Venator Materials plc, the Wynyard-based parent company of a chemical manufacturer, has appointed Alvarez & Marsal as administrators. The move affects the holding company and two other non-trading UK entities, while the main trading company, Venator Materials UK Limited, continues operations across its sites in Greatham, Birtley, and Wynyard.

The administrators will work with the Venator leadership team to manage the sale of UK businesses and explore opportunities for other group entities. The broader group, including operations in the US and France, remains under the oversight of its existing boards.

Venator specialises in titanium dioxide pigments and performance additives. Its UK workforce totals 519 employees, contributing to a global workforce of 2,249. The company has cited rising costs and increased market competition as factors affecting recent performance, prompting the restructuring measures.

Local stakeholders have emphasised the importance of maintaining confidence in the business to support a successful sale and protect jobs, with any potential buyer required to demonstrate commitment to continued operations.

The administration provides a structured process for assessing the future of the UK businesses while maintaining current trading activities and supporting ongoing global operations.

The University of York will receive a share of £3 million to support nuclear fusion research and workforce development over the next five years. The funding comes through the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s FOSTER programme, part of the government’s Fusion Futures initiative.

The investment will enable the university to recruit research and teaching fellows, expand its Fusion Energy MSc, grow the Fusion Industry School, and develop a Frontiers of Fusion online course. These initiatives aim to address a projected shortfall of up to 3,000 skilled workers in the UK fusion sector by 2030.

York’s capabilities in fusion and plasma science, alongside its leadership of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Fusion Power, position it to contribute significantly to the nation’s low-carbon energy objectives. Fusion technology replicates the process powering the sun, promising high efficiency, low waste, and improved safety compared with traditional energy sources.

The funding will support the development of a highly trained workforce and advance research into fusion energy, strengthening the UK’s position in a sector poised for rapid growth and industrial innovation.

Lincolnshire Co-op has deployed SymphonyAI’s Connected Retail platform across its stores, joining Central Co-op and Midcounties Co-op in using AI to optimise operations and enhance member experiences. The initiative covers over 700 locations and serves more than 1.3 million shoppers across the UK.

The platform applies generative and predictive AI to inventory management, shelf execution, and supply chain processes. Lincolnshire Co-op can now adjust assortments to local demand, improve product availability, reduce waste, and automate routine tasks, freeing teams to focus on customer service.

Store-specific planograms and optimised space allocation allow Lincolnshire stores to align stock with community preferences while predictive analytics support faster, data-driven decision-making. Early deployment has already begun delivering operational improvements within weeks.

The adoption underscores Lincolnshire Co-op’s focus on member-centric retail, operational efficiency, and measurable outcomes. The use of AI reflects a growing trend among UK retailers to integrate advanced technology into daily operations to meet changing consumer behaviour and rising costs.