recent cost pressures, rather than a lack of demand for talent. Employers are wisely focusing on building resilient teams, investing in the right people, at the right time, to build a workforce fit for the future.” Neil Carberry, REC chief executive, said: “Employers need a shot of confidence along with their seasonal flu jabs this autumn. August saw recent declines in the market moderating, and a few positive signs. Overall, in the North, the rate of contraction in permanent placements eased to the weakest since May and the pace of reduction in temp billings was the slowest in three months. “There is certainly potential out there – but with fewer vacancies and more candidates looking for work across the UK, the overall picture is still subdued. While we have seen a summer slowdown, we will hopefully see more positive signs when the September data come through next month. “All eyes are now on the Autumn Budget, in hope now that the Chancellor won’t do any further damage to the labour market with costs on hiring. For the economy to thrive, the Budget must recognise the need for investment in people. Long-term investment in skills, workforce stability, a more practical approach to the Employment Right Bill and meaningful partnerships with employers will yield far more enduring returns than short-term fixes.”

The UK Government has announced a series of Defence Growth Deals aimed at strengthening regional economies and expanding the national defence industry. Five new deals across Plymouth, South Yorkshire, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland will be backed by £250 million over five years.

The initiative targets job creation, skills development, and the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises within defence supply chains. Early projections indicate demand for up to 50,000 additional defence roles by 2034/35 as procurement and spending rise.

Investments will focus on regional specialisms. Plymouth will receive funding to advance maritime autonomy. South Yorkshire will expand its capabilities in specialist materials and components. Wales will grow its UAV sector. Scotland will enhance space, maritime, and technology industries. Northern Ireland will build on existing cybersecurity and maritime strengths.

The programme integrates businesses, government, and academia to drive innovation and attract investment. It aligns with the Defence Industrial Strategy, supported by a planned increase in defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027, with a target of 3% in the following Parliament. The strategy aims to reinforce the UK’s industrial base and improve the sector’s capacity to respond to emerging security challenges.