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The Leadership Traits That Matter Most In 2026
Ian Garner
Business Writer
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
The pace of change facing organisations today means the leadership is evolving faster than ever. Technological disruption, changing employee expectations and ongoing global uncertainty are reshaping how businesses operate. The qualities that define effective leaders in 2026 look somewhat different from those valued even a decade ago.
P.ublished 24th October 2026
Tech Veteran Backs The Curve's Mid-Market Growth Strategy
L-R TC James and Paul Ridgway
The Curve has secured investment from a UK tech veteran to pursue growth opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions. Glyn Heath, the founder and former CEO of a successful IT services and software provider, has invested a significant sum in the Sheffield-based business.
P.ublished 26th October 2026
Autumn Budget 2026 – EY Preview Commentary
Antoni Shkraba
In an autumn Budget preview commentary, several EY spokespeople, including Manchester-based Partner Noam Handler and North Market Leader Hilary Heap, discuss fiscal devolution and its potential to support regional economic prospects. Devolution – Noam Handler Noam Handler, Partner and Regional Markets Tax Leader at EY, said: “Fiscal devolution will be judged not…
P.ublished 24th October 2026
From Power Station To Data Centre: The Carbon Story Hidden Beneath Skelton Grange
Aerial view of Skelton Grange, with lined water treatment lagoons in the foreground supporting groundwater management and reuse during the site’s redevelopment. Drone image courtesy of George Bagnall.
For more than 25 years, 48 acres of land near Leeds sat silent. The coal-fired power station that once stood there was switched off, demolished in 1998, and never replaced. Now that same ground is being brought back to life as a proposed Microsoft hyperscale data centre campus.
P.ublished 24th October 2026
Chester's Young Entrepreneur Of The Year Sets Sights On International Fashion Brand Within Five Years
Chester's Young Entrepreneur of the Year has set her sights on turning the fashion label she started in her bedroom during lockdown into an international brand within five years. Collette Beckett, founder of Jetblack Clothing, wants to grow the brand's overseas customer base, move into its own warehouse unit and build a team around her as the business expands.
P.ublished 23rd October 2026
Northern Talent Tracker: This Week's Appointments
Yorkshire-based Flair Furniture Group has appointed Paul Atherton as Group Chief Executive Officer, as former CEO and Founder Ashley Hainsworth steps into the role of Chairman. Paul brings extensive experience in retail, consumer brands, technology, digital transformation and commercial leadership, and will be supporting the furniture group with its next phase of growth.
P.ublished 23rd October 2026
Business Disputes And Litigation Set To Rise In The Next 12 Months – New Research Finds
Business disputes and litigation are set to rise in the next 12 months, driven by increasing external pressures facing organisations. New research has found that nearly half of respondents (47%) expect legal action to increase for their business, with rapid development of technology and AI the main cause of potential disputes and litigation.
P.ublished 23rd October 2026
Output To Stabilse But Profitability Squeeze Set To Continue – CBI Industrial Trends Survey
Manufacturing output is expected to stabilise in the next three months, according to the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends Survey. That follows a decline in the three months to October, which extended a period of generally flat or falling production that began in mid-2022.
P.ublished 23rd October 2026
Output To Stabilse But Profitability Squeeze Set To Continue
Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay
Manufacturing output is expected to stabilise in the next three months, according to the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends Survey. That follows a decline in the three months to October, which extended a period of generally flat or falling production that began in mid-2022.
P.ublished 23rd October 2026
Tax Rises And Fuel Costs Top Concerns As 86% Of Small Businesses Fear Budget Announcements That Would Damage Growth Outlook
Across the UK, 86% of small businesses fear the possibility of specific Budget announcements next week that, in their view, would negatively impact the growth outlook and finance of their enterprises – with rises to taxation, business rates and fuel duty topping the list of concerns, according to new research from Novuna Business Finance.
P.ublished 22nd October 2026
Budget Must ‘Do No Harm To Business’
Image by Piero Di Maria from Pixabay
The Chancellor must use his forthcoming Budget to ‘do no further harm to business’ and begin reversing the tide of rising tax, regulatory and employment costs, BCC President Andy Haldane has warned.
P.ublished 22nd October 2026
British Business Bank Partners With On New Diverse Angel Syndicate Programme
The British Business Bank has today announced a new partnership with the UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA) to support the launch of its Diverse Angel Syndicate (DAS) programme, an initiative designed to broaden participation in angel investing and ultimately increase the flow of capital to underrepresented business founders, who are often overlooked despite their potential.
P.ublished 22nd October 2026
North West’s DJH Expands Its Southern Footprint, As Twp Becomes Its Largest Ever Acquisition
One of the UK’s fastest-growing accountancy and professional services groups has completed its largest ever acquisition after joining forces with Surrey-based TWP.
P.ublished 22nd October 2026
Veterinary Practice Celebrates Second Anniversary With More Than 6,000 Pets Treated
A South Leeds veterinary practice is celebrating its second anniversary after treating more than 6,000 pets, hosting dozens of ‘cuddle clinics’ for nervous dogs and seeing all eight members of its team embark on prestigious Fear Free professional accreditations.
P.ublished 21st October 2026
Business Budget Predictions
Accounting and business advisory firm BDO has set out what businesses could expect to see in the new Chancellor's first Budget. Dan Brookes, partner at BDO in Yorkshire and the North East, said: What might businesses expect to see at the Budget?
P.ublished 21st October 2026
Further Tax Burdens On Financial Services Would Be An ‘Own Goal For Competitivenessʼ, Warns CBI Chief
The CBI’s Chief Executive, Rain Newton-Smith, will today (Wednesday 21 October) urge the Chancellor to give businesses the breathing space they need to invest, hire and grow ahead of next week’s Budget.
P.ublished 21st October 2026
Cumbria Chamber Urges Employers to Prepare for New Workplace Harassment Laws
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is urging businesses across the county to review their workplace harassment policies and procedures ahead of significant employment law changes coming into force on 30 October 2026.
P.ublished 21st October 2026
Jobs Market Offers Scant Cheer As Business Leaders Round On Hiring Costs
Image by Niek Verlaan from Pixabay
Unemployment dipped slightly in the three months to August, yet business leaders lined up this morning to warn that Britain’s labour market remains fragile and to press the Chancellor to use next week’s Budget to ease the cost of taking on staff. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics put the jobless rate at 4.7 per cent, with wage growth of 3.7 per cent.
P.ublished 20th October 2026
Listed Businesses In The North West Issue Lowest Number Of Q3 Profit Warnings In Five Years
Listed companies in the North West issued five profit warnings in the third quarter of 2026, marking the lowest Q3 total since 2021 when four were issued. Profit warnings in the region were down both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter Listed North West businesses operating in the FTSE Industrials super-sector issued the region’s highest volume of warnings in Q3, with three. Nationally, UK-listed businesses issued 65 profit warnings during Q3 – the highest quarterly total since Q4 2024 (71 warnings).
P.ublished 20th October 2026
Pudsey-Based Building Futures Together To Help 30 Young People Overcome Barriers To Employment With £44k Healthy Working Life Grant
BFT Learners
Pudsey-based Community Interest Company Building Futures Together (BFT) has been awarded £44,158.80 through the Healthy Working Life grant programme to help 30 economically inactive young people aged 16 to 24 develop construction skills and increase their prospects of securing work.
P.ublished 20th October 2026
Mills & Reeve Launches Podcast Exploring Leadership At The Extremes
Law firm Mills & Reeve has launched Achieving More Together, a new podcast series exploring what high performance really looks like inside today's organisations and what business leaders can learn from those who have delivered it in the most demanding environments imaginable.
P.ublished 19th October 2026
Yorkshire Automotive Technology Firm Mad Devs Accelerates International Growth
Leeds-headquartered automotive technology company Mad Devs is expanding internationally after its Connect platform passed 2,500 customers in the UK, with its software now being used by businesses in South Africa, Australia and Ireland.
P.ublished 19th October 2026
Footsie Falters Amid Tech Jitters And French Unrest But Mulberry Stages A Comeback
Footsie loses momentum as Wall Street’s tech sell-off, elevated energy prices and unrest in France keep investors on edge. Oil remains a pressure point, with Brent hovering around $107 a barrel as fresh attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy facilities keep supply risks in focus. French protests spook bond investors, with 10-year yields spiking again amid intense unrest. China’s export engine keeps powering growth, with the economy expanding by 4.5% in the third quarter as high-tech manufacturing and AI-related demand help offset US tariffs. Germany courts global tech leaders as it tries to revive investment and compete with the US and China, despite persistent energy costs and red tape. Mulberry is back in the fashion frame, with first-half sales rising 18% as new designs, stronger US demand and a return to the London Fashion Week catwalk help drive its turnaround.
P.ublished 19th October 2026
10 In 10 Martin Spiller
Martin Spiller, Associate Professor in Entrepreneurial Practice at Oxford Brookes Business School, is the latest regional professional in the hot seat as we give him just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions. 1.
P.ublished 19th October 2026
North West Businesses Ready To Invest In Young People But Need Better Access To Talent
60% recruited early careers talent in the past year while 95% of those plan to continue to hire more over the next year. 83% are confident they can secure funding needed to invest in training and apprenticeships. 41% cited customer service and relationship management as the most critical skill for their business
P.ublished 19th October 2026
Market Analysis: Jupiter
Market Analysis text across a b&w screen of economic data
Jupiter: Geopolitical uncertainty is acting as a tailwind; concern samong retail investors and AI After interviewing a number of executives in the financial space, Max Georgiou, Analyst at Third Bridge made a series of remarks regarding Jupiter, informed by the insights from industry experts.
P.ublished 17th October 2026
Tunley Environmental Launches ‘Grow Your Impact’ To Help Clients Turn Sustainability Projects Into Wider Progress
Tunley Environmental has launched Grow Your Impact, a new client initiative designed to help organisations get more value from their sustainability projects while encouraging progress across their wider supply chains and professional networks.
P.ublished 17th October 2026
Cumbria Business Survey 2026
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce and Cumbria Combined Authority want to hear from you. We are pleased to announce the launch of our 2026 Cumbria Business Survey in partnership with Cumbria Combined Authority.
P.ublished 17th October 2026
Budget Must Back Northern Innovation, Manufacturing And Infrastructure
The upcoming Budget must deliver long-term investment in skills, innovation and infrastructure if the North is to fulfil its economic potential, according to one of the North West’s leading entrepreneurs.
P.ublished 17th October 2026
Northern Talent Tracker: This Week's Appointments
Esme Briggs, an Asset Manager at Leeds-based property company Potter Space, has been appointed Chair of RICS Matrics Leeds, where she will help support and develop the next generation of built environment professionals across the region. RICS Matrics serves as an important network for students, trainees and newly qualified professionals in the property and construction sector.
P.ublished 16th October 2026
More Than £1 Million Recovered For Small Businesses By Small Business Commissioner
The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) has supported small businesses to recover more than £1 million in overdue late payments through its enquiry service in the first half of this financial year. The OSBC is an independent body funded by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade to tackle overdue payments and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector.
P.ublished 16th October 2026
Exports Lagging As Economy Grows
Reacting to the latest ONS trade data, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “July’s improved export performance was not sustained in August, and for goods trade it almost completely reversed. Looking at the three-month picture, goods exports also fell, with the EU seeing the biggest drop.
P.ublished 16th October 2026
Can Makers UK announces Undergraduate Design Competition winner
L-R Asha Kempster and Shona Stocks
The winners of the inaugural Undergraduate Beverage Can Design competition have been announced, recognising the creativity and ambition of the next generation of packaging designers.
P.ublished 15th October 2026
Back Business To Unlock Investment And Power Prosperity – CBI Urges Chancellor
Photo: Yan Krukau on PExels
Ahead of the Autumn Budget, the CBI is calling on the Chancellor to give firms ‘breathing space’ by delivering a decisive set of measures that bolster business confidence, unlock investment and turn the government’s growth ambitions into action.
P.ublished 15th October 2026
Chambers Demand Action On Business Costs
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay
Leaders from the UK’s accredited Chambers of Commerce came together in Westminster, today, to urge the Chancellor to back business, cut costs and deliver growth in his Budget. They gathered near the Treasury building, to highlight the growing cost pressures facing firms across the country and call for action to rebuild business confidence and investment.
P.ublished 15th October 2026
Sheffield Opens Its Innovation District To The Public For First Open Doors Festival
Seven venues along the Sheffield Innovation Spine will welcome visitors next Tuesday, with immersive films, live product demonstrations and a three-storey slide Sheffield’s laboratories, start-up studios and tech incubators are trading security passes for a welcome mat next week, as the city stages its first Open Doors Innovation Festival.
P.ublished 15th October 2026
Entries Now Open For Bolt Burdon Kemp’s Design The Change Competition
Serious Injury law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp announced the return of their Design the Change Competition, with entries now open. The competition, now in its fifth year, invites students from UK universities to design a product aimed at improving the lives of people with a spinal cord injury.
P.ublished 14th October 2026
Carbon Capture And Storage Infrastructure Acting As Catalyst For Reindustrialisation
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure is already delivering economic benefits on Teesside, supporting jobs, UK suppliers and skills development, while laying the foundations for future industrial growth, according to a new report by Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP).
P.ublished 14th October 2026
University Of Sunderland Recognised For Excellence In Knowledge Exchange And Regional Impact
The University of Sunderland has once again demonstrated its strength in driving economic growth, research innovation and business collaboration.
P.ublished 14th October 2026
Employers Urged To Act Now As New Third-Party Harassment Liability Approaches
Employers across the North are being warned to be fully compliant with new third party harassment laws which come into force later this month or face severe consequences. Changes introduced by the Employment Rights Act 2025 on October 30 require employers to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent employees being harassed by third parties.
P.ublished 14th October 2026
Exporters Remain Under Pressure
Image by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay
The proportion of exporters reporting increased orders rose to 21% in Q3 2026 from 16% in Q2 2026. But the balance of firms reporting increased orders remains negative at -3%, with 23% of businesses reporting a decrease. Services exports have been flatter with just 19% reporting increased orders, against 24% for manufacturers.
P.ublished 14th October 2026
Rising Employment Costs Risk Holding Back Living Standards And Job Opportunities For Young People
Image by Ralf Ruppert from Pixabay
Job opportunities for young people risk coming under further pressure as firms become more cautious about hiring and training, the latest CBI/Pertemps Employment Trends Survey 2026 warns ahead of the Milburn Review’s final recommendations.
P.ublished 13th October 2026
Early Evaluation Shows The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II Is Improving Access To Finance And Supporting Business Growth Across The North
Image by Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay
Independent evaluation finds the fund is performing well and operating broadly as intended. Strong evidence the fund is addressing regional finance gaps and improving access to finance for smaller businesses. £115m invested through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II programme by September 2025. 324 investments delivered to 306 businesses across the UK by September 2025.
P.ublished 13th October 2026
SYS Systems ‘Tie-Up’ Helps Hellermanntyton Transform Its End-of-arm Tooling Capability
'Hellermann Tyton
A global cable management systems manufacturer has tapped into the power of additive manufacturing to transform its end-of-arm tooling capability. HellermannTyton, which employs 100 people at its factory in Wythenshawe, switched from a traditional manufacturing process to creating its tools on a Stratasys Fortus 450 3D printer from SYS Systems.
P.ublished 13th October 2026
Westminster PR Firm Buys Manchester Agency As Power Shifts North
A Westminster communications group has bought Social, the Manchester-born agency with offices in Leeds and Liverpool, betting that the devolution drive will pull decision-making away from Whitehall. A Westminster communications firm has bought one of the North’s best-known agencies, in a deal it says is driven by power moving from Whitehall to the regions.
P.ublished 13th October 2026
Market Report: Trump Deal Sees Oil Dip Slightly, But Middle East Crisis Keeps Prices High
Brent crude edges down to around $104 a barrel but remains more than 40% higher than before the conflict with Iran began. Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia heighten concerns over regional stability and energy supplies, despite Trump's deal with Putin on Russian diesel exports. Wall Street looks set for a brisk start as earnings season gets underway, with big banks and mega-cap tech in focus. AI investment continues to support growth, but inflation, borrowing costs and government debt remain key concerns. UK bond markets will be watching closely ahead of Chancellor John Healey's crucial Autumn Budget.
P.ublished 12th October 2026
Harrogate’s Vp On Track As Water And Power Work Picks Up
Harrogate-based equipment hire group Vp says it will hit full-year forecasts, with water and electricity projects lifting its second-half prospects. Andrew Palmer reports. Vp, the Harrogate-headquartered specialist equipment rental group, says it is on course to meet City expectations for the full year after a steady first half.
P.ublished 12th October 2026
Reliance Precision Eyes Organic Growth With LDC Partnership
Yorkshire based engineering technology business, Reliance Precision (Reliance), has partnered with LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, to support its next phase of growth.
P.ublished 12th October 2026
Manufacturing Under Pressure: Updated Guide Helps Businesses Plan Their Sustainability Strategy
Tunley Environmental’s updated Guide to Sustainable Manufacturing offers helpful advice on reducing environmental impacts, improving efficiency and responding to customer requests for sustainability evidence.
P.ublished 10th October 2026
Why Corporate Culture Is Now A Competitive Advantage
Ian Garner
Business Writer
Image by Thirdman on Pexels
The phrase ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast', attributed to management guru Peter Drucker, stresses the importance of organisational culture in achieving strategic goals. Corporate culture has swiftly moved from being a “soft” notion discussed in workshops to a strategic priority for modern organisations.
P.ublished 10th October 2026
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