Andy Burnham's landslide victory in Makerfield, followed by Keir Starmer's resignation, has accelerated speculation about his path to Number 10. If he gets there, Britain will have something it has not seen for a generation: a Prime Minister whose political identity has been shaped by the North of England rather than Westminster. For entrepreneurs, that matters.

H&M: More meaningful recovery possible in 2027; Bringing production closer to key markets should improve flexibility.

Professional services group Gateley has announced seven promotions within its Leeds office, forming part of a wider round of 69 promotions across its UK and international offices. Construction lawyer Samantha Fozzard has been promoted to legal director, specialising in high-value building safety disputes for housebuilders, developers, and contractors.

Retail sales volumes were judged to be below seasonal norms in June, to the greatest extent in over two years, according to the latest CBI Distributive Trades Survey. Furthermore, retail sales volumes fell at a sharper rate in the year to June.

HARIBO UK has officially opened a new purpose-built warehouse in West Yorkshire, marking a significant milestone in the business’s continued investment in the region.

A biennial benchmarking tool has been relaunched to measure the digital capabilities of conveyancing firms across England and Wales, with a new focus on artificial intelligence (AI). The 2026 Digital Conveyancing Maturity Index (DCMI), developed by legal technology specialist InfoTrack UK, has been updated to track how legal practices adopt and govern AI technologies.

Cumbria’s hospitality sector has always been one of the region’s biggest strengths. From guest houses and boutique hotels to pubs, restaurants and holiday lets, these businesses are not only a huge part of the local economy, they are also what make the county such a special place to visit.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) projects landing in the UK fell by 26 per cent year-on-year to 1,020 in the 2025/26 financial year, according to new figures from the Department for Business and Trade. The total represents the lowest volume of inward investment in over a decade and a 54 per cent contraction compared with 10 years ago.

Ten years on from the UK’s referendum to leave the European Union, new research indicates that Brexit remains a persistent barrier to growth for small businesses, while larger firms are increasingly calling for closer alignment with the EU.

Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said: “Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer championed UK business at home and abroad and on both a personal and professional note, we are grateful for his service and all he has delivered for the UK. “His leadership on the international stage is truly admirable, and we are grateful for all he has done to ensure the UK was open to the world.

The temporary VAT reduction for children’s meals, admissions and family attractions could lead to a summer of disruption for businesses, says accountancy firm Azets. Aimed at families, it is being introduced by the government as part of a wider initiative to support household spending during the summer holiday period.

In boardrooms and conference halls across the UK and beyond, the phrase 'death by PowerPoint' has become shorthand for a common and excruciating experience, the dull, overwhelming, and often tedious business presentation.

ONS data continues to suggest the jobs market held steady in Spring, with the unemployment rate falling again to 4.9% from 5.2% over the latest three months.The employment rate was very slightly down to 75.0 % from 75.1% Redundancies fell by 13,000 to 113,000 in the latest three-month period.

NEL Fund Managers has secured an additional £21.5 million to invest in businesses across the North of England, expanding its support for ambitious firms seeking capital to grow, create jobs and strengthen regional supply chains.

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has appointed creative communications agency Platinum Live as the official media partner for Conference Cumbria 2026. The event, a key date in the regional business calendar, will be held on Thursday 1 October 2026 at the Pencil Factory in Keswick. This year’s conference, themed “Be Bold. Be Courageous,” seeks to attract up to 350 delegates from across the UK.

A new national platform bringing together founders, providers, investors and policymakers to drive real business outcomes, not just conversations.

Spotless Water has announced a £6.35m in new investment led by YFM Equity Partners to accelerate the number of pure water stations in its network. Spotless water plans to substantially grow the number of pure water stations in its network in the next 12 months, and expand 24/7 access to pure water for the professional cleaning and detailing businesses that rely on it.