Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said: “As the country continues to feel the effects of strong global headwinds, businesses were looking for the King’s Speech to put stability, resilience and growth firmly at the heart of the government’s legislative agenda.

A Carlisle law firm has reaffirmed its commitment to high standards after once again successfully passing its annual quality review in 2026. Wragg Mark-Bell Solicitors has now held Lexcel accreditation for more than a decade, continuing to meet the rigorous benchmark set by The Law Society of England and Wales.

Construction clients, developers and project teams must prepare for renewed volatility but avoid making premature decisions in response to conflict in the Middle East, urges Turner & Townsend, the global professional services company.

From January 2027, the qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal will reduce from two years to six months. The Government estimates that this will extend unfair dismissal protection to a further 6.3 million workers. Initial commentary focused on the need for employers to assess performance robustly during the first six months of employment.

Two years on from its launch, the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) is continuing to build momentum across the North West, having supported more than 400 ambitious businesses and facilitated almost £275m of investment. Completed across 449 deals, the Fund is playing a vital role in boosting regional growth, while crowding in private sector co-investment.

FTSE 100 rises in early trade, shrugging off latest Iran skirmishes. Brent crude rises again to around $105 a barrel as energy crunch continues. Energy stocks among the gainers in early trade. Heathrow reports a dip in passenger numbers in April, but hopes remain that this is a temporary blip, with IAG shares rising in early trade. UK PM Keir Starmer aims for a reset after local election losses. Investors show appetite for catering giant Compass after its upgraded outlook.

Charities and not-for-profit organisations are being warned to ensure all their procedures and records are watertight in the light of new and enhanced compliance activity by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). HMRC has recently initiated a programme of Structured Risk Reviews (SRRs) across the charity and not-for-profit sectors, signalling a more intensive and data-driven approach to oversight.

Switalskis has appointed Paula Mayfield as deputy head of its specialist new build conveyancing team, supporting the firm’s national expansion strategy. Mayfield brings 25 years of experience in residential property across West and South Yorkshire, having previously held senior roles in Leeds, Wakefield, and Sheffield.

Following the successful launch of its compliance support service at the end of 2025, Carney Consultancy has helped 15 construction and engineering businesses secure Constructionline Gold accreditation. The achievement reflects the consultancy’s practical, hands-on guidance and rising demand for expert support as firms navigate tighter building safety and procurement standards.

Packaging sustainability consultancy Aura and graphics agency Sun Branding have launched a consolidated entity, Aura Global. The new business is designed to provide integrated strategy and technical services for retailers facing increasingly complex international packaging regulations.

Hull-based Ideal Heating has received the UK’s most prestigious business honour in recognition of its pioneering approach to industry transformation. The company has been named a recipient of The King’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category, recognising Ideal’s comprehensive, end-to-end heat pump delivery package that is reshaping how the UK adopts low carbon heating technology.

The number of Lancashire businesses experiencing ‘significant’ financial distress increased by 10.4% year-on-year to 13,151 in Q1 2026 compared to the same period last year according to BTG’s latest Red Flag Alert, which has monitored the financial health of UK companies for over two decades.

Voicescape, a provider of analytics and engagement software for social housing and local authorities, has reported a year of growth, surpassing six million properties reached across its product suite. Since October 2020, the Manchester-based company has increased its customer numbers fivefold and reported a tenfold increase in recurring revenue.

Investors in the North of England should be wary of taking financial advice solely from AI platforms, one of the county’s accountancy and advisory firms has warned. Experts from Azets, which has offices in Leeds, Bradford and York, have likened the practice to Googling health symptoms rather than going to see a doctor.

Sustainability consultancy Tunley Environmental has launched its latest guide, “A Guide to Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)”, designed to help organisations understand, develop and apply EPDs to support compliance and gain a competitive edge. Many businesses are under increasing pressure to demonstrate the impact of their products across the full lifecycle.

Britain’s food supply chain is under growing pressure from forces both at home and overseas. The latest instability in the Middle East has again shown how quickly a regional conflict can become a global supply chain issue, with disruption to fuel, fertiliser, and shipping flows feeding into food production costs and availability.

UK-listed companies in the North West issued four profit warnings during the first quarter of 2026, down marginally from the five issued during the same period last year, and marking the region’s lowest Q1 total since 2021, according to EY-Parthenon’s latest Profit Warnings report.

Half of internationally active SMEs say cross-border volatility is increasing stress levels, adding to pressure on decision-making. More than half (55%) of SME leaders say cashflow occupies their attention even when trying to focus on other responsibilities. SME leaders estimate that, with more access to working capital, they could redirect an average of five hours per week towards growth-focused activity. HSBC UK has launched TradePay to simplify access to working capital and streamline supplier payments.

Manufacturers across Cumbria and Lancashire are being supported to take practical steps into artificial intelligence with a new toolkit designed to help SMEs turn AI from hype into real-world impact.

A sharp decline in retail sales and persistent cost pressures are set to deepen the private sector downturn across the UK, with the North’s industrial heartlands expected to feel the impact acutely. According to the latest national CBI Growth Indicator, British private sector activity is projected to contract through July.