During a week-long work experience placement at the company’s Yorkshire factory, students Zara and Tabitha created “Street Dog,” a new brand line that adapts popular human street food recipes into healthy canine treats.

Their debut creation – a sliced, air-dried treat named “Fish & Chips” – contains 70% sustainably sourced fish alongside apple cider vinegar and dill. As part of their product design, the students integrated a charitable component, pledging a portion of the treat’s proceeds to Dogs On the Streets, an organisation supporting vulnerable pet owners.

“We wanted to offer young people the full experience of what we do, to support them and provide them with skills in this challenging time for finding work,” said Chloe Heaton, founder and managing director of The Innocent Hound.

The limited-edition “Fish & Chips” treat goes on sale this Friday via the company’s website, with the students taking control of the brand’s social media channels to document the product launch.

As the UK’s largest open-platform tech event, the 2026 festival features 213 sessions designed to connect domestic businesses, international tech firms, and investors. The announcement arrives alongside new research from The Data City indicating that the Leeds technology sector contributes an estimated £1.67bn in gross value added, with local tech businesses growing at 8.3% annually – outpacing the UK average of 8.1%.

This year’s festival marks a leadership transition, with Deb Hetherington taking over as director for the first time, while long-serving founder Stuart Clarke MBE assumes the role of chair.

“Taking over as director from Stuart Clarke is a huge privilege, and I am thrilled to lead my first full festival. Over the last decade, Leeds has built a reputation as a powerhouse for technological innovation, and this 11th year will reflect just how far our community has come. We are pulling out all the stops to deliver our most ambitious programme yet, bringing in incredible guest speakers and creating real opportunities for businesses across Yorkshire to connect, trade and grow.”

— Deb Hetherington, Festival Director at Leeds Digital Festival

The 2026 schedule focuses heavily on practical artificial intelligence deployment, including sessions hosted by LegalTech in Leeds, Fleek Marketing, Genieminds, and Parallax. Additional programming features major regional and national brands, such as Jaywing presenting campaign strategies for PizzaExpress and Yorkshire Tea, alongside events hosted by the Financial Conduct Authority, Hippo, and PEXA.

Global IT and consulting firm CGI returns as headline sponsor, hosting events from its Leeds office alongside regional partners including Skipton Group, SCC, Leeds City Council, Nexus, ALT Legal, and Accenture.

Further details on the full event schedule and attendance options are available at leedsdigitalfestival.org.

Founded by lifelong friends Hannah Campbell and Katie Reisch, the sister site builds on their original Reformer Pilates offering. The new venue features four rooms, including a 50-square-meter main studio capable of hosting up to 20 clients per session.

“Ultimately, a big goal for us is to make Pilates and other forms of movement as accessible as possible for the people of Leeds – and we are so excited that we can now offer a wider range of classes.”

– Katie Reisch, Co-Founder of BLOC STUDIO

The expanded timetable includes Mat Pilates, Barre, Yoga, Tai Chi, breathwork, and specialist pre- and post-natal sessions. Designed for men and women of all ages and fitness levels, classes run from early morning through to the evening, with instructors providing tailored adjustments for individual needs.

For Roundhay native Hannah Campbell, opening in her hometown adds a strong community element to the venture. Alongside fitness sessions, the studio hosts regular member social events, including collaboration brunches with local partners on Street Lane.

New members can access a launch offer of three mat classes for £29, usable across a two-week window. Private bookings outside standard timetable hours are also available.

Developed by the Society’s in-house creative team and produced by Leeds-based agency Media Mavericks, the campaign focuses on the emotional motivations behind personal financial decisions.

The advert follows a character’s journey from childhood through to adulthood, capturing key life milestones—such as school plays, career ambitions, purchasing a first home, and starting a family. Set within a theatre, the narrative uses the stage to represent life’s unfolding chapters.

Filmed on location at Yeadon Town Hall, the production included Yorkshire Building Society employees as audience extras.

Jodie Madden, Director of Brand and Marketing at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “Financial decisions are some of the most important moments in people’s lives, but they’re rarely just about finances. They’re about the people we care about and the futures we’re trying to create for them.

“With ‘Here for every stage’, we wanted to tell a story that truly reflects that reality. It’s about recognising the pressures, the pride and the responsibility people feel as they move through life. This is also our first TV campaign in a decade, and it feels fitting that it’s been a true Yorkshire effort from start to finish.”

Harry Adamson, Director at Media Mavericks, added: “What makes this campaign stand out is the strength of the message at its core. The theatre setting allowed us to bring those stages to life in a simple but visually powerful way, while keeping the focus on the emotional journey.”

The campaign rolls out across the UK starting Monday, 3rd August 2026, appearing on television, video-on-demand (VOD), digital platforms, and social media channels.

York-based Transform Your Training will lead the design and delivery of England’s new national Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme for careers advisers. The appointment follows a competitive procurement process as part of broader government efforts to improve employment opportunities for young people.

Co-founded by Tammy Banks and Faye Fox after working in York’s charity sector, the organisation operates from Lowther Street in York. It currently employs 20 staff members alongside a national network of 100 facilitators. The DfE contract win is expected to create seven new jobs at the firm.

The new national programme utilises the company’s award-winning Training 4 Influence methodology. It combines trauma-informed facilitation with practical values-led learning, delivered by trainers who have personal or professional experience overcoming barriers to progression.

Tammy Banks, CEO of Transform Your Training, channelled her own lived experience of navigating childhood harm and neglect into her work. She credits a supportive teacher with helping her realise her potential, an experience that now drives her mission to improve public services.

Tammy said: “Careers advisers make a difference every single day, helping young people to recognise their strengths and open doors to opportunities that can shape the rest of their lives. That impact can be amplified if we are able to support careers advisers to understand and respond to the needs of young people who face barriers, whether they’re in the care system or have experienced trauma.

“Every young person deserves access to high-quality careers guidance, whatever their background or circumstances. It’s something I am hugely passionate about because of my own experience navigating adverse experiences as a young person. Values-led quality training can drive this change for young people today.”

She added: “Training that values the people in the room, that thanks them for the work they’re doing, and teaches them the skills to work with people in an equal and equitable way is vital. It can transform lives and revolutionise our public services.”

Launching in October, the free programme will be available to careers professionals working in schools, colleges, universities, and alternative education settings. The initiative will feature national inspiration conferences, six CPD modules, monthly expert panels, and a dedicated community of practice.

When 11-year-old Matilda Pritchard passed away suddenly in April 2024, her father, Steve, and their family channelled their grief into fundraising. Inspired by Matilda’s passion for litter picking and protecting the environment, they set out to support local and national causes in her name.

Now, Steve, a former digital agency owner, is taking that commitment a step further by embedding charitable giving directly into his newest venture, Leadquity.

Leadquity is a B2B referral platform that helps digital agencies generate business through trusted recommendations rather than traditional lead generation methods. From day one, the company will donate 30% of its profits to children’s charities in honour of Matilda.

Steve said: “When Matilda died, I desperately needed something positive to focus on. The fundraising became a channel for my grief. It gave us something to work towards as a family and helped us feel that, despite everything, we could still make a difference.

“As the fundraising developed, I realised I didn’t want that impact to stop once we’d reached a target. I wanted to build something that could continue generating support for children’s charities every single day.”

The initial charities supported through Leadquity focus directly on Matilda’s love for the environment and the challenges she faced as an autistic girl. Steve is also in the process of establishing Matilda’s Legacy as a registered charity to raise funds for organisations supporting children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities.

Matilda, affectionately known as ‘Tills’, passed away in her sleep from an undiagnosed heart condition called arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

In the months following her passing, the Pritchard family launched a fundraising initiative for Keep Britain Tidy. Their initial goal was to raise £11,213 in honour of Matilda’s birthday on 11 February 2013.

After surpassing that figure within weeks, they raised their target to £42,000 to fund the charity’s Eco-Schools programme for five years, covering the time Matilda would have spent in secondary school.

While driving the fundraising efforts, Steve continued running his digital agency. However, balancing work responsibilities with grief eventually led him to step back from the business at the end of 2025.

Following a short break, Steve focused on creating a solution to a problem he had faced for years as an agency owner: securing reliable leads without relying on cold calls or costly lead-generation tactics.

Developed alongside a specialist software engineer, Leadquity connects digital agencies with freelancers, consultants, and industry influencers who recommend services to their own networks. Referrers earn a commission on successful connections, while agencies only pay for validated leads.

Steve added: “Losing Matilda changed our outlook completely. Of course I still need to work and make money, but business absolutely can be a force for good. I don’t want fundraising to be something that we only do on the side; I wanted to build it into the DNA of work too.”

Now in its eleventh edition, the festival has grown into the UK’s largest open-platform technology celebration and the largest tech gathering outside London. Taking place from 21st September to 2nd October, the two-week event showcases the scale and diversity of the digital ecosystem across Leeds and the surrounding region, while drawing attendees from across the UK and overseas.

Designed as an inclusive, community-driven event, the festival welcomes event proposals from established tech companies, start-ups, educational institutions, and individual innovators. Proposed sessions must demonstrate a clear connection to digital technology and offer genuine value to attendees.

Festival Director Deb Hetherington said: “We intend to build on the variety and quality of events which made last year’s festival programme such a resounding success. The response to this year’s call for events has already been fantastic, and we’re keen for as many businesses to get involved as possible.

“Our goal for this festival is to deliver our most vibrant and varied schedule yet. Leeds and the surrounding region have built a well-deserved reputation for digital innovation, and this open platform gives every organisation, large or small, a stage to share their expertise, inspire new talent, and collaborate. I’d urge anyone with a great idea for an event to get their submission in before the deadline.”

Supported by headline sponsor CGI alongside major regional partners, including Skipton Group, SCC, Leeds City Council, Nexus, ALT Legal, Accenture, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the festival highlights the critical role technology plays in powering both the local and national economy.

The event team is encouraging anyone planning to run a workshop, panel discussion, keynote, or networking session to finalise their application online before the 24th July deadline.

The investment includes the installation of new HP Indigo technology alongside an ABG DigiLase Duo digital finishing line with Dual Bar DigiJet. The upgraded equipment significantly increases the firm’s capability to produce high-quality stickers and labels with premium embellishments, custom shapes, and specialist materials.

As demand for standout packaging and branded products continues to grow, the expansion enables customers to access a wider range of premium options without compromising on affordability, speed, or ease of ordering.

Laura Mucklow, Head of Brand at instantprint, said: “Whether it’s product packaging, branded giveaways or promotional materials, stickers and labels are often the finishing touch that helps a business make a memorable first impression.

“Our latest investment is all about giving customers more opportunities to create something unique. From premium finishes and specialist materials to custom shapes and reel labels, we’re continuing to expand our range so businesses of every size can access professional-quality print that helps them stand out.”

At the heart of the investment is the new advanced production line, which allows the company to produce intricate custom shapes and shorter print runs with greater efficiency. It also introduces premium embellishments including foil, Spot UV, and tactile finishes. Combined with new thermal lamination capabilities, customers can create labels with enhanced durability through an online platform.

The investment also supports an expanding range of materials and formats, including transparent and silver metallic polypropylene, custom-shaped stickers, and labels supplied on reels for businesses with specialist packaging requirements.

Alongside the production upgrades, the firm has continued to improve its online ordering experience with AI-powered artwork tools, streamlined proofing, and enhanced ordering journeys.

Laura added: “Businesses expect more from their print than ever before. They want packaging and marketing materials that reflect the quality of their brand, and they want them quickly. We’re continually investing in both our technology and our customer experience to make sure businesses can access the latest print innovations without the complexity traditionally associated with premium print.”

The £2 million investment marks the latest stage in the company’s commitment to innovation and advanced manufacturing in South Yorkshire, strengthening its product range while giving businesses access to greater creative freedom and fast, reliable service.

The four-year engagement programme provides students with an opportunity to develop essential employability skills and build confidence through a series of activities designed to broaden their understanding of future career pathways.

Over the course of three days, 40 students visited Caddick Construction’s SOYO Block D project, which is developer Moda Living’s first student accommodation development off York Road in Leeds. The pupils were tasked with a tower-building challenge encouraging teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills, and participated in a goal-setting and action-planning session to help identify personal aspirations and practical steps to achieve them.

Through a guided site tour and trying their hand at bricklaying, the students gained first-hand insight into the scale and complexity of a live development scheme and learned about the wide range of careers involved in delivering major construction projects. The students also heard from the Managing Director of Caddick Construction Group, who shared his own story of starting his career as an apprentice bricklayer and the opportunities it created.

Throughout the duration of the programme, the students are supported by a dedicated group of volunteers selected by Ahead Partnership to attend every workshop, build meaningful relationships with participants, and provide ongoing encouragement. This consistent presence creates a supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas, ambitions, and concerns.

The collaboration forms part of Caddick’s continued commitment to supporting local communities and inspiring the next generation by providing engagement opportunities that connect education with industry.

Steve Ford, Regional Managing Director at Caddick Construction North East & Yorkshire, commented: “We’re proud to support Ahead Partnership’s Shaping Our Future programme to help young people recognise the opportunities available to them. It was fantastic to welcome the students from Cockburn Multi-Academy Trust to our SOYO Block D site and give them hands-on insight into the construction industry. By providing real-world experiences and meaningful interactions with industry professionals, we hope to help raise their aspirations and equip the students with the confidence and skills needed to pursue their future ambitions.”

Andy Clarke, Partnerships Director at Ahead Partnership, said: “Businesses such as Caddick are playing a crucial role in helping the young people we work with to understand the opportunities available to them, particularly within key sectors such as the built environment. Though we’re less than six months into the programme, the schools we work with are already seeing more than half of their students improve their attendance, highlighting the transformational impact that this kind of early engagement can have.

“As we look ahead to delivering the next cohort of the programme, we’re actively seeking further support from organisations who share our commitment to helping young people reach their potential. With the right backing, we can continue to expand our reach and ensure even more students benefit from these transformative experiences.”

Tarry Depledge, Head of ESG at Moda, added: “Creating opportunities for young people to experience the wide range of careers in the built environment first-hand is an important part of creating successful places and communities, while developing the next generation of talent our sector will rely on in the years ahead.

“We’re proud to support initiatives like this alongside our Caddick Group colleagues and Ahead Partnership. At SOYO Block D, as with all Moda communities, we’re committed to creating places that make a lasting contribution to their cities, not just through the new student homes, but by investing in skills, education and opportunities that will benefit Leeds for the long term.”

The purpose-built joinery hub is designed to equip prisoners with practical woodworking and employability skills before their release. By teaching them a hands-on trade, organisers hope the project will build self-confidence and significantly improve their chances of securing stable employment when they return to the community.

Through the joint partnership, offenders will gain real carpentry experience by crafting a range of wooden items, such as planters, bird boxes, and bug boxes, which will be donated to local schools and community groups across Yorkshire. Beyond manual trade skills, those on the programme will develop critical, transferable workplace habits including teamwork, time management, and proactive communication.

Shaun Mycroft, Governor at HMP Lindholme, commented: “At HMP Lindholme, our priority is to equip the men in our care with the skills, behaviours and confidence they need to build stable, productive lives on release and, ultimately, to reduce reoffending and protect the public.

“By collaborating with Keepmoat and Strata, we are able to provide high-quality, real-world training that reflects the needs of local employers and the wider economy. We know that sustainable employment is one of the most significant factors in reducing reoffending. Initiatives like this play a key role in helping individuals turn their lives around, while also supporting safer communities across Yorkshire.”

According to research from the Ministry of Justice, securing stable work upon release dramatically cuts the likelihood of an individual reoffending.

Ciaran Aldridge, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, Yorkshire East, said: “Meaningful employment can play a huge role in helping people rebuild their lives after prison. This new woodworking hub provides prisoners with practical, hands-on experience while also helping them develop confidence, discipline and transferable skills that employers are looking for. Supporting initiatives like this is about giving people a genuine second chance while helping to develop future talent and skills.”

Mark Leaf, Chief Growth Officer at Strata, shared similar pride in the project’s launch: “Providing hands-on, practical training means people leave with something tangible to offer employers. Supporting individuals to make the most of a second chance and helping to reduce reoffending is something we are incredibly proud to be part of.”

To find out more about Keepmoat’s community development programs, visit the homebuilder’s official website at www.keepmoat.com.